# Macro, stacking, software recommendation? **URL:** \ **Category:** Discussions\ **Created:** [November 4, 2022, 12:45pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/macro-stacking-software-recommendation/31410 "2022-11-04T12:45:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![brett\_joslin](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/brett_joslin/32/47973_2.png) [@brett\_joslin](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/brett_joslin)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2022, 12:45pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/macro-stacking-software-recommendation/31410/1 "2022-11-04T12:45:08Z")
Hello, I recently purchased my first macro lens and going to give it a shot. I’m curious about what most macro photographers are using to stack their images? I have Photoshop but I see Helicon coming up often. I would prefer to avoid spending more money on additional software. ---
**Author:** ![Kris\_Smith](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/kris_smith/32/59826_2.png) [@Kris\_Smith](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Kris_Smith)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2022, 12:51pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/macro-stacking-software-recommendation/31410/2 "2022-11-04T12:51:44Z")
Be warned! This is addicting! I got into stacking a couple of years ago and have learned a lot. Mostly by trial and error. Here’s a thread about Zerene and some links to resources for learning it. I think Allan also does a Zerene v. Helicon bake off as well. > [@Zerene Stacker](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/zerene-stacker/29959): > > Author - Allan Walls Link to resource - Review of resource After about 2 years of working with Zerene Stacker and feeling comfortable with it, I started looking for more advanced options and techniques to see if I could speed things up and get better stacks. One of my frustrations was with image stacks of 20 and higher. Retouching can become even more time consuming by having to hunt through a ton of source images to find the one with the bit of detail I need. A couple of times in the past… Zerene’s interface is decidedly antique, but the software is the bomb. Can’t speak to Helicon, but others probably can. If you’re going to combine say more than 5 images, it’s a good idea to get a dedicated stacker. It is extra money, but believe me, it’s worth it if you want good results with an easier time to achieve them. We also have a stacking thread going that might help you with your new obsession, ahem, I mean, technique. Yeah. that’s it. > [@Focus Stacking](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/focus-stacking/23697): > > Rather than continue to hijack Ann Louise’s [Orange Petals thread](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/orange-petals/23569/9) with our stacking sidebar, I thought it might be polite to take it to a separate discussion. Our Weekly Challenge moderator, Mark Seaver, does a lot with stacking and has done some [webinars for NPN on the subject](https://www.naturephotographers.network/focus-stacking-by-mark-seaver/), but I thought maybe a catch-all thread could be helpful no matter if you’re an experienced stacker, just starting or even only thinking about it. Since moving from a manual (legacy 35mm) macro lens to a system lens, I’v… ---
**Author:** ![David\_Bostock](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/david_bostock/32/34921_2.png) [@David\_Bostock](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/David_Bostock)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2022, 2:00pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/macro-stacking-software-recommendation/31410/3 "2022-11-04T14:00:56Z")
Hi Brett, as Kris said, stacking is addicting. Outside of the stacking capability in Adobe’s products there are two major players: Zarene Stacker and Helicon Focus. If you’re doing intense macro detailed work, Zarine may be the best tool for that, since it was developed for the scientific community. I use Helicon Focus, which is less technical but very capable and has a simple interface. I also like that it can be used as a plugin from Lightroom and Capture One. When used that way, you select your images for stacking, right mouse click and choose “Edit with Helicon Focus.” Helicon will convert your images to a .DNG format then stack them and then save the stacked image as a .DNG in Lightroom or Capture One. So, you have a stacked Raw image to work with. That’s my favorite feature. Good luck with your exploration of stacking. Such fun. ---
**Author:** ![Kris\_Smith](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/kris_smith/32/59826_2.png) [@Kris\_Smith](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Kris_Smith)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2022, 2:35pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/macro-stacking-software-recommendation/31410/4 "2022-11-04T14:35:59Z")
Thanks for chiming in about Helicon. Zerene can also be used as a plug in. I use it that way with Lightroom - it sends TIFs to Zerene and when I save an output file stack those TIFs are deleted when I close the stacker. It’s really the way to go with these dedicated stackers. ---
**Author:** ![brett\_joslin](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/brett_joslin/32/47973_2.png) [@brett\_joslin](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/brett_joslin)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2022, 11:07pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/macro-stacking-software-recommendation/31410/5 "2022-11-04T23:07:18Z")
> [@Kris\_Smith](#): > > Be warned! This is addicting! I got into stacking a couple of years ago and have learned a lot. Mostly by trial and error. > > Here’s a thread about Zerene and some links to resources for learning it. I think Allan also does a Zerene v. Helicon bake off as well. thank you! I will look at all this and weigh my options. ---
**Author:** ![Diane\_Miller](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/diane_miller/32/27391_2.png) [@Diane\_Miller](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Diane_Miller)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2022, 2:33pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/macro-stacking-software-recommendation/31410/6 "2022-11-05T14:33:28Z")
I’ll add the major factor here, which is that both Helicon and Zerene will FAR outperform PS then it comes to dealing with the OOF “blooming” around items well separated in distance – think of the stamen of a flower floating out in space with the petals well behind it. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Seaver](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/mark_seaver/32/231_2.png) [@Mark\_Seaver](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Mark_Seaver)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2022, 3:14pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/macro-stacking-software-recommendation/31410/7 "2022-11-05T15:14:57Z")
Also beware that PS ALWAYS includes some oof areas in the middle of sharp areas. I showed some of these in my [Stacking workshop](https://www.naturephotographers.network/focus-stacking-by-mark-seaver/) for NPN comparing PS, Helicon and Zerene. ---
**Author:** ![brett\_joslin](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/brett_joslin/32/47973_2.png) [@brett\_joslin](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/brett_joslin)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2022, 4:38pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/macro-stacking-software-recommendation/31410/8 "2022-11-05T16:38:14Z")
@Mark_Seaver yes I started watching your presentation but haven’t finished. Seems I will have to figure it out. ---
**Author:** ![Igor\_Doncov](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/igor_doncov/32/579_2.png) [@Igor\_Doncov](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Igor_Doncov)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2022, 6:09pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/macro-stacking-software-recommendation/31410/9 "2022-11-05T18:09:57Z")
Mark, I’ve been PS stacking for a year now. After reading your article I downloaded a free version of Heliconfocus and compared the results to an image that was particularly egregious. This image didn’t have abrupt depth boundaries so I expected PS to be able to handle it but upon closer inspection it was not so, particularly around the edges but even short distances from the edges. The result was amazing. Plus Heliconfocus allows me to process my raw images in raw mode after the stacking has completed and saved by saving it into a DNG file. This is huge for me because I would process all the files in raw mode prior to stacking in PS. That was such a pain that I would put off processing my work. Anything to make the work simpler. So … a huge thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Matt\_Payne](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/matt_payne/32/76789_2.png) [@Matt\_Payne](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Matt_Payne)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2022, 9:36pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/macro-stacking-software-recommendation/31410/10 "2022-11-06T21:36:13Z")
Helicon is my go-to, plus it exports and imports as a DNG in LR… super important, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![brett\_joslin](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/brett_joslin/32/47973_2.png) [@brett\_joslin](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/brett_joslin)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2022, 1:43am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/macro-stacking-software-recommendation/31410/11 "2022-11-07T01:43:19Z")
@Matt_Payne I was leaning towards Helicon. does it only work as a plug-in in LR? I guess no ACR or PS? ---
**Author:** ![Matt\_Payne](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/matt_payne/32/76789_2.png) [@Matt\_Payne](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Matt_Payne)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2022, 3:01pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/macro-stacking-software-recommendation/31410/12 "2022-11-07T15:01:22Z")
I wouldn’t even know how to select multiple images in ACR to export… sorry I’m not of any help there. This is useful: [https://www.heliconsoft.com/faq-helicon-focus/](https://www.heliconsoft.com/faq-helicon-focus/) ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_Zablotny](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/jim_zablotny/32/3919_2.png) [@Jim\_Zablotny](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Jim_Zablotny)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2022, 9:46pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/macro-stacking-software-recommendation/31410/13 "2022-11-16T21:46:49Z")
I use Helicon at work and Zerene at home. Both are quite good at stacking images with minimal artifacts. I chose Zerene because it was more affordable for me at the time of purchase. Helicon has a few more bells and whistles than Zerene,. Download some of the trial versions to see what piques your interest…Jim ---
**Author:** ![brett\_joslin](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/brett_joslin/32/47973_2.png) [@brett\_joslin](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/brett_joslin)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2022, 11:43pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/macro-stacking-software-recommendation/31410/14 "2022-11-16T23:43:13Z")
Thanks @Jim_Zablotny. Have you tried the Helicon Remote to tether and automate the focus? just curious it sounds interesting if you are doing some Indoor macro. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_Zablotny](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/jim_zablotny/32/3919_2.png) [@Jim\_Zablotny](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Jim_Zablotny)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2022, 11:34am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/macro-stacking-software-recommendation/31410/15 "2022-11-17T11:34:42Z")
Have not tried tethering. Our microscopes are not equipped with focusing motors so its old school all the way…Jim ---
**Author:** ![Igor\_Hoveijn](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/igor_hoveijn/32/76386_2.png) [@Igor\_Hoveijn](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Igor_Hoveijn)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2022, 12:41pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/macro-stacking-software-recommendation/31410/16 "2022-11-17T12:41:16Z")
> [@brett\_joslin](#): > > Thanks . Have you tried the Helicon Remote to tether and automate the focus? just curious it sounds interesting if you are doing some Indoor macro. I use Helicon remote on a laptop for indoor macro with a wired connection to the camera. Works very well. For outdoor macro I sometimes use Helicon remote on a smartphone with a wifi connection to the camera. This also works quite well as long as the battery of the smartphone lasts. Sometimes setting up the wifi connection is cumbersome, but I guess the camera is to blame. ---
**Author:** ![Harley\_Goldman](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/harley_goldman/32/213_2.png) [@Harley\_Goldman](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Harley_Goldman)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2022, 3:21pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/macro-stacking-software-recommendation/31410/17 "2022-11-17T15:21:26Z")
I use Helicon. I find it very simple and easy to use and extremely good. I have never tried Zerene, so I can’t help with any comparison between the two.