CombineZP vs Open Galileo
CombineZP
github.comOpen Galileo
opengalileostacker.blogspot.comSide by side
| Figure | CombineZP | Open Galileo |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 2 |
| Spec score · Focus Stacking Software | 8.5 (#3) | 7.5 (#17) |
| Alignment | The software provides quick and thorough image alignment, with rotation correction in thorough alignment. | It automatically aligns images using correlation algorithms (ECC) and compensates for focus breathing and small shot variations. |
| Focus stacking | CombineZP combines focused areas from multiple photographs into an image with greater depth of field. | It offers PMax multiband, weighted average, and depth-map fusion methods. |
| Intended users | The product page describes CombineZP as suited to Windows users doing close-up or macro focus stacking. | The maker names microscopists, laboratories, scientists, students, macro and nature photographers, astrophotographers, educators, and science communicators as intended users. |
| License | GitHub identifies the repository license as GPL-3.0. | The software is released under CC BY-NC 4.0, and commercial use requires the author's prior permission. |
| Platform | A third-party microscopy tools page describes CombineZP as a stacker for MS Windows that works with Wine on Linux. | The release offers a desktop executable for Windows. |
| Purpose | The repository preserves CombineZP, whose original code was made by Alan Hadley and shared under the GPL. | Open Galileo combines images for focus stacking and advanced signal integration, aimed at scientific photography, microscopy, macro photography, astrophotography, and technical documentation. |
| Support | The opened repository and product pages do not describe a support channel. | The maker invites voluntary donations to support the project's maintenance and improvement. |
Plans
In their own words
CombineZP
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.
Open Galileo
Open Galileo is free, open-source Windows software for focus stacking and signal integration in scientific photography, microscopy, macro photography, astrophotography, and technical documentation. It automatically aligns image sets with correlation algorithms, compensating for focus breathing and small shot differences. Focus fusion options include PMax multiband, weighted average, and depth-map methods. Astronomy mode combines signals using mean, median, sum, or sigma-clipping integration. Processing uses Laplacian, Difference of Gaussians, and variance focus measures, plus multiscale fusion with Laplacian pyramids. Optional tools provide contrast normalization, CLAHE, Unsharp Mask sharpening, and noise reduction including BM3D and approximate Noise2Void. Folders can be processed and saved automatically. JPG, PNG, TIFF, and RAW files are supported. The interface includes live previews, progress bars, parameter sliders, and a large-screen layout. It is released under CC BY-NC 4.0; commercial use needs the author's prior permission.