Frequently Asked Questions
General
Section titled “General”What is focus stacking?
Section titled “What is focus stacking?”Focus stacking is a technique where you take multiple photos of the same subject at different focus distances, then combine them into one image where everything is sharp. It’s essential in macro photography where depth of field is extremely thin.
What kind of photos does Macro Studio work with?
Section titled “What kind of photos does Macro Studio work with?”Macro Studio is designed for focus-bracketed image sets — a series of photos taken at progressively different focus distances. It works best with macro photography but can also be used for landscape focus blending and product photography.
Does Macro Studio require an internet connection?
Section titled “Does Macro Studio require an internet connection?”No. Macro Studio runs entirely on your local machine. No images are uploaded to the cloud, and the app works fully offline (except for license activation, which requires a one-time internet connection).
Licensing
Section titled “Licensing”Is there a free trial?
Section titled “Is there a free trial?”There is no free trial, but we offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. If Macro Studio doesn’t meet your needs, contact us within 30 days for a full refund — no questions asked.
How much does it cost?
Section titled “How much does it cost?”$50 USD one-time purchase for Macro Studio 2026. All features included, all updates within the version included, use on up to 2 machines. Future major versions (e.g., Macro Studio 2027) are optional paid upgrades.
Can I use my license on multiple computers?
Section titled “Can I use my license on multiple computers?”Yes. Each license activates on up to 2 machines (e.g., your desktop and laptop). To move a license to a new machine, deactivate it on the old one first.
Do I have to upgrade to future versions?
Section titled “Do I have to upgrade to future versions?”No. The version you buy is yours to keep and use forever. Future major versions are completely optional paid upgrades.
What’s the refund policy?
Section titled “What’s the refund policy?”30-day money-back guarantee, no questions asked. Contact support@macrostudio.pro or request a refund through your Paddle receipt. See our Refund Policy for details.
Technical
Section titled “Technical”Which image formats are supported?
Section titled “Which image formats are supported?”TIFF (8/16-bit), PNG (8/16-bit), JPEG, and common RAW formats.
How many frames can I stack?
Section titled “How many frames can I stack?”There’s no hard limit. Macro Studio has been tested with stacks of 100+ frames. For very large stacks (50+) at high resolution, 16 GB RAM is recommended.
Does Macro Studio use GPU acceleration?
Section titled “Does Macro Studio use GPU acceleration?”Yes. When a compatible GPU is available (NVIDIA, AMD, or Apple Silicon via Metal/OpenCL), Macro Studio uses it to speed up processing significantly.
The stacked result has artifacts. What can I try?
Section titled “The stacked result has artifacts. What can I try?”- Make sure your frames overlap sufficiently in their focus zones
- Try a different stacking method (Pyramid Blend vs. Depth Map)
- Check that alignment is enabled
- Ensure consistent exposure across frames (shoot in manual mode)
If you’re still seeing issues, contact support with your stack and we’ll help troubleshoot.