What are the best practices for shooting images for stacking purposes?

1 Camera preparation

Before you start shooting, make sure your camera is ready for image stacking. You will need a tripod to keep your camera steady and avoid any movement between shots. You will also need a remote shutter release or a self-timer to minimize camera shake when pressing the shutter button. If possible, use a lens hood to reduce lens flare and a polarizing filter to enhance contrast and colors.

2 Shooting settings

The shooting settings for image stacking depend on the effect you want to achieve and the conditions of the scene. Generally, you want to use a low ISO to reduce noise, a small aperture to increase depth of field, and a manual or aperture priority mode to keep the exposure consistent. You also want to turn off any auto features, such as white balance, focus, and image stabilization, to avoid variations between shots. Depending on the subject and the lighting, you may need to adjust the shutter speed, the exposure compensation, or the bracketing mode.

3 Shot alignment

One of the most important aspects of image stacking is to align your shots perfectly. This means that the composition, the perspective, and the framing of each shot should be identical. To achieve this, you need to lock your tripod and avoid any movement or zooming of your camera or lens. You also need to make sure that your subject is static or moving in a predictable way. If there are any moving elements in the scene, such as people, cars, or clouds, you may need to mask them out later in the software.

4 Software selection

The final step of image stacking is to use a software program that can blend your shots together and create the desired effect. There are many software options available, ranging from free to paid, from simple to complex, and from general to specific. Some of the most popular ones are Photoshop, Lightroom, Helicon Focus, Zerene Stacker, and Starry Landscape Stacker. Each software has its own advantages and disadvantages, and you may need to experiment with different ones to find the one that suits your needs and preferences.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?