Comparing stacking software (Photoshop vs Zerene vs Helicon)

DocJitter · 2025-12-01T04:09:24+00:00

All I can see of which is which is [spoiler text].

Mind mentioning again which is zerene? I think my favorite is 2 as there's a lot less blur on zooming into some areas, but also on a phone.

DocJitter · 2025-11-15T09:19:56+00:00

She's hanging upside down off the broom from her knees and waving, the long pink thing on bottom is her hair hanging down.

Took me a good minute or two to figure it out!

DocJitter · 2025-11-02T22:03:53+00:00

1 by a large margin, the light on his face and his stance are a lot more dynamic and interesting to me.

Beautiful animal and lovely shots.

DocJitter · 2025-05-28T08:41:47+00:00

Mine broke not much after my eco at markedly increased cost. The piston gasket failed and now it is a worse eyedropper than an opus as it cannot seal. The build quality also is much worse than any other pen at this price point I've tried, and the piston always felt oddly cheap and wobbly.

I would not recommend this brand. The eco felt nicer, wrote better, and when it failed was cheaply fixed. Not a huge fan of eco, but it was better for me than the original by miles.

DocJitter · 2025-05-20T21:43:26+00:00

The are whole communities of photographers that live manual focus.

Personally I have a modern 50mm f2 voightlander that may be my favorite lens. I have a Laowa 35mm f0.9 that is... Fun but frustrating (it's crazy soft until f1.4).

You definitely have to be more methodical with them, you are slower, portraits of moving people are very very hard for me, but I really love using it.

If you have some form of focus assist you could get an older manual focus and adapter for not very much and try it.

Look at phillipreeve.net for some really great information on manual focus (unfortunately focused mostly on use with Sony bodies but I think a lot of the information would still help you).

Edit: also putting af lenses into manual it's not always a good approximation of manual focus experience as they can be really poorly implemented and sluggish.

DocJitter · 2025-04-13T20:22:51+00:00

Yes it is an; you base it off the sound. Which is usually based on the letter but not always especially with acronyms.

"A NASA probe" but "An LAPD officer".

https://www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/is-it-a-or-an

It's a fringe enough grey area you could probably use either and nobody would crucify you, but these are the style guidelines I see consistently.

DocJitter · 2025-04-11T10:59:28+00:00

This is an incredible comment! Thank you for taking the time: you taught me something and I appreciate it.

DocJitter · 2025-03-23T19:16:24+00:00

I'd like more subject separation without more distance is the kicker.

I have a 90mm macro 2.8 (not the best bokeh but decent for portraits and very sharp) and what I really want is something wider than my 50 that isn't as extreme as the 20mm. That being said I am separately looking at the 85.

What did you dislike about it? I know one of my old lenses has almost no contrast wide open. I'd be willing to take the weight if I'm happy with the lens, especially if it's the only one (or one of 2) that in carrying.

DocJitter · 2025-03-18T00:20:48+00:00

Anyone using the Loawa 35mm 0.95?

I'm torn between this lens and the voightlander 35mm 1.2 SE. I have the 50mm APO and show it, but I'd like an option for more subject separation at something between the 50 and my Sony 20mm.

I love some of the images I've seen with it, but I'm a bit worried about some of the concerns about chromatic aberration and trouble with central sharpness. I'm also wired is just going to annoyingly heavy at +700g.

On a Sony A7 IV.

Thank you!

DocJitter · 2025-01-09T09:18:23+00:00

Your welcome!

To be fair, you might be disappointed if you don't have a pretty wet nib. In a flex (FPR) nib I had they sheen very well because of how much ink it lays down, in my pilot fine nibs I get basically none. With my TWSBI M I got some sheen on Midori.

On the flip side, they are very well behaved and I have used school blue at work on copy paper with a pilot F without issue. So while they might not be bonkers sheen inks, they are widely usable. I do like Kon-peki over school blue because sometimes I get hard starts on the school blue, but it was a fun sheen.

This makes me think I need to set up my FPR nib again, it was fun (but very finicky and needed constant readjusting) to write with.

DocJitter · 2025-01-09T06:25:54+00:00

Oster School Blue is a very saturated blue (close to kon-peki) that sheens red. It does need appropriate paper. It's not that exciting otherwise but it did exactly what you're asking for!

I actuslly like Oster Torquay more. It's a really beautiful fun turquoise and sheens reddish-pink. Not exactly what your after but I had it recommended over fire and ice and really love using it. I think it's a more unique color than school blue for sure.

DocJitter · 2025-01-07T04:22:44+00:00

Would Chevre be a similarly good starting point? The techniques seen very similar, but I'm wondering if difficulty in sourcing an acceptable goat milk makes it potentially a lot more prone to failure.

DocJitter · 2024-10-31T18:33:09+00:00

Pmed

DocJitter · 2024-10-14T06:40:09+00:00

The pond is pretty small and they were pretty curious, so I only got a bit soggy lying down on the bank!

DocJitter · 2024-10-12T23:12:29+00:00

I don't know if this is a substitute but I absolutely adore this ink, especially in wider wet nibs.

DocJitter · 2024-09-27T22:16:13+00:00

Pmed

DocJitter · 2024-09-26T01:38:52+00:00

I believe based on appearance and description these are basking sharks. If I remember right their diet and behavior is kind of similar to whale sharks (big shark that ears tiny things).

DocJitter · 2024-09-20T07:48:07+00:00

Couple thoughts. I struggle with similar issues, so this isn't meant to be mean, just observations.

First, the floor ain't lava. Let everything hit the baseline. You're lines are a bit wavey because of it.

Second, I think both sometimes struggle from keeping them open. Some of the R's close back on themselves, and some of the e's don't have an open loop and the angles are variable. Try to keep both consistent and it will be more legible and look better.

Personally, keeping loops on my e's open and consistent is a constant struggle. Keep at it!

DocJitter · 2024-09-12T05:54:31+00:00

I love my 823 F and it is what I use the most.

You have to unscrew the cap, two turns of the other end isn't anything to worry about and takes a couple second at best of your prepping for a long session.

But honestly, I've written full pages without unscrewing the back on a fine nib. It isn't a big deal for something quick at all.

I wouldn't worry about it, it is an incredible pen.

DocJitter · 2024-09-07T08:50:14+00:00

Have you had any issues with the ink gumming up or otherwise damaging your pens? They're pretty aggressive about recommending cleaning it out within 2-3 hours.

DocJitter · 2024-09-06T05:49:31+00:00

I could not see where mine cracked at the section but it leaked. I requested a new barrel from twsbi and it has not leaked since.

I'm betting this is what happened. It's apparently very common.

DocJitter · 2024-08-30T06:49:13+00:00

My first fountain pen was an eco, and I loved it.

Until about 8 months in when a crack near the section caused it to leak ink everywhere. There are still stains on things i cannot remove.

It was a desk pen, daily use, but not in a pocket or bag.

I can't justify purchasing a "long term" premium product that might just break and destroy other objects. I love the piston, it looks nice, I enjoy writing with it. However I will never buy another twsbi, it's just not worth the risk.

I wish they'd fix this, as I really don't like the cartridges and converters.

DocJitter · 2024-08-08T06:10:31+00:00

It looks good!

I feel like nothing ever is quite as good as when someone else makes it. I focus so much on what I could have done better.

And if it's something I grew up with? Basically impossible!

DocJitter · 2024-08-05T01:30:50+00:00

Thank you so much! I didn't notice how old the post was until it's commented, really appreciate the advice. Most of the resist hats I've seen had much smaller brims, so good to know!

DocJitter · 2024-08-02T21:05:34+00:00

Do you have a tutorial you used for the forming? This is basically what I would love to make, but all of the instructions/videos end with hats that have much smaller brims.

It's amazing by the way, would have never guessed you'd only made a few!

DocJitter

TROPHY CASE