On 7/13/2014 5:25 AM, Chuck Norcutt wrote:
Thanks for this very detailed analysis and your comments on the 70-300
(which I may yet buy one of these days). Can you comment more on your
use of FM and also FM with LCE?
I find it hard to reply outside of the context in which they are most
often used.
My most common flow with Raw files is:
1. ACR - Exposure and WB
Built in lens corrections, no sharpen, etc.
2. NeatImage - Noise
- Even for base ISO, this is usually important or FM and LCE
'enhance' noise.
- Saved noise profiles and noise reduction settings for my cameras
and ISOs.
3. FocusMagic - Deconvolution sharpening
- To taste
- Usually the radius FM suggests or one less
- Different cameras and lenses have characteristic values
4. Brightness/Contrast and/or Highlight/Shadow
- If highlights are blown or compressed, I tend to use a combination
of the ACR Highlight slider and the PS Highlight/Shadow tool.
- Which to use how much is experience and judgment.
- If LCE is going to blow highlights, I first bring them down.
5. LCE
- The action is set to Amount 20%, Radius 50 pixels, Threshold 0
- I almost never vary anything but Radius
6. Curves and/or maybe Levels.
- Bring middle brightness up from any pre LCE reduction
- Adjust overall and tonal range contrasts
I don't know if that sounds like a lot. With Actions that create named
layers and open tools with my default settings, it's very quick for most
images. Saved profiles and settings for NI that may be picked from a
list also save a lot of time.
Some, like the moon shot I just posted, may have far less done. All I
did with it was perspective correction. Others may be far more complex.
Go With the Flow Moose