Processing Workflow - Philip Perold

[Philip Perold]

I am kind of putting the feelers out to see if there is sufficient interest in my post processing workflow. I thus created a tutorial describing my workflow at a very high level.

Please let me know what you think, if it helped, if you think I don't know what I am doing, or if you have suggestions on how to improve my general workflow. Also please shoot with any questions.

Find the tutorial here: http://upload.philipperold.com/Proce...p%20Perold.pdf

Cheers

[Johann van Rensburg]

What are you using for converting RAW and to what do you convert ?

IMHO your sequence is wrong.

Should be 2, 3, 4, then 1, then 5. Basically do as much as you can BEFORE converting.

If you know that you are going to be blending after-wards, then convert each RAW to TIFF, followed by blending and final exposure and colour related adjustments, and then convert to final output format.

No resizing is required for print - so only sharpen.
For web and e-mail, resize and then sharpen.

If your final output is for web, and you intend adding any kind of frame, then keep that in mind so you allow for the final image with frame to be inside the constraints of the web platform used (if required)

[Philip Perold]

What are you using for converting RAW and to what do you convert ?

IMHO your sequence is wrong.

Should be 2, 3, 4, then 1, then 5. Basically do as much as you can BEFORE converting.

If you know that you are going to be blending after-wards, then convert each RAW to TIFF, followed by blending and final exposure and colour related adjustments, and then convert to final output format.

No resizing is required for print - so only sharpen.
For web and e-mail, resize and then sharpen.

If your final output is for web, and you intend adding any kind of frame, then keep that in mind so you allow for the final image with frame to be inside the constraints of the web platform used (if required)

Thank you very much for looking and commenting Johan. I use Lightroom for raw conversion, and I convert to tiff.

I totally get the idea behind doing as much as possible in raw because of the forgiving nature of raw. When working with images that have high dynamic ranges though, just using Adobe raw, CaptureNX2, etc. just does not give one the tools to make seamless and precise adjustments. For example, adding contrast to an image with very dark darks and very light lights is a nightmare in raw conversion since clipping is inevitable. One would then probably try and save detail using things like "fill light" or recovery, which is giving the software too much control. Results often resemble something you would expect to get when using HDR software like photomatix, which I try to avoid at all costs.

The power of masks in photoshop, especially when one gets to grips with luminosity masks, is just unrivalled by any raw conversion software in my opinion.

With regard to sharpening for web viewing, see this thread: http://www.outdoorphoto.co.za/forums...pening-for-web

[dudwat]

Hi Philip

As I wish to strengthen my photographic skills especially in the area of landscape photography I notice that you do not recommend photomatrix which I have used once or twice. Please ellaborate and also give me a lead as to where I can read up on luminosity masks

[Forgiss - Sean Nel]

... When working with images that have high dynamic ranges though, just using Adobe raw, CaptureNX2, etc. just does not give one the tools to make seamless and precise adjustments. For example, adding contrast to an image with very dark darks and very light lights is a nightmare in raw conversion since clipping is inevitable. One would then probably try and save detail using things like "fill light" or recovery, which is giving the software too much control.

Erm... you can mask and adjust in sections, as well as in colour/exposure ranges... And off course you have some serious control in Curves ... which I believe you can also mask... Lightroom is plenty powerful...

[Philip Perold]

Hi Philip

As I wish to strengthen my photographic skills especially in the area of landscape photography I notice that you do not recommend photomatrix which I have used once or twice. Please ellaborate and also give me a lead as to where I can read up on luminosity masks

Dudley, for everything you need to know about luminosity masks, check out http://goodlight.us/writing/tutorials.html

[Philip Perold]

Sean, don't get me wrong, I use Lightroom too, and I'm aware of its power, but as a landscape photographer, I need even more control. This is said specifically with luminosity masks in mind. If you can show me an an equally easy way of utilising luminosity masks and all the variations and extensions made possible by it, you'll have converted me

Erm... you can mask and adjust in sections, as well as in colour/exposure ranges... And off course you have some serious control in Curves ... which I believe you can also mask... Lightroom is plenty powerful...

[Forgiss - Sean Nel]

Sean, don't get me wrong, I use Lightroom too, and I'm aware of its power, but as a landscape photographer, I need even more control. This is said specifically with luminosity masks in mind. If you can show me an an equally easy way of utilising luminosity masks and all the variations and extensions made possible by it, you'll have converted me

I did not suggest that...

We have an even more extensive usage of Photoshop in our post processing (we regularly utilise luminocity masks over various colourspaces in the same edit)... all I was referring to is that you can create a very decent base image out of your RAW converter.

Your statement:

... just does not give one the tools to make seamless and precise adjustments. For example, adding contrast to an image with very dark darks and very light lights is a nightmare in raw conversion since clipping is inevitable.

Makes me wonder if you know enough about your RAW converter... I don't use NX or ACR, but Lightroom and CapturOne (what we use) can definitely function without clipping out. C1 can split your colour and exposure space into 6 different lighting sections when you do curve adjustments over a specific colour range, masked or unmasked... Thats a lot of power to create a suitable set of base images to work your luminosity magic on when you drag them into photoshop.

[Philip Perold]

I did not suggest that...

We have an even more extensive usage of Photoshop in our post processing (we regularly utilise luminocity masks over various colourspaces in the same edit)... all I was referring to is that you can create a very decent base image out of your RAW converter.

Your statement:

Makes me wonder if you know enough about your RAW converter... I don't use NX or ACR, but Lightroom and CapturOne (what we use) can definitely function without clipping out. C1 can split your colour and exposure space into 6 different lighting sections when you do curve adjustments over a specific colour range, masked or unmasked... Thats a lot of power to create a suitable set of base images to work your luminosity magic on when you drag them into photoshop.

Your probably right in saying that I don't use my raw converter to its full potential. What in your opinion should be done in raw? I typically do colour correction, apply lens profile, drop blacks (I feel the default "5" lightroom and acr attach is too much), crop, and sometimes play around with exposure if I want to do blends on multiple exposures of the same shot. As far as contrast goes i just haven't gotten the results that I want straight out of raw, that's why I apply contrast using combinations of layer blending modes and luminosity masks, which just in my opinion produces a more pleasing look (maybe this is specific to landscapes).

[Forgiss - Sean Nel]

Oh... hmm...

I don't think you can really do a "recipe" for something as variable as a landscape shot... I assume the angle of light has a lot to do with the vibrance or lack of colour and contrast.

Please don't get me wrong... I don't think there is anything wrong with your workflow, It just sounded to me like you were getting a result from your RAW converter (blocking, etc) that is not supposed to happen, especially with the increased dynamic range of RAW files...