Post-processing tweaks

[Exorcist]

I know there are many great photographers here and I'm sure many of us would appreciate your help on the postprocess. I feel like its just half of the whole process to take good pictures, the other half is the actual post-process.

I'm also aware that the ideal situation would be not to need any post-process tools (or very little) but the fact is that it's always required. So what I'm asking is advice on how to make the best of your pictures with maybe not so pro cam equipment?

My normal setup is Canon 400D with EF-S 17-85mm and I post-process with Adobe Lightroom/Photoshop.
The usual adjustments I do is pretty much Auto tone with a little tweaking and I add some vibrance and perhaps some slight vignette. I feel that they are much better after but there is a alot room for improvements.

Very often the end result is something like this:
http://exorcist.1g.fi/kuvat/Autot/E39M5/Shoot+20.7.2008/IMG_2332.jpg/small

Without taking into consideration the camera/lens equipment what are the 'normal' things you do for post-process? The more detailed the better.

Thanks!

[Ficarra]

Clarity
Contrast
Saturation
Blacks
Fill Light
White Balance

All in Lightroom 2.

[Travis]

My workflow is pretty basic.

Levels
curves
color balance
hue/saturation
burn/dodge
clone
sharpen

[TheNeek]

I'm VERY new to post processing.

Exposure
Hue Sat
Clone tool to erase crap

Anyone know a good write up on creating a macro in Photoshop CS2 for frames and signatures?

[M.Burroughs]

I'm also aware that the ideal situation would be not to need any post-process tools (or very little) but the fact is that it's always required. So what I'm asking is advice on how to make the best of your pictures with maybe not so pro cam equipment?



This isn't against you- this is my rant in general, and its to save/help you. :)

Anyone who says that kind of BS is ashamed that they cant do anything in post.
To understand, we need to take a look at black and white film photography- the OG of photography. You will almost NEVER take a photo that you don't manipulate in the darkroom. Dodging, burning, and several other tweaks are all part of finishing the photograph.

All of those famous photos- yep. Countless hours in the darkroom trying to perfect them. You think Ansel Adams just "snapped" those pics because he somehow knew how to press the shutter button better? :stickoutt

Post processing is part of the process. A photograph isn't want comes out of the camera- it's a finished picture. "Lightroom" has its name because it's the opposite of the "Darkroom" (film vs. digital).

The objective of photoshop is to take the photo which came out of the camera and take it to where you want it to be.

Those guys who say "Oh, well he does a ton of photoshop to his images" simply don't understand that sometimes, the image you want to wind up with isn't possible to achieve without using those tools. Certain color bands, shadows, highlights, etc... it's all stuff that you want to bring out or tone down.

Now- some guys do take photoshopping images to the next level- IMO that becomes digital imaging, not photography, but the line between the two is very blurry. Its mostly opinion.

My philosophy is that you need to start with a good image to wind up with a great one. Personally, I mostly stick to the tools that are available to me in film photography.

My workflow is very simple- I'm often accused of heavy post processing (which honestly doesn't matter, if its heavy, its heavy- the comments come from others being jealous that they can't do the same type of processing and thus feel handicapped), but most of the time, my starting images are very similar to my final images.

Clarity
Blacks
Fill Light
Burning & Dodging
Color Adjustment

And then save. :)

I know that doesn't help much but I had to rant.

[87e30]

Mike:

Are all of those tools just in photoshop?

More specifically, I've never heard of "clarity, blacks, and fill light."

[M.Burroughs]

Mike:

Are all of those tools just in photoshop?

More specifically, I've never heard of "clarity, blacks, and fill light."

It is the way of the .RAW :)

[87e30]

It is the way of the .RAW :)

God damnit. I used to shoot raw but when I'd upload them photoshop when never open them in the Raw editor so I never got the benefits. I'm really not sure what I'm missing... I should figure it out.

[Travis]

You should, it changes the way you shoot.

[Exorcist]

Thanks for all the tips. You've all been very helpfull.

The Clarity setting seems to help alot in many of my pictures. I've always been annoyed when the pics seem to look like there is a gray filter or fog or something. I've usually tried to cure this with contrast but the Clarity works much better without screwing the darker areas.

When you say you use Burning & Dodging tools how do use them? Do you 'burn' details off the background or dodge the object you're trying to bring up? Is there a tool for this in Lightroom.

[Ficarra]

.RAW is how to do it. Although Lightroom lets you adjust the above mentioned for .jpeg too, it just isn't the same.

[Pswirley]

I use paint shop pro x2, but I followed the instructions listed here, plus a little pm tutoring and am getting better.

Used the steps outlined in this thread and here is the before and after.

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z279/pswirley/20090620_91-1.jpg

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z279/pswirley/20090620_91.jpg

[SeanDub]

I think it looks great!

[sb253]

^^ ya good work.

I roll with a stock lens'd Rebel XT. Bottom of the barrel

I heart post processing

[psiglx]

this is something i need to learn. right now 95% of my photos have no post edits because i have no clue what i am doing and i dont have photoshop. i have aperture but does not have the adjustments ps has.

[psiglx]

btw - the evo looks great after the edit

[SeanDub]

^^ ya good work.

I roll with a stock lens'd Rebel XT. Bottom of the barrel

I heart post processing

I've wanted to pick one up, ever since my friend Steven had one, I just am havin a hard time justifying droppin the cash.

[Stan Marsh]

rebel xt are cheap. or go for the original rebel they can be had for $150. they are a little slower but they get the job done.

[Travis]

The evo shot looks good Casey. The only thing i would suggest is to watch your saturation/color balance. The first shot seems to have a little cyan color shift, and then the edited shot has a green shift. Notice the color change in the pavement.

[dinanm3atl]

OP,

What are you trying to do? Just saying "What do you do" is not the easiest question to answer. Your photo posted looks 'real'. It looks like what the scene looked like when you pressed the shutter release.

There are too many PP options and opinions to say "What is your normal". Everyone has their 'feel' or 'style' that they eventually find themselves in. That will develop over time.

In RAW I mess with Clarity, blacks, fill light and the temp(depending on how it looks). Get it into CS2 and I have a couple different things I try. I try all the auto features and see what it thinks is right. Sometimes it looks damn good to me and sometimes it looks terrible. Depending on the photo and when shot I use noise ninja. I also, depending on the photo, use the shadow/highlight tool. Never passed 5 though as it starts trying to HDR itself! roflmao

Sharpen and save.

[Exorcist]

Thanks for the input.

I guess what I'm really trying to get out of the photos is the color depth like in your sig. My photos are missing that 'richness'. I know your gear is more up to par but is that something that can be helped with post-process. If so how?

E: Stating the obvious: RAW will help a lot in this..

[Stan Marsh]

I shoot an oldschool 300D and I can get it done. RAW helps a ton, making sure you have your camera setup properly for the shot helps too. Correct ISO, WB, shutter speed and F-Stop have a lot to do with it too. Do you take multiple of the same photo? up a stop and down a stop? I will usually shoot about 5 of the same photo with different settings so I have as much as I can to work with in PS.

[Digitalwave]

My workflow is pretty basic.

Levels
curves
color balance
hue/saturation
burn/dodge
clone
sharpen

For a photo that started out "good", the above is my basic workflow. Although I don't burn/dodge or clone all that often.

I use Photoshop CS3 Extended and I use macros for a lot of my workflow, and then tweak each photo individually followed by a batch save.

If the photo isn't so "good" to start with, there might be a lot more involved including duplicate layers, clipping paths, more cloning, dodging, and burning than I normally do, etc.

[SeanDub]

Damn, if I buy a camera, I have a lot to learn lol

[87e30]

Figured out how to open raw. Sweeeeet.

[B Rod]

Figured out how to open raw. Sweeeeet.

This is the first Ive heard of RAW. What do you do???

[87e30]

This is the first Ive heard of RAW. What do you do???

This might be sarcasm... but:

If you have a DSRL you just set picture quality to raw. Then open in photoshop. I hadn't installed the camera raw feature before was my only problem. Or something, I'm not sure what. but it works now.

[B Rod]

This might be sarcasm... but:

If you have a DSRL you just set picture quality to raw. Then open in photoshop. I hadn't installed the camera raw feature before was my only problem. Or something, I'm not sure what. but it works now.

Haha, no sarcasm, just learning. Thanks!

[Stan Marsh]

RAW format allows for many more options with your post process editing. Also the photo quality is much higher in RAW over JPEG.

[SeanDub]

I'm gonna have to buy a camera. God dammit.

[vdubkid]

Wow, this thread is really helpful! Now I just need to shoot in RAW more.

But here's a quick before and after of a terrible picture
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l201/genesi508/IMG_2611-1.jpg
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l201/genesi508/IMG_2611.jpg

[Stan Marsh]

^ the only downside there is in order to gain the white of the paint you ended up blowing out all the detail on the body. that is a perfect example of a photo where it is almost impossible to post process it without losing something else.

[vdubkid]

^ the only downside there is in order to gain the white of the paint you ended up blowing out all the detail on the body. that is a perfect example of a photo where it is almost impossible to post process it without losing something else.

Yeah, unfortunately I've only got a couple pictures in RAW and they're all bad.

I'm practicing my photography before I get really concerned about editing. I bet even a professional graphic artist would have a hard time getting something out of that picture.

[Stan Marsh]

Yeah, unfortunately I've only got a couple pictures in RAW and they're all bad.

I'm practicing my photography before I get really concerned about editing. I bet even a professional graphic artist would have a hard time getting something out of that picture.

thats kinda what I meant. By the unedited pic its obvious it was shot without setting the WB, ISO looks too low and also the shutter speed is too long or else you didn't have enough light and should have used a tripod. but you are right, there is no saving that photo more than you already did.

[WhiteStripes]

It's also got focus issues. But definitely a tribute to how much RAW can really help a photo. Good Job.

Post is something that I'd love to get down more as well. I've got access to all the right equipment, and I've always thought that my composition was decent, so now it's just more along the lines of editing.

[Dr.AK]

My usual workflow is something along these lines:

RawFile:
-White Balance correction
-Saturation & Dynamic
-Vignette
-Contrast
-Blacks
-Fill Light
-Adjusting Curves

Photoshop:
-Adjusting Levels
-Unsharpen Mask
-Resize
-Add border
-Save


Comparison:


Out of Cam:

http://www.abload.de/img/img_1259_orinsly.jpg


Processed:

http://bochmannphoto.net/galleries/59-M.I.V.W._2009_Leiden_NL/IMG_1259.jpg

[rubadub]

Before:
http://i319.photobucket.com/albums/mm465/Yami_Dark/2a4tk47.jpg

After:
http://i319.photobucket.com/albums/mm465/Yami_Dark/2a4tk47_edit.png


Mostly done for fun...and cause the car looks good. I <3 shaved satin

[Withers]

I play with nearly everything available to me in Lightroom 2, but I usually do at least the following:

RAW:
Exposure (fill light, black)
Clarity
Levels
Vignette (slight one)
Sharpening
Dodge and Burn

Occasionally I'll toss it in Photomatix to see if I can pull something usable out of that. I also use the GND filter quite frequently.

Here's a recent HDR attempt before and after:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v62/VicSkimmr/IMG_7432.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2650/3718339465_e4603f6817_o.jpg

[tonyguy]

My post processing game is off. What's the best PP program w/o spending $500?

[sergov]

Lightroom is only 299$
so go for it :DD

[tonyguy]

Lightroom is only 299$
so go for it :DD

oh no shit! I can afford that.

[Travis]

Photoshop? Its free :shifty

[mojocoggo]

Photoshop? Its free :shifty

°

[Exorcist]

It must be said.

I've played around with the settings more than usual for the last 2 months and I'm more and more pleased with the pictures and the development. I've found a new interest in photography, Thanks to all.
Perhaps time to burn some green to new equipment.

Few of the recent snaps:
I really like the warm bottom half and the awesome Finnish evening sky.
http://exorcist.1g.fi/kuvat/Autot/TMP/e46.jpg/medium

they see me rollin'
http://exorcist.1g.fi/kuvat/Autot/TMP/sipi.jpg/medium