I focus stacked my images- the results were clear, vivid, and spectacular
I just fixed the biggest (microscopy-related) problem of my life.
One of my major pain points with microscopy is the low depth of field. Biological optical microscopes are simply not made for large or thick specimen, and some of the samples I was dying to observe were both (relatively) large and thick.
Focus stacking is a technique used to artificially increase the depth of field of any image. I tried it, the results were phenomenal, and I am never going back.
Today, let’s revisit some original samples, but better, clearer, and thicker.
Copper Sulfate
This is hands down the best result from the focus stacking. The entire layer is in perfect focus. Look at the depth, the slant of the edges, the tiny crystals scattered below, the wonderful blurred background. The clarity, the resolution, the detail; I could stare at this image for hours.Gentler, darker, and more somber. The low light is dignified. Look how all layers are in focus, how the details are stark and clear cut. Look at the line cutting across the crystal, the dark band on top, the tiny inconsistencies. Spectacular.A turbulent surface. Plenty of dirt and debris. Look at the light filtering through the bottom, the bright spots and the dark ones, and the suppurations of the crystals within the crystals.A bit noisy, but clean. Look at the lines, the folds in the crystals. The smooth, dim nature. The shades of blue. The playful art of the shadows.Bit of an anomaly. Look at the cracks on the surface, the blue, the light, the whole nine. But also at those dark splotches, the weird nature of the crystals that doesn’t quite compute. This image is focus stacked, and has a larger depth of field, but I think the software botched up the images in some way or the other.
Foam
Bright red and brilliant. The fluttering, wispy nature and the blood-like color always wins my heart. It’s great to see all the layers at once, clear and in focus. Look at the divisions within, like cells, and the tiny debris inside each. What a wonderful and complex structure.
Looking to do a lot more focus stacking. A little depth is always appreciated.
All images were viewed with an optical, light microscope at 40x total magnification. Images taken with a midrange phone camera, cropped, and adjusted. Focus stacking was done with Helicon Focus.
