PlaneFuse

PlaneFuse is a free focus-stacking app for photographers working with macro, product, or landscape images. It suits people who want to refine stacks locally or automate repeat work, rather than control a camera or build a cloud workflow. Its range of alignment and blending options is useful, but RAW stacks come with a strict capture constraint and setup takes extra software.

Overview

PlaneFuse combines focus-stacking tools with a local browser workspace for inspecting and retouching images. Deep zoom, source-to-result comparisons, a live histogram, and a reorderable job queue make it practical to review a sequence and its output without moving photos to a hosted service. Processing stays on the user's computer; the app binds to 127.0.0.1 and does not upload photos. Since it is local-only, it has no authentication.

The command-line interface and local HTTP and WebSocket API give it a useful path into scripted or batch workflows. That flexibility comes with a setup hurdle: initial installation requires Node.js and uv. Searchable in-app help covers shooting technique, settings, and troubleshooting.

Key features

Stacking and alignment

PMax, DMap, weighted average, and Slab provide several ways to combine a focus bracket. Translation, similarity, and perspective alignment address different degrees of frame shift, while rejection of poorly aligned frames and thinning of redundant brackets help clean up a sequence. This is a strong toolkit for photographers who want control over both frame selection and the stack; it is not a substitute for getting the capture sequence right.

RAW, retouching, and export

PlaneFuse fuses same-camera RAW frames in scene-linear RGB and can export a re-editable Linear DNG. The key restriction is consequential: every frame must use the same camera and sensor mode, and the required demosaicing is irreversible. Photographers who need to combine mixed-camera or mixed-mode RAW frames should look elsewhere or use another workflow.

Built-in non-destructive retouching can work from source frames or the result. Exports include TIFF, PNG, JPEG, and Linear DNG for RAW stacks, as well as depth map output. The maker says Linear DNG files can be opened in Capture One or another RAW developer, a useful handoff for further editing.

Acceleration and automation

NVIDIA CUDA and Apple MPS acceleration are supported, with CPU fallback. Tiled processing can continue when GPU memory runs out, which makes the workflow less dependent on fitting a job entirely in graphics memory. Scripting and batch stacking are supported through the CLI and local API; there is no camera tethering or capture control.

Pricing

PlaneFuse's Free plan costs nothing. It is free for personal and commercial use, has no tiers, and is MIT licensed. There is no free trial because the software is free. The plan's stated terms make it a straightforward choice for individual photographers and commercial users alike, without a paid tier to unlock a different feature set.

Platforms

PlaneFuse is available for Linux, macOS, Windows, web, and self-hosted use, with an API. Its browser workspace is local rather than a cloud service. The initial setup requires Node.js and uv. There is no mobile app.

Who it's for

PlaneFuse is best suited to macro, product, and landscape photographers who want a configurable local stacking workflow, non-destructive retouching, or command-line and API automation. Its privacy-conscious local processing and commercial-use free plan are appealing if hosted processing is not wanted. It is a poor fit for photographers seeking panorama stitching, cloud processing, accounts, mobile editing, or tethered capture.

Pros and cons

• Several stacking and alignment controls: four blending methods, three alignment types, frame rejection, and bracket thinning give users meaningful ways to manage a stack.
• Local processing with automation: photos stay on the computer, while CLI and API support help integrate repeat jobs into a workflow.
• RAW output for continued editing: Linear DNG export preserves a route into another RAW developer, but only within the same-camera, same-sensor-mode constraint and with irreversible demosaicing.
• Setup has dependencies: requiring Node.js and uv adds work before the first stack, especially for users expecting a self-contained desktop install.
• Narrow scope: no tethering, panorama stitching, cloud processing, or mobile app means it cannot serve as an all-purpose capture and editing suite.

Alternatives

Focus Stacking Software is the category directory for comparing more options. ForgePix is another free, MIT-licensed option for Linux, macOS, and Windows if PlaneFuse's setup requirements or workflow are not the right fit. Shine Stacker is a free open-source option under LGPL-3.0 for Linux, macOS, and Windows. Aduku Stacker is a free macOS and Windows alternative from Aduku Labs, whose site says the product is made in India. ImageFocus Alpha, OpenFocus, ChimpStackr, Enfuse, and focus-stack are other free options; ImageFocus Alpha also lists iOS and Android.

Verdict

Choose PlaneFuse if you want a free, locally processed focus-stacking workflow with flexible alignment, retouching, and scripting options. Its RAW path and GPU fallback are useful strengths, but the same-camera and sensor-mode rule, irreversible demosaicing, and Node.js/uv setup are real trade-offs. Look elsewhere if you need tethering, panorama stitching, cloud tools, or mobile support.