FOCUS projects 4 professional vs Helicon Focus
FOCUS projects 4 professional
franzis.deHelicon Focus
heliconsoft.comSide by side
| Figure | FOCUS projects 4 professional | Helicon Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | — |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 12 |
| Spec score · Focus Stacking Software | 8.0 (#7) | 7.9 (#10) |
| Purpose | FOCUS projects 4 professional creates macro photographs with extended depth of field and detailed results. | Helicon Focus combines multiple images taken at different focus distances into one image with extended depth of field. |
| Stack capacity | The product supports up to 1,000 focus planes. | The maker says Helicon Focus can process stacks of hundreds of high-resolution images and supports unlimited stack length. |
| Support | FRANZIS directs software questions to its contact form and asks customers to provide the product version and operating system. | For technical issues, the maker directs users to submit a bug report through Help → Contact support on Windows or Mac and points users to its FAQ. |
Plans
Helicon Focus
- Lite — 1 yearPrice not published
- Pro package — 1 yearPrice not published
- Premium package — 1 yearPrice not published
- Lite — lifetimePrice not published
- Pro package — lifetimePrice not published
- Premium package — lifetimePrice not published
- Helicon Focus Lite — 1 year license$30 a year
- Helicon Focus Pro package — 1 year license$55 a year
- Helicon Focus Premium package — 1 year license$65 a year
- Helicon Focus Lite — Lifetime license$115, paid once
In their own words
FOCUS projects 4 professional
FOCUS projects 4 professional is a standalone FRANZIS application for creating macro photographs with extended depth of field. Its HQ stacking uses 64-bit calculation, Focus-Boost technology increases sharpness, and stacks can contain up to 1,000 focus planes. The software advertises precise alignment and includes automatic alignment, batch processing and manual retouching. It supports RAW input and outputs RAW, TIFF, JPEG and other formats, with a bracketed HDR merge mode. An Adobe Lightroom plug-in is included. FRANZIS lists the application for Mac OS X 10.7 and Windows 10, 8.1, 8 and 7; the product page also presents it for macOS and Windows. The full version is an immediately available download, and a demo version is linked. The listed Vollversion plan costs €20 as a one-time purchase, with an offer price of €20,00 including VAT and a stated UVP of €99,00. The pricing note says from €69. There is no free plan, but a free trial is available. FRANZIS describes its photography products as suitable for beginners and professionals.
Helicon Focus
Helicon Focus combines photographs captured at different focus distances into one image with extended depth of field. It is designed for focus stacking in macro and micro photography, close-ups, jewelry, products, landscapes, flowers, animals, and still life. The software processes images at 16-bit precision, supports color profiles, opens RAW files, and can save Pro results as DNG. It handles stacks of hundreds of high-resolution images and supports unlimited stack length. Retouching tools copy areas from aligned source images or combine areas from outputs, with a grid for detailed work. Batch rendering can queue and split stacks, while command-line parameters allow calls from other applications. Lightroom and Capture One plugins export stacks. Pro features add 3D model export and 2D micropanorama stitching. Current downloads support 64-bit Windows 10 or 11 and macOS 12 or later. A fully featured trial lasts 30 days; Demo mode then limits resolution and adds a watermark.