Construction and programming of an autonomous focus stacker

• Published in: Computers & geosciences Vol. 37; no. 10; pp. 1670 - 1676
• Main Author: Savazzi, Enrico
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Arduino microcontroller board; Areal geology; Areal geology. Maps; Autonomous; C++; computer software; computers; Construction; Depth of field; Digital photography; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Electronics; Embedded programming; Exact sciences and technology; Focal plane; Focus stacking; Geologic maps, cartography; Photomacrography; Photomicrography; Scientific photography; Stackers; Stacks; Three dimensional; Photomacrography; Embedded programming; C++; Arduino microcontroller board; Scientific photography; Focus stacking; Photomicrography; Digital photography; Depth of field; diffraction; software; data processing; depth; three-dimensional models; digital images; errors; computers; photography
• ISSN: 0098-3004; 1873-7803
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cageo.2011.02.018

Focus stacking is a technique of photomacrography and photomicrography that produces images of small three-dimensional subjects with an arbitrarily high depth of field, unencumbered by diffraction, by combining the in-focus portions of a stack of images of the subject recorded at different focal planes. Software packages are available for postprocessing an image stack into the final image, but the stack images are normally shot either with (typically expensive) automated equipment or by a manual, time-consuming, and error-prone procedures. This paper discusses the construction of an autonomous stacker with inexpensive preassembled electronics and a moderate amount of mechanical construction, and its C++ software.