Graphical User Interface

Introduction

FocusStack processes focus-bracketed images in two phases:

  • Project: Batch processing (alignment/balancing/stacking)

  • Retouch: Layer-based refinement

[!NOTE] Advanced processing details in main documentation.

The batch processing supports image alignment, color and luminosity balance, vignetting removal, noisy pixel masking.

Starting

  • The python package can be installed from PyPI using pip:

> pip install shinestacker

Onace installed, the GUI app can start either from a console command line :

> shinestacker

  • The app can be dowloaded from the releases page:

    • Windows: as installer or zip archive for local installation

    • macOS: as dmg disk image, where the app can be dragged to the Application folder

    • Linux: as tar.gz archive

The GUI has two main working areas:

  • Project

  • Retouch

Switching from Project to Retouch can be done from the ShineStacker main menu.

Project area

When the app starts, it proposes to create a new project.

Creating Projects

  1. Select source folder (JPEG/TIFF 8/16-bit)

  2. Configure job actions (auto-saved in project file)

  3. Run processing:

    • Real-time logs & progress bar

    • Thumbnail previews for each stage

FocusStack workflow: Source images → Alignment → Balancing → Stacking

Large Set Tip: For 100+ images:

  • Split into 10-15 image “bunches”

  • Set number of overlapping frame from consecutive bunches

  • Combine intermediate results later

The newly created project consists of a single job that contains more actions. Each action produces a folder as output that has, by default, the action’s name. Some actions can be combined in order to produce a single intermediate output (alignment, balancing, etc.).

Pro Tip: Duplicate jobs when processing similar image sets to save configuration time. You can run multiple jobs in sequence.

It is possible to run a single job, or all jobs within a project.

Project Run Tabs

  1. Job progress bar with CPU and RAM usage monitor

  2. Real-time log viewer

  3. Retouch button (enabled after processing)

When the job finishes, a Retouch button is enabled, which opens the output image into the retouch area.

Retouch area

Brush Properties

Adjust in the top toolbar:

  • Size: Brush diameter (px)

  • Hardness: Edge softness (0-100%)

  • Opacity: Paint transparency

  • Flow: Paint accumulation rate

💡 Pro Tip: Use low opacity/flow (20-40%) for subtle corrections

Retouch Workflow

  1. Navigate:

    • Zoom/pan to defect area

    • Toggle between master/source (X)

  2. Correct defects/artifacts:**:

    • Select source layer with clean area

    • Adjust brush properties (size/hardness/opacity)

    • Paint over defects

    • Use Ctrl+Z to undo strokes

  3. Verify:

    • Toggle master view (M) to check results

    • Compare before/after with L/M toggle

  4. Filters:

    • Improve the final image with sharpening, denoise and color balance

  5. Export:

    • ✅ Final image: Single TIFF/JPEG

    • 🗂️ Editable: Multilayer TIFF (large)

Action

Shortcut

Zoom in/out

Ctrl + +/`- or mouse wheel or pinch on touchpad

Reset view

Ctrl + 0

Pan

Space + mouse drag or two fingers on touchpad

Prev./next layer

Up/Down arrows

View master layer

M

View source layer

L

Toggle master ↔ layer

T

Temp. toggle master ↔ source

X

See help menu for complete list of shortcuts.

Export Formats:

  • Single TIFF: Final image (highest quality)

  • Single JPEG: For web and quick preview (lower quality)

  • Multilayer TIFF: Preserves all layers (large file)

EXIF metadata:

  • EXIF data can be imported from source images and saved with final file.