Selective focus stacking?

[IanSG]

I want to photograph some plants in close up.  The plants are at different distances, so the plan was to use focus stacking.  I only want 3 plants in focus but my concern is that focus stacking will try to get the best overall focus.  So, do I have to make sure that everything's in focus and then blur the background myself, or does AP realise that some parts of the image cannot be sharp, and optimise the rest?

[John Rostron]

I presume that you are after a single final image, with the three flowers all in focus. Why not try it and see?  I see no reason why it should not work.

John

[Old Bruce]

Check out the video on Focus stacking and pay attention to the part about using the Stamp/Clone tool and a selected layer as a source. In the video it is used to bring areas "into focus" but it can also be used to blur the areas.

[IanSG]

30 minutes ago, John Rostron said:

I presume that you are after a single final image, with the three flowers all in focus. Why not try it and see?  I see no reason why it should not work.

John

That's the idea, but the background needs to stay blurred.  In the event, I've done some experimenting and it looks like AP selects a focussed area where one exists but doesn't touch the rest - exactly what I need!

[IanSG]

17 minutes ago, Old Bruce said:

Check out the video on Focus stacking and pay attention to the part about using the Stamp/Clone tool and a selected layer as a source. In the video it is used to bring areas "into focus" but it can also be used to blur the areas.

Excellent - thanks for that!