CombineZP vs FocusFusion

CombineZP is a Windows focus-stacking program that combines focused regions from multiple photographs into an image with greater depth of field. Its documented methods include Do Stack and Pyramid Maximum Contrast. It provides quick and thorough image alignment, with rotation correction in thorough alignment. Batch processing can stack images, and users can adjust memory use for image sets that demand more from the computer. Macro parameters are editable for additional control over close-up stacking. JPEG is the documented output format. The program is free and the repository identifies its license as GPL-3.0. The repository preserves code originally created by Alan Hadley and shared under the GPL; it contains CombineZ5 and combineZP directories, a README, a license file, and an installer. The README refers to a compiled Windows x86 version 1.0, updated January 27, 2012, in a file named combinezp.msi. The repository says it is kept for posterity, lists no published releases, and a microscopy tools page describes the software as not maintained. Windows is the listed platform; a third-party microscopy tools page also says it works with Wine on Linux.

FocusFusion is a free Windows application that combines photographs taken at different focus distances into one image with greater depth of field. It provides depthmap and wavelet focus-stacking algorithms, automatic alignment, and manual retouching. Depthmap expects images ordered front-to-back or back-to-front and can struggle with translucency or complex overlaps. Wavelet accepts images in any order, but may increase noise, create artifacts at sharp luminance transitions, or reduce alignment quality. Processing uses at least 16-bit precision per channel. Supported inputs are TIFF up to 48 bpp, 16-bit-per-channel JPEG XR, and classic 8-bit JPEG; RAW files are not supported. A clone-based retouching tool offers adjustable brush size, hardness, and opacity, with cloning at 16-bit quality. FocusFusion requires Windows 10, an SSE4.1 CPU made after 2008, and at least 8 GB of memory; 16 GB is recommended for deeper stacks or larger DSLR images. It is distributed through the Windows Store.