Using Helicon Remote for shooting stacks

Helicon Remote is a software program for tethered shooting. Its main purpose is to automate the process of shooting stacks of partially focused images, which can later be blended into one completely focused image using Helicon Focus. Helicon Remote automates much of the process of shooting such stacks: once you set the parameters, the program does the shooting. It also helps you set the correct parameters, i.e., it helps you calculate the necessary number of shots and the number of focusing steps between them.

Helicon Remote allows combined focus and exposure bracketing. For exposure bracketing you can specify the necessary number of shots and the size of exposure compensation steps between shots (fx, 1 Ev, 1/2 Ev, or 1/3 Ev). This means you are not limited to the -2Ev - +2Ev range offered by most cameras.

Helicon Remote also automates time-lapse shooting in combination with focus and exposure bracketing. You can set up your camera to shoot either stacks or just one shot at regular time intervals (which you can specify).

Helicon Remote can control Trinamic stepper motors and move StackShot macro rails. Both of these are external devices that can adjust the camera's position with tiny steps of up to 0.01 mm, allowing you to take pictures of tiny objects.

Helicon Remote is available for Windows and Mac OS. An Android version is in development.

Helicon Remote is a solution for home, studio, and also the outdoors. It can be installed on any recent-model tablet PC or netbook and thus easily taken into the field.

Shooting a stack using Helicon Remote

Connect your camera to a computer via a USB cable. Then switch the camera on and run Helicon Remote—or vice versa.* Set your lens to Auto Focus mode. This will enable Helicon Remote to control the lens. Helicon Remote will automatically take control of the camera and you will see the Live View image on the screen.
If this doesn't happen, try reading our FAQs for a possible solution.
Set the exposure parameters: aperture, exposure time, ISO, etc. Read more about camera parameters here.
Set the nearest and farthest focusing points. Focus on the front of the object and click on button to save the nearest point; next focus on the back of the object and click on button to save the farthest point.
After you have had the software remember one focusing point, don't rotate the focusing ring. Instead, use Helicon Remote's arrow keys to move to the other focusing point; otherwise the remembered point will be reset.
Read more about setting A and B points, using the DOF calculator, and other focus bracketing parameters here.
Press the Start shooting button.
After shooting is finished, Helicon Remote will ask if it can open the stack in Helicon Focus. There you can process the stack and view the resulting image with extended depth of field. Read about Helicon Focus here.

*In Windows XP first switch the camera on, close the AutoPlay menu and then run Helicon Remote. For all other operating systems, the order of these two steps makes no difference.

Setting camera parameters

Helicon Remote allows you to change the following parameters (see Camera Setting controls):

Exposure mode: P (program), S (shutter speed priority), A (aperture priority), M (manual), etc.
Note: For Nikon cameras you can change this parameter with Helicon Remote; for Canon cameras you can only set this with the camera.
Time (shutter speed)
Aperture

www.DPReview.com

ISO As usual, a lower ISO means less noise.
Exposure compensation (Ev) Exposure compensation is not available if the camera is set to "Manual" mode.
Quality, for setting resolution and format.

Before shooting a stack, check that the exposure parameters are correct. To do this, take a trial shot using the preview or fast preview function. Or just take a look at the histogram.

Helicon Remote can also control other camera settings (see the Advanced Settings controls): Flash compensation, Flash mode, White balance, Color temperature, etc. The list of advanced settings may vary for different camera models.

Flash compensation: can be set for built-in flash only.
Flash mode: can be set for built-in flash only.
White balance
Color temperature: can be changed only after you set the White balance to "Color temperature."
Manual setting of color temperature is not supported by some cameras, in which case you will NOT see "Color temperature" among the available white balance values.

Setting focus bracketing parameters

The most important parameters for focus stacking are and points, i.e., the nearest and farthest focusing points. As soon as the program "knows" these two endpoints, the current aperture and focal length of the lens, it can calculate the number of shots needed. If the Auto checkbox is selected, the program will calculate this automatically.

The simplest workflow is as follows:

Focus on the front of the object and click the button to save the nearest focusing point (CTRL+ALT+N).
Use the arrow keys (oror ) to move the focus to the back of the object and click the button to save the farthest focusing point (CTRL+ALT+R).
You can also do the reverse, saving the farthest point first and then moving to the nearest point. It makes no difference.
Press the Start shooting button

It is also possible to specify a starting point (either A or B - it doesn't matter), the number of steps, and the interval. This will be enough to start shooting, as the program will also calculate the endpoint. For this situation, deselect the Auto checkbox.

Don't rotate the focusing ring and don't use the Auto focus function after you have saved focusing points, as the focusing points will be reset, because the lens cannot "report" the number of focusing steps between the two endpoints to Helicon Remote if you rotate the ring or use the lens' auto focusing mechanism. Helicon Remote can only calculate the number of focusing steps between two endpoints if you move from one focusing point to another with Helicon Remote's arrow keys.

The Shots parameter shows how many shots will be taken. If you change this parameter and both endpoints are defined, the program will recalculate the interval between shots.

The Direction parameter determines whether the focus plane will move towards the camera or infinity. If both endpoints are set, this option is not important, but you should check it if you have only set one of the focusing points.

The Interval parameter defines the movement of the lens between two adjacent shots. The distance is measured in steps of the lens' motor (focusing steps) and is roughly equivalent to the rotation of the focusing ring by a specific angle. Please note that both this parameter and the depth of field (measured in millimeters) are a nonlinear functions. As a result, the distance between shots is roughly the same for all of the lens' focus distances.

We advise you to use an interval smaller than the depth of field (DOF). Our DOF calculator will help you calculate the depth of field based on the selected aperture. If the interval is smaller than the DOF, then the images in your stack will overlap each other slightly, which, when combined, will produce a completely sharp image.

Use the keys to move the lens a single focusing step, thekeys to move the lens by 5 focusing steps and the keys to move by 25 focusing steps. These are the default values, although you can change them in Preferences. You can also choose different sizes of focusing steps in Preferences for Canon and Nikon cameras, StackShot rails and Trinamic motors.

The keys allow quick navigation between the nearest and the farthest points. You can use them to make sure that the focusing points have been saved correctly before shooting a stack.

The DOF preview checkbox controls the aperture. If it is not selected, the camera will prepare the Live View image using the widest aperture, even if you have set a smaller aperture value in the camera settings. The DOF preview only works for Canon cameras and also if Live View is NOT in Exposure Simulation mode.

The Highlight focused areas tool helps you see which areas are in focus at the moment. You can change the sensitivity of focus highlighting in Preferences.

Using the depth-of-field (DOF) calculator

The DOF Calculator helps set the correct interval between shots, which should not exceed the depth of field estimated by the calculator. Both the interval between shots and the DOF values provided by the calculator are measured in focusing steps (lens motor steps, lens rotation). This DOF is different from the optical DOF as measured in mm. DOF in lens steps rarely depends on focusing distance.

The DOF calculation is based on the current aperture, focal length and lens correction factor.

The program fills in the aperture and focal length if this information is available. You can adjust these parameters if you prefer or if you plan to use other camera settings.

The correction factor varies for different types of lenses. You can work with a default value of "1," but there is a chance that you will take too many or too few shots. Ideally, you should find the right correction factor for each type of lens. You can read how to do this in the next section.

Finding the right correction factor

Different types of lenses have different internal mechanics, so we recommend that you find the correction factor for each of your lenses.

If the correction factor is too big, then the estimated interval between steps will be larger than the real DOF. When you merge the stack, the resulting image will not be completely in focus. If the correction factor is too small, then the resulting image will be completely in focus but the program will have taken more shots than necessary.

To check if default correction factor is optimal for your lens, follow these steps:

Set camera to manual mode and then set aperture wide open (f/2.0-4.0).
Focus on some point in the image that has a lot of detail, such as a roughly textured fabric, or a page of text in a book.
Unselect Auto checkbox in the Focus bracketing panel of Helicon Remote.
Open the DOF Calculator and check that the correction factor is set to its default value of "1.00."
Enter the number of shots (10) and define the direction (to infinity). Now you are ready to start shooting, as the initial focusing point, number of shots, interval between shots and direction have all been defined.
Shoot the images and then process the stack with Helicon Focus once you're done. As you can see (above), every part of the image is sharp. This means that the focused areas of the source images overlap and that the DOF calculator suggested the correct value for the interval between the images.

Now set the correction factor to 2.0 and shoot another stack with a larger interval between the images. After processing the stack with Helicon Focus, you will notice that the result contains areas (stripes) that are out of focus.

This test proves that increasing the correction factor—and therefore the interval between shots—results in a partially soft image, which happens because the DOF is smaller than the interval between shots. Thus the focused areas do not overlap when all the shots are stacked together.

As a general rule, the correct value should produce a completely focused image and double that value should give a regular pattern of focused and unfocused areas.

To find the right correction factor:

1) Create and process a stack. If you see a regular pattern of focused and unfocused areas, you need to lower the value of the correction factor. Decrease its value until you get a completely focused resulting image.

2) Double the correction factor. Then create and process a stack. If you do not see a regular pattern of focused and unfocused areas, you need to increase the value of the correction factor. Do so until you see this pattern. After completing this procedure, divide the value by two.

Setting the exposure bracketing parameters

You can use automatic or manual exposure bracketing modes with Helicon Remote.

Automatic exposure bracketing

Set the camera to Manual mode.
Define the number of shots (Shots, Exposure bracketing controls).
Define the exposure shift between shots (1/2, 1/3, etc.) (Step, Exposure bracketing controls).

Manual exposure bracketing

Set the camera to Manual mode.
Define the number of shots (Shots, Exposure bracketing controls).
Click the Manual mode button. The Manual mode dialogue will appear. Here you can set the exposure shift, shutter speed, ISO, and aperture for each shot.
To increase/ decrease the values of one column by the same value, use the "plus" and "minus" buttons. To change one value, click on the cell and select a value from the drop-down list.

We recommend that you not change the aperture, as the backgrounds will blur differently (because of the different apertures) and this may spoil the results of the focus stacking.

Using Helicon Remote to drive a StackShot macro rail

StackShot is an electronically controlled macro rail. (See a complete description at: http://www.cognisys-inc.com.) The USB version of StackShot costs $525.00 (price as of Nov. 7, 2011). This includes the StackShot controller with USB cable, stepper motor-enabled macro rail, AC adapter (US, EU, AUS, or UK), and a 2m motor cable.

Attach your camera to the StackShot macro rail.
Connect the camera to your computer via the USB cable.
Connect the StackShot to the computer via the USB cable.
Run Helicon Remote.
Press the arrow keys to see how Helicon Remote is controlling the StackShot.

Using Helicon Remote to control a Trinamic motor

We developed and tested Helicon Remote with a Trinamic PANDrive PD3-110-42-232. This is a compact and strong stepper motor with a maximum torque of 0.49N-m and stall protection. See the technical data sheet for more details.

In all likelihood, other Trinamic motors are also compatible with the program, as they have the same programming interface.

The Trinamic PANDrive PD3-110-42-232 currently costs $200-250 and can be purchased from the following online stores.

	www.farnell.com	PD3-110-42-232
	www.conrad.de	PANDRIVE 42MM, RS232, 0.50 NM
	www.semiconductorstore.com	PD3-110-42-232

You will also need a USB-RS232 converter ($30-40) to connect the motor to a computer.

	www.farnell.com	FTDI - USB-RS232-WE-1800-BT
	www.ftdichip.com	USB-RS232-WE-1800-BT_0.0

You may find similar converters in computer shops. Make sure the converter uses an FTDI chip so that the program can find it.

You will also need a power supply with 12-28V DC voltage and a maximum current of at least 1.5 amps. Almost any laptop power supply will conform to these specifications.

The image below shows how to wire the USB converter and Trinamic motor.

trinamic

Using Helicon Remote for time-lapse shooting

Time-lapse shooting is when you leave your camera to take shots automatically every few seconds, minutes, or hours.

Why would you do this? If your object is changing over time you may want to capture its different stages and then combine the shots into a movie. For example, you could capture a flower bud opening, a piece of fruit as it ripens, traffic on a busy street during the period of a day, or whatever suits your fancy.

With Helicon Remote, you can combine time-lapse shooting with focus stacking and focus bracketing.

The main limitation with time-lapse shooting is the life of the camera battery. In order to increase this, switch off Live View during shooting if you're using a Canon camera: File → Preferences → Shooting → Canon → Disable LiveView mode during shooting: yes. Nikon cameras do not have this option.

Using Mirror Lock-Up (MLU) or Mirror Pre-Fire

Helicon Remote supports MLU mode for Canon cameras only. Nikon doesn't have this.

In order to use MLU, simply find and activate the MLU mode (or mirror pre-fire) in your camera settings. In Helicon Remote's preferences you can set the delay for MLU mode: File → Preferences → Shooting → Canon → Delay for MLU mode. This delay allows the camera to become still after raising the mirror. The less the camera vibrates, the sharper the image will be.

Helicon Remote should detect when you activate MLU in your camera settings. You can check for MLU activation on the left side of the status bar, which is along the bottom of the program window. (It will read "MLU: on" or "MLU: off.")

Using the Auto focus function

You can use this function to focus on the nearest or farthest part of an object. Click on the area on which you wish to focus and the camera lens will focus automatically.

The typical workflow is:

Auto focus on the nearest point and save it.
Using Helicon Remote's arrow keys move the focus to the farthest point and save it.

Note: after using the Auto focus function, all previously saved focusing points will be reset, because the lens cannot "report" the number of focusing steps between the two endpoints to Helicon Remote if you use auto focusing. Helicon Remote can only get the number of focusing steps between two endpoints if you move from one focusing point to another with the arrow keys.

Helicon Remote waits for a specific number of seconds for the lens to focus; the default is five seconds. For Canon cameras, you can change this in preferences in the main menu: File → Preferences → Shooting → Canon → Auto Focus time.

Shooting with flash

If you are using a Canon camera with a non-Canon flash you have to switch Live View off during shooting. You can set this in preferences by going to the main menu and choosing: File → Preferences → Shooting → Canon → Disable Live View mode during shooting: yes.

Using the "Take a picture" function

This function allows you to shoot stacks manually: focus on one spot, take a shot, focus again, take another shot, etc.

Reading a histogram

A histogram can help determine whether or not the exposure settings are correct.

The horizontal axis represents the range over which the brightness of pixels can vary (from 0 to 255). This is the dynamic range of a digital image. The vertical axis represents the number of pixels with a given brightness. Dark pixels are on the left side of the histogram and bright pixels are on the right.

Therefore, if there are "hills" on the left side and nothing on the right, this can mean that your image is underexposed, and vice versa.

Please note that a histogram is based on the Live View image, but often the Live View image does not use the same exposure settings that are used to take shots. We recommend that you take some trial shots by using the Fast preview or Preview function, in order to check the exposure settings.

Preview and Fast preview

Use these functions to evaluate the exposure settings before shooting a stack.

The difference between Preview and Fast preview is in the resolution of the image.

Fast preview shoots a small, normal JPEG and opens it in Helicon Remote for several seconds. (You can set the preview time in preferences: File → Preferences → Interface preferences → Fast preview time.) Fast preview doesn't allow you to zoom in, but it does let you to evaluate the exposure.

Preview shoots an image at the same quality level as are in the camera settings and opens it in the default image viewer. This allows you to zoom in and check all the details of an image.

Preferences

Interface preferences

Language	Changes the interface language.
Fast preview time	Determines how many seconds the fast preview picture will stay on the screen.
Live view display	Defines how the Live View image will be stretched. The Fit and smooth option consumes more of the processor's capacity than other options.
Live view rotation	Rotates or mirrors the Live View image for your convenience.
Background color	Determines the color of the background behind the Live View image.
Focus highlighting	Affects the "Highlight focused areas" feature. If set to "High," it highlights the most contrasting areas; if set to "Medium," fewer contrast areas, etc.

Shooting preferences

Folder for images	Chooses the folder where the images will be saved. Inside this folder Helicon Remote will create subfolders for new stacks.
File naming	Determines automatic file naming; typically it will include date, time, and counter.
Folder naming	Determines automatic naming for the folders that Helicon Remote creates for new stacks.
Pause for flash recharge	The pause occurs after a shot to allow enough time for the flash to recharge before the next shot.
Create new folder for new stacks	If set to "yes," a new folder will be created for every new stack. If set to "no," a new folder is created after the program starts and all the stacks are created.
Big step, Medium step, Small step	Determines the number of focusing steps the lens will take when you press the , , and keys. The size of one focusing step (or lens motor step) can also be defined in preferences and is defined separately for Canon, Nikon, StackShot and Trinamic.

Nikon

Size of focusing steps

You can set the size of focusing steps in abstract units. Set the number of focusing steps made when choosing the

, and

keys here.

Canon

Size of focusing steps	You can choose between "big" and "small" focusing steps. Set the number of focusing steps made when choosing the , , and keys here.
Pause between focusing steps	If the pause between focusing steps is too short, certain lenses may skip some steps.
Auto focus time	This setting affects the Auto focus function. It defines how long Helicon Remote waits for a lens to auto focus. If the amount of time is too short, the camera may not have enough time to auto focus.
Download images after shooting	For Canon cameras, you can choose what you will do with images after shooting: move to computer (delete from camera), copy to computer, or leave in camera.
Disable Live View mode during shooting	You can choose to disable Live View during shooting, in order to increase the life of the camera battery. Also, if you are using a Canon camera with a non-Canon flash you may need to disable Live View.
Delay for MLU mode	You can set the length of the delay between the moment the mirror goes up and the time the shot is taken. This delay enables the camera to grow still before taking a shot, increasing sharpness.

StackShot

Size of focusing steps	You can set the size of the focusing steps in micro steps, millimeters or inches. Set the number of focusing steps made with the , , and keys here.
Pause after movement	A pause may be required after the StackShot moves, so that the camera becomes still before taking a shot.
Invert direction	This may be useful for correlating the physical and logical movements of the StackShot. For example, if you click (move to the right) in Helicon Remote and the camera actually moves to the left, you will probably need to invert the direction.
Allow use without camera	In some cases you may need to control the StackShot only without connecting a camera to Helicon Remote. Select this checkbox in this situation so that Helicon Remote will function properly.

Trinamic

Size of focusing steps	You can set the size of focusing steps in micro steps and degrees and then you can set how many focusing steps are made when choosing the , , and keys here.
Pause after movement	A pause may be necessary after the motor moves to allow the camera to become still before the next shot.
Maximum acceleration	You can limit the maximum acceleration for more smooth movements.
Maximum torque	You can limit the maximum torque to avoid damaging the motor.
Invert direction	This can be useful for correlating the physical and logical movements of the motor. For example, if you click (move to the right) in Helicon Remote and the camera actually moves to the left, you probably need to invert the direction.

Reporting a bug

If you have any trouble using Helicon Remote or notice any strange behavior in the program, please let us know the details so that we can help you ASAP. You can give us whatever details we need by using the Report a bug function, which you can find in the main menu: Help → Report a bug.

If Helicon Remote behaves strangely, but doesn't crash, just go to the main menu and select: Help → Report a bug.

If Helicon Remote crashes, restart the program. When it reopens, select: Help → Report a bug.

In the Report a bug dialogue, you can enter your email address and type in comments. If you give us your email address, we can send you a link to a new version of the program with the bug corrected.

You can select the checkbox Show the data to be sent to see that no private data is being sent. You can also copy the data from the Report a bug dialogue, and post it to our forum: http://heliconsoft.com/forum/, along with a description of the problem.

Camera compatibility

Helicon Remote works with Canon and Nikon DSLR cameras that support Live View mode.

The following is a list of compatible cameras:

Canon: EOS 550D, EOS 7D, EOS-1D Mark IV, 1Ds Mark III, 50D, 5D Mark II, REBELXsi/450D/Kiss X2, EOS Kiss X3/EOS REBEL T1i /EOS 500D, REBEL XS/1000D and later model cameras.
Nikon: D3, D3X, D300, D5000, D90, D700, D7000 and later model cameras. Nikon D3000 and D3100 are not supported.

Licensing

Helicon Remote comes with Pro or x64 Helicon Focus licenses. If used for evaluation purposes, the program is limited to shooting in low resolution jpegs.

Installation and upgrade

Windows OS

Helicon Remote is installed/uninstalled using the same installer as Helicon Focus, which can be downloaded from the Helicon Focus download page. During installation you can select/unselect "Helicon Remote" among the components to be installed.

To upgrade Helicon Remote, you need to run the upgrade for Helicon Focus: open Helicon Focus and run the main menu command: Help → Check for updates. Helicon Remote is upgraded using the same installer as Helicon Focus.

Mac OS

A beta version of Helicon Remote is available for Mac computers. It is installed/upgraded with a separate installer, which can be downloaded from the Helicon Focus download page.

Hardware and software requirements

The minimum recommended resolution is 1280x800, although the program will probably still work at a lower resolution.

Helicon Remote requires Windows XP, Vista, 7. Mac OS X 10.6 or later.

FAQ

Although my camera is connected and Helicon Remote starts, nothing works: there is no Live View and all the controls are greyed out. What is the problem?

Your camera is probably not supported. See the list of supported cameras here. If your camera is on the list of supported cameras but you still can't see Live View, please report a bug and contact our support team (either create a new topic in the forum or write directly to support@heliconsoft.com). When you contact us, specify your camera and describe the problem. We will try to help you ASAP.

Why is my camera not supported?

Helicon Remote only supports Canon and Nikon DSLR cameras.

Helicon Remote can only work with cameras that support remote Live View and remote focus control . Canon cameras before 50D and Nikon cameras before D90 do not support these features. Helicon Remote also doesn't support the Nikon D3000 line of cameras.

My camera is on the list of supported cameras. Why is it not being recognized?

Probably something has gone wrong. You can report a bug to us and contact our support team (create a new topic in the forum or write directly to support@heliconsoft.com). Please specify your camera and describe the problem, and we will try to help ASAP.