Focus Stacking Online vs FocusFusion

Focus Stacking Online combines photographs of one scene taken at different focus distances, blending the sharp portions into a single image. The maker describes it as free to use in a browser, without installing software. The workflow is to add pictures, choose an alignment method and a reference picture, stack the images, then download the result. Standard and Beta alignment methods are listed; the maker says Beta can perform better in some cases. A reference picture can be selected according to how much of the subject is in focus. The service is described as working on home laptops and smartphones. Focus stacking is presented as useful for producing sharper images, particularly in macro photography, where depth of field can be shallow. The maker recommends keeping the camera fixed because camera shake and scene variation can make stacking harder. A stack may contain two images or more than 100. The homepage also describes a recent stacks gallery and a feature for sharing to social media. FAQ and Contact us links are provided.

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.