Question about focus STACKING?

Hi all,
Ive seen great macro images with amazing dof and found out they were done using the focus stacking method or blending of layers. I finally gave it a shot yet found my final image had a faint line where one of the layer masks was. How do I not get these lines? I learned the technique on line at: http://youtu.be/ZiwHsbrMycA
Thanks

I have used (use) Helicon Focus, but the best stacking program--or the one I've had most success with, maybe, is Photoshop CS5. I "export to PS as layers" from Lightroom. Then have PS align the layers, and then blend the layers. I think it does the best job of aligning. However, if there are "ghosts" with Helicon Focus, you can brush in/out parts of other layers, or clone, or whatever needs to be done. For more perfect alignment, use Helicon Remote with camera on a tripod - or just shoot a series under your own steam with regular adjustments of the focus. I haven't had much experience (or success) with manual blending - seems like you might need to feather the mask? I'm sure someone more skilled than I will have input - this is just my limited experience.

Cheryl - I've seen a lot of recommendations for Zerene Stacker as well, but haven't done any of this myself.

My experience with stacking in CS5 has not been positive. This image was my first and only attempt at focus stacking in CS5. I followed the technique demonstrated in the Photoshop.com tutorials. The ghosting at the edges of the petals and the around the stamens really put me off. This is a stack of 10 images and I did align them first. I have not tried Helicon or Zerene yet.

I think that kind of problem with CS5 stacking, Steve, is because it only does a basic align. And as the focus point changes with a macro lens, the magnification changes too, so you can't just pick a few points and align them - one image will actually have a larger flower, in this case. Supposedly - as I said I've never used them - Helicon Focus and Zerene Stacker take care of this kind of thing easily.

Cheryl, I've tried both (CS5 and Helicon) and find Helicon much better. In my view, it does a better job of aligning and it is much less memory hungary. I can stack >20 images, using minute focusing adjustments easily with Helicon...even with Lightroom open as well, but if I try to stack more than about 10 images in CS5 I run out of memory...and I ihave 8 GB of RAM and am running the 64 bit version. btw, by using more images I can shoot with my sweetspot aperature rather than stopped down. Another thing I love about Helicon is that I can selectively add or drop individual images from the stack, thus creating my own selective focus planes...muc like a lensbaby...if I want. This gives me a huge amount of creative control. Here is a recent image of an Easter Lily, which has a huge amount of depth. About 15 image stack, but with a few selectively dropped. I'd show you the CS5 version but I didn't have enough memory to run it and running it with just 5 or 6 stach looked awful,

Great info everyone. Thank you by the way great images as well

Another vote for Helicon. Terrific program and easy to use. You will get artifacting with some images but they are easy to clean up in PS.

Cheryl, have a look at CombineZP. It's a free stacking program and performs really well. The biggest downside is the steep learning curve.