Merging Images

Exposure Bracketing

Panorama

Focus Stacking

Animation

Long Exposure

Remove Moving Objects

The functions in this section are used to combine multiple shots into a single resulting image. The functions cannot be launched if only one image is selected in the Browser or Filmstrip; more than one must be selected.

Images to be merged can be selected manually by clicking on specific files, but it is also possible to let the program analyze the images in the folder and divide the files into stacks by type. This is done using the Autostack function. Within the autostacking, it can be set so that automatic merging of the files also takes place afterwards using the function that Zoner Studio has identified as the correct one for the given stack type.

More information

Stacking

Exposure Bracketing

Exposure bracketing is a photographic technique in which the camera creates several shots of the same subject – each with a different level of exposure. Typically, at least three shots are needed: underexposed (too dark), normally exposed, and overexposed (too bright). However, the number of shots is not limited and any number can be used.

The goal of this technique is to obtain an image with a high dynamic range. The exposure bracketing function in Zoner Studio allows images captured this way to be merged into a single resulting file.

The function dialog offers two methods: Tone Mapping and Extended Dynamic Range.

Tone Mapping

Data from the individual exposures is mapped into the resulting file with a standard dynamic range. Each part of the resulting image draws from the exposure in which it was correctly captured – bright areas from the shot with lower exposure, dark shadows from the overexposed one. The result is a fully usable image that can be further edited. This is a faster and simpler method, suitable when you want to achieve a naturally looking image without the need for complex adjustments.

Extended Dynamic Range

This is a more advanced method whose resulting image looks very similar to a normally exposed shot, but contains significantly more data in the highlights and shadows. This makes it possible during manual editing – for example in the Develop module – to extract a truly high dynamic range from the image and reveal details that could not be recovered from a single exposure. A real HDR image can also be created from such a merged file. This is a more advanced method whose result must be further edited.

Align Pictures – used for handheld shots. If the photos were taken on a tripod, disable this option.

Deghosting – eliminates artifacts from moving objects. If scenes are static, disable this option.

Panorama

The Panorama function allows a panoramic image to be assembled from multiple photos. Both horizontally and vertically oriented panoramas can be assembled, as well as matrix panoramas composed of several rows and columns of photos.

When compositing a panorama, you will see a preview of the composited result in the left part of the dialog, and the projection settings and other parameters on the right.

Projection Types

Projections are divided into three groups based on typical use.

Universal:

• Spherical – the default and most universal method, suitable for the vast majority of situations.
• Stereographic – similar to spherical, but the result looks somewhat more natural.

Fisheye – an effect projection resembling a fisheye lens; more suitable as a creative choice.

Landscape:

• Cylindrical – suitable for landscape shots with a predominantly horizontal character.
• Mercator – similar to cylindrical, but handles scenes containing tall objects better, where cylindrical projection fails.

Architecture:

• Panini – a modern projection designed to preserve straight lines; generally the best choice for architecture.
• Perspective – strictly preserves straight lines, but tends to cause excessive cropping of the image and is not suitable for shots exceeding approximately 110°.

Settings and Parameters

Projection strength – affects the intensity of distortion of the given method.

The Yaw, Pitch, and Roll sliders allow fine-tuning of errors that occurred during shooting – such as a crooked horizon or an unwanted tilt of the scene.

Resolution – sets the maximum size of the output file. The default value is 8K, which ensures a smooth experience even for larger panoramas. The program also offers higher resolutions or the No Limit option – however, it should be noted that the higher the resolution, the longer the processing takes, especially on less powerful computers.

Crop resulting image – when this option is checked, the program automatically crops the composited panorama to remove the distorted edges originating from the edges of the original shots.

Focus Stacking

Focus stacking is a photographic technique used most frequently in macro photography, but it also finds application in product photography or when shooting nature. The camera captures multiple shots of the same object taken with different focus settings, and Zoner Studio then assembles these shots into a single resulting image with a significantly greater depth of field than could be achieved with a single shot. Each image captures only a certain part of the scene sharply; the program then takes the sharpest part from each and assembles them together.

In Zoner Studio, this is a fully automatic function. Simply select all images intended for compositing in the Explorer and launch the function – the program takes care of the rest. The function dialog offers a single option:

Crop resulting image – this option determines how the program handles the edges of the resulting image. During focus stacking, a phenomenon known as focus breathing occurs: when the focus point changes, the angle of view of the lens also changes slightly, and with it the apparent size of the photographed subject. The shots are therefore not perfectly identical – areas arise at the edges that are not covered by all shots. If the Crop resulting image option is enabled, the program automatically crops these edges and delivers a clean result.

Animation

The Animation function allows a video to be assembled from a series of photographs. It is suitable for two typical situations: continuous shooting and time-lapse.

With continuous shooting, the camera captures a rapid sequence of shots – for example at a wedding ceremony, a kiss or other key moment can be photographed at 30 frames per second and the resulting photos then assembled into a smooth video clip. The advantage over direct video recording is the higher image quality typical of photographs.

Time-lapse, on the other hand, captures longer time periods: the camera takes shots at regular intervals – minutes or hours – and the Animation function assembles them into a video in which time passes noticeably faster. A tripod is essential for time-lapse, because even the slightest camera movement will appear as a disruptive jump in the resulting video.

Parameters

Codec – determines the compression format of the resulting video. Affects both the size of the resulting file and compatibility with players. In general: modern codecs (H.265/HEVC) achieve smaller file sizes at the same quality, while older codecs (H.264/AVC) are supported on a wider range of devices.

Resolution – respects the orientation of the photos and adjusts the resulting video so that the frame fits within the long side of the chosen resolution. Standard formats FHD (1920 × 1080) and 4K (3840 × 2160) are available.

Quality – determines the degree of video compression. Higher quality means a more faithful image and a larger file; lower quality reduces the file size but may introduce compression artifacts into the image.

FPS (frames per second) – indicates the smoothness of the resulting video. A higher value gives smoother motion, a lower value creates a choppy, stylized effect – typical for example of time-lapse recordings.

Image Duration offers two modes:

Automatic – the program maps the shots according to their timestamps to the selected FPS, so the duration of each shot corresponds to the actual interval between photos. The result depends on the accuracy of the metadata in the files.

Manual – the display duration of each frame is entered as a number of video frames, the same as in the Video module. This mode gives full control over the result.

Alignment – performs static video stabilization by aligning the shots with each other and eliminating small shifts caused by handheld shooting.

Long Exposure

The Long Exposure function allows the effect of a long exposure to be achieved after the fact – without a tripod and without special filters directly during shooting.

Align Pictures – mutually aligns the shots and compensates for small shifts caused by handheld shooting. When shooting on a tripod, this can be disabled.

Remove Moving Objects

The Remove Moving Objects function is used to clean a scene of unwanted moving elements – such as tourists walking in front of a monument, passing cars, or branches swaying in the wind. The principle is based on comparing multiple shots of the same location: because the static parts of the scene are the same in all shots while moving objects are in a different position each time, the program can identify them and remove them from the resulting image. The more shots you provide, the more reliable the result the function delivers.

Align Pictures – mutually aligns the shots and compensates for small shifts caused by handheld shooting. When shooting on a tripod, this can be disabled.