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stacker:docs:howtouseit [2011/07/04 00:24] rjlittlefield |
stacker:docs:howtouseit [2023/12/10 05:10] (current) rjlittlefield [Where To Next?] |
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| From this point, there are several directions you may want to go. These include: | From this point, there are several directions you may want to go. These include: | ||
| + | * Read some more of the __[[:stacker:docs:tutorials:tutorialsindex|Tutorials]]__. | ||
| + | * Read through the list of __[[faqlist|FAQs]]__. | ||
| * Try out the other major stacking method, __[[#dmap_versus_pmax|DMap]]__. | * Try out the other major stacking method, __[[#dmap_versus_pmax|DMap]]__. | ||
| * Use __[[#retouching|retouching]]__ to combine the best aspects of several images. | * Use __[[#retouching|retouching]]__ to combine the best aspects of several images. | ||
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| With default settings, DMap processing is broken into three big steps: | With default settings, DMap processing is broken into three big steps: | ||
| - | - Computation: the entire stack is processed to generate a draft quality depth map by analyzing local image features. | + | - Computation: the entire stack is processed to generate a draft quality depth map by analyzing local image features. \\ \\ |
| - | + | - Human judgment: the user interactively sets a “contrast threshold” that separates significant detail from irrelevant noise. This is accomplished by using a slider that provides immediate visual feedback. Areas that should be treated as irrelevant noise are shown as black during this step. \\ \\ | |
| - | - Human judgment: the user interactively sets a “contrast threshold” that separates significant detail from irrelevant noise. This is accomplished by using a slider that provides immediate visual feedback. Areas that should be treated as irrelevant noise are shown as black during this step. | + | |
| - Computation: the depth map is refined based on the contrast threshold, and from that map, the final image is constructed. | - Computation: the depth map is refined based on the contrast threshold, and from that map, the final image is constructed. | ||
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| When the threshold is set properly, click the OK button and wait for the computation to finish. | When the threshold is set properly, click the OK button and wait for the computation to finish. | ||
| + | |||
| + | If the result is not ideal, then repeat the process, using a different setting of the slider. | ||
| + | |||
| + | For example if there are blotches in background near the subject, then expand the black mask to cover those blotches, by moving the slider slightly to the right. | ||
| The DMap output from Percentile: 55.0 is shown below. | The DMap output from Percentile: 55.0 is shown below. | ||
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| * Select an output image, then Edit > Start Retouching... This internally prepares the image for retouching. It also synchronizes the two image windows, so they automatically stay aligned as the images are zoomed and panned. | * Select an output image, then Edit > Start Retouching... This internally prepares the image for retouching. It also synchronizes the two image windows, so they automatically stay aligned as the images are zoomed and panned. | ||
| - | * With no keys depressed, the retouching brush displays as a yellow circle. Rotating the mousewheel at this point changes the size of the brush. The brush size can also be changed by keyboard using the square bracket keys, ”[” to make smaller and ”]” to make larger. Pressing and holding the spacebar gives you a "hand" cursor, {{:stacker:docs:howtouseit:image006.jpg}}. While the hand cursor is active, pressing and dragging the mouse pans the image, and rotating the mousewheel changes the image zoom. Pressing the "s" key temporarily displays the current source image in place of the destination image. Quickly pressing and releasing the "s" key will flash between these two images, allowing you to quickly and easily compare specific areas that may need retouching. | + | * When you are done retouching, you must do an Edit > Commit Retouching to save the retouched version as a new Output Image, or Edit > Cancel Retouching to discard the retouching and go back to normal mode. **Several important functions, notably File > Save Output Image(s), are disabled while you are in retouching mode.** |
| + | |||
| + | * In retouching mode, with no keys depressed, the retouching brush displays as a yellow circle. Rotating the mousewheel at this point changes the size of the brush. The brush size can also be changed by keyboard using the square bracket keys, ”[” to make smaller and ”]” to make larger. Pressing and holding the spacebar gives you a "hand" cursor, {{:stacker:docs:howtouseit:image006.jpg}}. While the hand cursor is active, pressing and dragging the mouse pans the image, and rotating the mousewheel changes the image zoom. Pressing the "s" key temporarily displays the current source image in place of the destination image. Quickly pressing and releasing the "s" key will flash between these two images, allowing you to quickly and easily compare specific areas that may need retouching. | ||
| * The source image for retouching can be one of the individual input files, or any output image, including the original version of the output image that is being retouched. | * The source image for retouching can be one of the individual input files, or any output image, including the original version of the output image that is being retouched. | ||
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| ===== Saving Work In A “Project” ===== | ===== Saving Work In A “Project” ===== | ||
| - | Using a “project” in Zerene Stacker lets you leave the program, get back in, and pick up working where you left off. The project contains links to the input images, alignment and brightness adjustments, and copies of the output images stored in a proprietary lossless format suitable for subsequent processing. | + | Saving a “project” in Zerene Stacker lets you leave the program, then quickly get back in and resume working where you left off. A project contains links to the input images, values of alignment and brightness adjustments for each input image, copies of the output images stored in a proprietary lossless format suitable for subsequent processing, and most of the Options > Preferences settings that were in effect at the time the project was saved. |
| - | In the computer’s file system, each Zerene Stacker project consists of a directory of files, one of which has file type “.zsj”. | + | Many people never save projects. If you're sure that you have an image completed to the point where you're done using Zerene Stacker, then you can just File > Save Output Image to create a TIFF or JPEG file, and all the other information will be thrown away when you exit the program. |
| - | With default settings, new projects are initially created with a temporary name in a temporary location. Saving a project involves simply renaming the directory and .zsj file if possible, or copying if necessary. Other options and directory locations can be set under Options > Preferences > New Projects. | + | But if you think you might want to do some more retouching, then it's better to File > Save Project until you're sure that you really are done. Some people retain their projects forever; other people delete them at some point to save disk space. |
| + | |||
| + | To re-load the project, use File > Open Project. If the project shows as an ordinary folder, then navigate inside the folder, select the file that has extension ".zsj", and open that. | ||
| <html><a name="_Batch_Processing"> </a></html> | <html><a name="_Batch_Processing"> </a></html> | ||
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| In the following example, the user has defined one batch, consisting of 7 folders of source images. A new project will be constructed for each folder of source images, PMax and DMap will be run within each project, the projects will be saved in a designated location, and output images will be both retained within the projects and written to external files. | In the following example, the user has defined one batch, consisting of 7 folders of source images. A new project will be constructed for each folder of source images, PMax and DMap will be run within each project, the projects will be saved in a designated location, and output images will be both retained within the projects and written to external files. | ||
| - | {{:stacker:docs:howtouseit:image010.jpg}} | + | {{:stacker:docs:howtouseit:image010v2.jpg}} |
| - | For batch usage, the appropriate contrast threshold for DMap is best determined by running a typical stack interactively. Then you can set Options > Preferences to apply that same threshold unattended to all folders in the batch. | + | Pressing the "Save Batch to Queue" button causes the bottom panel of the Batch Queue dialog to update so that it looks like this: |
| - | {{:stacker:docs:howtouseit:image011.jpg}} | + | {{:stacker:docs:howtouseit:image010p5v2.jpg}} |
| + | |||
| + | At this point, pressing the "Run All Batches" button will cause the indicated tasks to be run against the indicated folders or projects. (Note the ordering, "tasks: folders" .) | ||
| + | |||
| + | In the Batch Queue dialog, the “Add Current Project” button has two different uses, as follows: | ||
| + | |||
| + | - If the currently open project has been saved at some point and thus has a well-defined name, then that name is simply recorded. This allows a sequence of batch operations to be constructed incrementally, by opening a project and specifying tasks to be done with it, then opening a different project, specifying tasks for that project, and so on. In this case, the batch queue entries will look something like this: \\ {{:stacker:docs:howtouseit:image012v2.jpg}} \\ \\ | ||
| + | - If the currently open project is new and has never been saved, then pressing Add Current Project records the target as “%CurrentProject%”. Batch operations defined in this way can be executed on multiple different projects at various times. This feature is particularly useful in combination with Save Batch Script and Load Batch Script. In this case, the batch queue entries will look like this: \\ {{:stacker:docs:howtouseit:image013v2.jpg}} | ||
| Note that each task may have different options (preferences) set for it. The task records whatever Options > Preferences are in effect at the time the Add button is pressed. | Note that each task may have different options (preferences) set for it. The task records whatever Options > Preferences are in effect at the time the Add button is pressed. | ||
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| The options for a task can be confirmed and/or changed by highlighting the task and pressing Change Options. Options can also be displayed in a textual form by highlighting a task and pressing Details. | The options for a task can be confirmed and/or changed by highlighting the task and pressing Change Options. Options can also be displayed in a textual form by highlighting a task and pressing Details. | ||
| - | In the Batch Queue dialog, the “Add Current Project” button has two different uses, as follows: | + | For batch usage, the appropriate contrast threshold for DMap is best determined by running a typical stack interactively. Then you can set Options > Preferences to apply that same threshold unattended to all folders in the batch. |
| - | - If the currently open project has been saved at some point and thus has a well-defined name, then that name is simply recorded. This allows a sequence of batch operations to be constructed incrementally, by opening a project and specifying tasks to be done with it, then opening a different project, specifying tasks for that project, and so on. In this case, the batch queue entries will look something like this: \\ {{:stacker:docs:howtouseit:image012.jpg}} \\ \\ | + | {{:stacker:docs:howtouseit:image011v2.jpg}} |
| - | - If the currently open project is new and has never been saved, then pressing Add Current Project records the target as “%CurrentProject%”. Batch operations defined in this way can be executed on multiple different projects at various times. This feature is particularly useful in combination with Save Batch Script and Load Batch Script. In this case, the batch queue entries will look like this: \\ {{:stacker:docs:howtouseit:image013.jpg}} | + | |
| - | + | ||
| - | Similarly, the setting for disposition of output images to “Save in source folder” does different things depending on the target of the batch operation, as follows: | + | |
| - | * If the target is a folder of source images, then output images will go into that folder. | ||
| - | * If the target is a new project and “New projects are temporary (do not save)”, then output images will go in the folder of the first source image. | ||
| - | * If the target is a project that has already been saved or will be saved as a result of “Disposition of new projects”, then output images will go in the root of the project folder. | ||
| The batch capability can also be used to provide an API (Application Programming Interface) that allows Zerene Stacker to be controlled by another application such as [[http://rsbweb.nih.gov/ij/|ImageJ]] or a command script. For details, see, **[[:stacker:docs:batchapi|Batch API: Running Zerene Stacker From Another Application]]**. | The batch capability can also be used to provide an API (Application Programming Interface) that allows Zerene Stacker to be controlled by another application such as [[http://rsbweb.nih.gov/ij/|ImageJ]] or a command script. For details, see, **[[:stacker:docs:batchapi|Batch API: Running Zerene Stacker From Another Application]]**. | ||
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| ===== StackShot Controller Interface ===== | ===== StackShot Controller Interface ===== | ||
| - | Zerene Stacker includes an integrated controller for the [[http://www.cognisys-inc.com/stackshot/stackshot.php|StackShot]] automated rail by [[http://www.cognisys-inc.com/home_cogn.php|Cognisys]]. This feature is described in its own documentation page, [[stacker:docs:stackshot|StackShot Controller Interface]]. | + | Zerene Stacker includes an integrated controller for the [[http://www.cognisys-inc.com/stackshot/stackshot.php|StackShot]] automated rail by [[http://www.cognisys-inc.com/home_cogn.php|Cognisys]]. This [[:stacker:docs:faqlist#what_are_the_differences_between_personal_and_professional|Pro-only feature]] is described in its own documentation page, [[stacker:docs:stackshot|StackShot Controller Interface]]. |