Focus merging instructions

[richard gold]

In my attempt to learn focus stacking (merging), I ran into a problem rather quickly. I was able to download the Mother of Millions images and to activate all of them from 1-41. However, I had to go out of my Affinity screen and into my 'files' page to find and activate the MOM files. I then went back into the Affinity page but on the start screen, there was no tab that said Open although there was one that said OK but was deactivated. How do I get the files from outside Affinity back into Affinity so they can be processed?

Thanks, Richard

 

[firstdefence]

You need to add images to the stack by clicking on the Add button, then go look for the images in the window that opens, once you have the images in the focus stack window the OK button will be active.

[John Rostron]

Are you following the correct procedure for a Focus Merge Stack?

1. File > New Focus Merge. This opens a dialog box to allow you to select the files to merge. Click on Add.
2. This opens an Explorer/Filer window. Select your files in this widow and click on Open.
3. You should now have your files listed in the dialog box. Click OK.

I cannot match this procedure to what you have written.

John

[firstdefence]

So you are referring to the plant "The mother of millions", not sure what you mean by "activate" just remember where you put the folder with the 41 images in and when clicking add go look for them and select all of the images in that folder.

[richard gold]

John and firstdefense,

Okay. I do have a folder for the MOM files. I  dragged and dropped it into my picture folder and that worked. I opened it and all the files were there. However, when I clicked on the ADD button only one file came over. I tried to highlight all the files next but that did not work. I thought this would surely do the job. If either of you would consider an email exchange or even a phone call that would be great. I could then post whatever worked for the Affinity users. I know I am close but no cigar yet.

Help.  

[firstdefence]

What format are the images in jpg, tiff, raw?

[richard gold]

All files were in .jpg format.

Richard

[firstdefence]

It really should be a very simple process, just for the hell of it, don't add all the images just highlight the first 10 and add them.

[richard gold]

Guess what? Holey Moley! Great Balls of Fire!

The program works! I got out of Affinity and then gave it one last try and, Voila!

For the record and for anyone with similar problems: Because the MOM files are not taken with your own cameras, they might not be in your picture folder where you can email them or open them for post work, etc. So...drag the mother file containing all the stacked images into your picture files folder and open it up to make sure all images are there. Then click on all the images you want to stack and hit the ADD button and they should come over into the stack program. I like using the split screen approach for this whenever I have to move an image from one program to another.

Thanks to John and firstdefense for helping.

Richard

[R C-R]

10 hours ago, richard gold said:

Because the MOM files are not taken with your own cameras, they might not be in your picture folder where you can email them or open them for post work, etc. So...drag the mother file containing all the stacked images into your picture files folder and open it up to make sure all images are there. Then click on all the images you want to stack and hit the ADD button and they should come over into the stack program.

It is not necessary for the files you want to merge to be in your Pictures folder, or even all in the same folder. Just follow the procedure @John Rostronmentioned in this post above. In step 2 you can navigate to any folder on your computer that you have read access to, in the same way you can when opening a single file.

[richard gold]

R-C-R,

Thank you for that info. However, whenever I clicked on the ADD button I did not get the Explorer/Filer window. I had to open the 'Files' window myself and select the folder containing the images for the 'Stacking' example. I am using Windows 10 if that makes any difference.

Photodoc16

Richard 

[R C-R]

6 minutes ago, richard gold said:

However, whenever I clicked on the ADD button I did not get the Explorer/Filer window.

Then it seems likely there is something wrong with either your copy of Affinity Photo or of Windows 10, because clicking that button should open the Explorer window on Windows systems. (On Macs, it is a Finder window, so I think in John's earlier reply he meant "Explorer/Finder window," not "Explorer/Filer window.")

[richard gold]

R-C-R,

The only page that the ADD button seemed to open was my Picture collection. Perhaps there is a problem with Affinity or my Windows 10. Since I have a work around I will see how it goes and if other problems pop up I will have to bring it into the garage for service.

Thanks,

Richard

[R C-R]

2 hours ago, richard gold said:

The only page that the ADD button seemed to open was my Picture collection.

Do you mean your Picture folder (also called a directory) or something else? Can you not navigate to some other folder/directory from that location, just as you would when using the Open command in Affinity or any other app?

[John Rostron]

4 hours ago, R C-R said:

(On Macs, it is a Finder window, so I think in John's earlier reply he meant "Explorer/Finder window," not "Explorer/Filer window.")

You are quite right, @R C-R. I'm just showing my ignorance of Macs.

John

[John Rostron]

2 hours ago, richard gold said:

The only page that the ADD button seemed to open was my Picture collection.

If @R C-R's suggestion does not work, perhaps you could provide a screenshot of this window.

John

[richard gold]

R-C-R,

When my picture directory opens I can only navigate to the contents of that directory. In my case, I just opened the toolbar folder icon to reach the other contents of the drive. There is where the images for the Stack resided and I just dragged the folder they were in back into the picture directory.

Richard

[richard gold]

John,

I am not sure what screen you would like to see on the screenshot.

Richard

[R C-R]

4 hours ago, richard gold said:

John,

I am not sure what screen you would like to see on the screenshot.

The window that opens when you click the Add button would be helpful.

[firstdefence]

Did you know that you can go and look for the folders and file in the window that pops up after you click Add it's like a mini windows explorer.

[richard gold]

[richard gold]

R-C-R,

I sent you the screen shot of my picture folder with the stacking images after being dragged into this folder. The entire folder contains all my photos and I do not know how to navigate in this folder to find other files on my computer.

Richard

[R C-R]

What happens if for example you place a few photo files you want to merge directly on your Desktop, & then in the window that appears after clicking Add in Affinity Photo, you click on the "Desktop" item on the left, 4 items above where the "Pictures" item is highlighted?

[John Rostron]

In the Explorer window shown above, click on the first image, then shift-click on the last one you want, then clock on Open (bottom right).

John

[R C-R]

1 minute ago, John Rostron said:

In the Explorer window shown above, click on the first image, then shift-click on the last one you want, then clock on Open (bottom right).

I think @richard gold may not know how to change folders in the Affinity Photo Focus Merge "Add" window. Since I don't use Windows I can't explain exactly how to do that, so perhaps you can help with that....