Features
- Two merge methods:Pick the approach that suits the subject, and run a hard series twice with one click.
- Detail: Works on wavelet coefficients and holds fine texture such as wing scales and coin rim milling.
- Smooth: Builds a depth map across the series and blends along it, which suits gradients and soft backgrounds.
- Radius setting: Spans 3 to 32 and trades sharpness for calm, keeping roughly four fifths of Detail at Radius 3 and about half at Radius 32.
- Smoothing control: Sits beside Radius and balances noise against halos on a difficult subject.
- Built-in alignment:Corrects shifts and scale changes before the merge begins.
- Two-stage matching: Matches each frame to its neighbor rather than a single reference, so the chain holds on a long rail run.
- Affine ECC model: Covers the scale and shift caused by focus breathing.
- Background blur from depth:Softens the distant area using the distance each pixel already carries.
- Amount slider: Sets how strong the blur is.
- Sharp depth slider: Sets how much depth stays sharp.
- Lens style: Swells bright points into round highlights.
- Plain soft style: Gives an even, simple blur.
- Non-destructive recompute: Apply blur starts from the clean merge every time, so the sharp part returns as original 16-bit pixels, and it takes about 2.5 seconds on a 17-megapixel result.
- Batch folder mode:Handles many series in a single run.
- Subfolder series: Treats each subfolder as its own stack.
- Named results: Writes each result file under the name of its folder.
- RAW and standard format support:Reads the files your camera actually writes.
- LibRaw decoding: Reads DNG, CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, ORF and RW2 as linear 16-bit data.
- Common formats: Reads JPEG, PNG, TIFF and BMP.
- Output choices: Writes 16-bit TIFF, JPEG or PNG.
- Predictable memory handling:Merges incrementally so large stacks stay manageable.
- Resolution-based cost: Uses about 200 MB per megapixel.
- Frame-count independence: 20 frames and 100 frames of the same camera cost the same RAM.
- Local, lightweight processing:Keeps the work on your computer.
- Lighweight installer: Links OpenCV, LibRaw and the image codecs statically.
- No uploads: Reads and writes only on your own disk.
- Reliable cancel:Stops a run when you ask it to.
- Clean memory release: A cancelled 74-frame run returned 849 MB back to 46 MB.
- Intact workspace: The window and file list remain after cancelling.
- Clear series checking:Helps you catch mistakes before they cost time.
- Natural-order list: Shows every file in the merge so you can compare it with your shooting notes.
- Size validation: Stops the run with a message naming any frame of a different pixel size.
