CombineZ

CombineZ
	CombineZM running on Windows XP
Developer(s)	Alan Hadley
Stable release	CombineZP / June 6, 2010; 14 years ago
Operating system	Windows
Type	Digital image processing
License	GPL
Website	hadleyweb.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

CombineZ is free image-processing software package for creating images with extended depth of field. It runs on Microsoft Windows. The current release is CombineZP (CombineZ-Pyramid), successor to CombineZM (CombineZ-Movie) which was based on CombineZ5 (designed for older versions of Windows and is no longer maintained).^[1]

CombineZ processes a stack of images (or frames) and is most frequently used to blend the focused areas of several partially focused digital photographs, usually close-ups, in order to create a composite image with an extended depth of field, created from the in-focus areas of each image.

Other uses

CombineZ has many image manipulation functions that can be used in modifying images (frames) or sets of sequential images (stacks). It can take videos and split them into individual frames which are then manipulated as a stack. For instance, since version CombineZM one can take a movie through a microscope as you wind the focus up or down, and use it for focus stacking. Alternatively, one can convert a sequence of static frames into a movie (including generating intermediate transitional frames for smoothness) or a pseudo-3D 'rocker' image stack animation.

Animation that used image alignment features and transitional frames in an attempt to visualise changes over a period of 14 years

Limitations

Does not support 16 bit images
Images must be in height order (closest to furthest, but can be flipped within the application)
Supports a limited number of image and video formats
Only runs on Microsoft Windows