Fokusstapling

Fokusstapling, also known as focus stacking or depth-of-field merging, is a digital image processing technique used in photography to increase the depth of field in an image. This is achieved by taking multiple photographs of the same subject at different focal planes. Each photograph captures a slightly different part of the subject in sharp focus.

The process begins with the photographer taking a series of images. The camera remains stationary, and only the focus is adjusted between shots. Typically, the first image is focused on the nearest part of the subject, and subsequent images are progressively focused further back until the farthest part of the subject is in focus. A sufficiently large number of shots are taken to ensure that the entire subject is covered by at least one sharp image.

Once the images are captured, specialized software is used to combine them. The software analyzes each image and identifies the sharpest areas. It then merges these sharp areas from all the individual images into a single, final image. The result is an image where a much greater portion of the subject is in focus than would be possible with a single exposure.

Fokusstapling is particularly useful in macro photography, where the depth of field is naturally very shallow. It is also employed in landscape photography, product photography, and any situation where it is desirable to have both foreground and background elements in sharp detail. The technique allows photographers to overcome the physical limitations of lens optics to achieve unprecedented sharpness and detail across a wide range of distances.