focus-stack vs PhotoAcute Studio

focus-stack is a free desktop program that combines photographs taken at different focus settings into an image with extended depth of field. For each pixel, it selects the sharpest source image, a method documented for uses such as microscope photography. The tool can resize and rotate stack images to align them, or alignment can be skipped or adjusted. Outputs include a focus-stacked image, an optional depth map, and a 3D preview based on that map. Input formats supported by OpenCV include JPG, PNG, and TIFF, while the filename extension determines output format. Processing controls cover denoising, consistency filtering, batch size, and thread count. OpenCV’s OpenCL interface provides GPU acceleration when available, with an option to disable it. Binary packages are listed for Windows 10, Ubuntu 20.04, and Mac OS X. The project is MIT licensed; Linux builds require OpenCV 3.0 or newer and basic build tools.

PhotoAcute Studio processes sets of photos, especially continuous-mode shots, to create high-resolution images with reduced noise. Its superresolution feature combines frames to increase spatial resolution beyond a single source image. Combining photographs can also reduce noise while retaining detail. For exposure-bracketed images, HDR processing can restore shadows and clipped highlights, including when photos are misaligned. Focus stacking combines images taken at different focus distances to increase depth of field. The software also corrects geometric distortion and chromatic aberrations and can remove unwanted moving objects. It supports automatic alignment and batch processing, with RAW, JPEG, TIFF, and OpenEXR output. The maker describes RAW-in-RAW-out processing for fitting results into an existing workflow. Trial mode allows use of all image-processing features, but stamps saved images; the guide says the trial has no time limit. The paid product has no free plan. It runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows; its v2.96 download page lists Windows and Mac OS X, with Linux supported via Wine.