Skip to content
SPECIFICTION
Get listed

Shine Stacker

shinestacker.wordpress.com

Free plan WindowsmacOSLinuxAPI
Visit shinestacker.wordpress.com
Spec score 7.2 #22 of 24 in Focus Stacking Software

What it is

Shine Stacker combines images captured at different focus distances to produce images with extended depth of field. It is intended for microscopy, macro photography, and computational imaging. The software offers Laplacian pyramid and depth map stacking methods, with automatic alignment, color or luminosity balancing, noisy pixel masking, vignetting correction, and final filters. For retouching, users can select details from individual frames to address dust, ghosts, and artifacts. Batch workflows can divide many frames into smaller groups before merging them into one focused image. Python batch processing and Jupyter notebook scripting are supported. Shine Stacker supports RAW files and lists TIFF, JPEG, and multilayer TIFF as output formats. It is open source under the LGPL-3.0 license and free to download. The listed platforms are Windows, macOS, Linux, and API. The maker offers a GitHub download and Python installation through PyPI with pip.

Spec sheet

Purpose
Shine Stacker combines images taken at different focus distances to produce images with extended depth of field.Read 30 Sep 2026 · shinestacker.wordpress.com
Intended users
The maker describes it for microscopy, macro photography, and computational imaging.Read 30 Sep 2026 · shinestacker.wordpress.com
Batch workflows
The maker says users can split many frames into smaller bunches and merge them into a single fully focused frame.Read 30 Sep 2026 · shinestacker.wordpress.com
Image processing
Listed functions include automatic alignment and color or luminosity balance, noisy pixel masking, vignetting correction, and final filters.Read 30 Sep 2026 · shinestacker.wordpress.com
Installation
The maker offers a free download from GitHub and says Python users can install it from PyPI with pip.Read 30 Sep 2026 · shinestacker.wordpress.com
Maintainer
The maker identifies Luca Lista as Shine Stacker's developer and maintainer.Read 30 Sep 2026 · shinestacker.wordpress.com
Open source
The maker describes Shine Stacker as open source and lists the LGPL-3.0 license.Read 30 Sep 2026 · shinestacker.wordpress.com
Python and Jupyter
Shine Stacker supports batch processing through a Python framework and scripting in Jupyter notebooks.Read 30 Sep 2026 · shinestacker.wordpress.com
Retouching
Users can interactively pick details from individual frames to remove dust, ghosts, and artifacts.Read 30 Sep 2026 · shinestacker.wordpress.com
Stacking methods
It offers Laplacian pyramid and depth map focus stacking algorithms.Read 30 Sep 2026 · shinestacker.wordpress.com

Plans and prices

Free Free Free download · Windows, Mac OS, Linux Read 30 Sep 2026 · shinestacker.wordpress.com

Every Shine Stacker plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Offers Laplacian pyramid and depth map methods
  • Includes automatic alignment and manual retouching
  • Supports RAW input and three listed output formats
  • Python batch processing and Jupyter scripting are supported

Limits

  • The maker lists only Windows, macOS, and Linux downloads
  • Installation through PyPI requires Python and pip

Who it suits

Shine Stacker suits people working with microscopy, macro photography, or computational imaging who need to combine images taken at different focus distances. Python and Jupyter support may also suit users building batch workflows.

Verdict

Shine Stacker offers focus stacking alongside frame-level retouching and batch processing. Its free, open-source distribution and Python support are relevant considerations for image-processing workflows.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to Shine StackerAll alternatives →