Photoshop How To

One way to create photos with maximum detail is to upgrade your camera with a new model offering greater resolution. But if a big expenditure isn’t in the cards, the following tutorial explains a “super resolution” trick for making high megapixel images with whatever camera you own.

Sounds too good to be true? Well, it’s not, if you learn this method of shooting and stacking multiple images in Photoshop. Best yet, you can download a free Photoshop action for automating the process.

In the video below, photographer Tony Northrup explains the concept of image stacking, illustrates how it works, and walks you through the process in a concise, step-by-step manner. You may want to practice the technique yourself, before downloading and using the automated action, just so you’ll have a firm grasp of what’s happening in the background.

This technique is particularly useful for making large prints of detailed scenes, and Northrup suggests shooting as many as 20 photographs to create a super resolution image. Once you’ve captured the photos, you can put them in a folder and supersize them whenever you have the time.

Bottom line: this technique enables you to create images with less noise, more detail, and less moire, without upgrading your gear. You can find more editing and shooting tips on the Tony & Chelsea YouTube channel, and in this recent tutorial explaining how to capture great photographs on foggy days.