Averaging results and using same alignment for several stacks in Zerene command line

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MiB
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Joined: Tue Dec 18, 2012 8:59 am
Location: Vienna
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Averaging results and using same alignment for several stacks in Zerene command line

Post by MiB »

Hello!

The problem is:
There are 100 deep stacks (each 270images). 10 Stacks in a row are shot from the exact same positions, the only thing that changed is the direction of the light, so they do not vary in Shift x, Shift y, Rotation or Magnification.

Is there a way to easily make the first stack, save the resulting staked image together with the alignment info for each frame of the stack, then use these alignments for the next 9 stacks (with just different lighting), then make a new alignment for the 11th stack and use this one for the next 9 stacks and so on.

I need to average the stacks with same position but just varying lighting situation and do this for hundreds to thousands of stacks. That is why it would be nice if such a task would be possible via command line.

Currently with batch process and aligning each stack, the resulting stacked images would not perfectly register on each other as seen on the example.

Image
Here you see 6 images that definitely have the same positions, just other lighting, but the results do not register at all (please see red frame and x mark on one of the lights for relative changes to first stack/light).

Would be very nice if there would be an easy solution.


Best regards,
Michael
***
To collage tens of thousands of photos to create a more holistic view is my passion :)

rjlittlefield
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Location: Richland, Washington State, USA
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Re: Averaging results and using same alignment for several stacks in Zerene command line

Post by rjlittlefield »

There is no method that I would call "easy".

But maybe the least difficult will be OK for you.

I suggest the following approach...
  • Make folders that contain all the images for each stack.
  • Batch process the first stack in each set, saving the ZS projects which will then include the alignment information.
  • Treating the .zsj file for each first project as a template, edit all the lines that say
    <Source value="pathAndFileName" />
    to create .zsj files for each of the other corresponding projects.
  • Batch process all the new projects to do the stacking, which will then use the alignment information that is already in the .zsj files.
When difficulty occurs, and I expect it will, contact me by email as support@zerenesystems.com . We will figure it out offline, and then if you like you can post further information into the forum.

--Rik

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