Thanks Rick, good tut.
Thanks Rick, good tut.
On P plats
Canon EOS 40 D
Canon lens EF 70-300mm ,17-85mm
Flash 580 EXII
Filters 58mm PITCH:0.75,67.0s UV
Canon 100mm Macro USM
Sigma AF 150-500/5-6.3APO OS For Canon EOS
Manfrotto 190XDB+804RC2 Head Tripod
Software: Picasa3, PSPX2
Thanks for this Rick, Great tutorial
Cat (aka Cathy) - Another Canon user - 400D, 18-55,75-300mm Kit Lens,50mm f1.8, Tamron 90mm f2.8 Macro, Sigma 28-70 f2.8-4 DG, Tripod and a willingness to learn
Software used: PhotoImpact, Irfanview and a lot of plugins
We don't make a photograph just with a camera, we bring to the act of photography all the books we have read, the movies we have seen, the music we have heard, the people we have loved. - Ansel Adams
very nice tutorial.. easy to read, easy to understand.. thanks Rick
Couldn't find an answer to this one in the thread, so forgive me if someone has already answered this, but...
Doing the RAW work (in my case in Canon DPP) obviously alters the histogram when one comes to look at it in the RGB. What are the advantages/disadvantages of manipulating the images in the two different ways?
Any info appreciated..
Any alteration to your photo is going to adjust the histogram. I am not sure what you mean by the two different ways?
"It is one thing to make a picture of what a person looks like, it is another thing to make a portrait of who they are" - Paul Caponigro
Constructive Critique of my photographs is always appreciated
Nikon, etc!
RICK
My Photography
thanks for reply..
I may have misunderstood something here as I think(???) the histogram I'm seeing in the DPP raw tab might actually be a luminance histogram, not a levels one. I guess (?) this would make sense as this histogram can be used to manipulate over/underexposure by shifting the whole curve (+/- 2 EVs), not sliding the dark or light levels as in your tute (which I incidentally found very useful).
I'm not explaining this very well, I clearly don't understand it well enough yet.
Thanks
AH, yes there are several ways to change histograms and differing software allows differing changes. You maybe comparing the photoshop curves adjustment, with the levels one. I reckon your DPP software has something like curves adjustment as well.
I am not familiar with DPP so maybe someone else can answer that one.
thanks anyway! i'm learning heaps from your site..
The raw luminance histogram allows you to manipulate the dynamic range of the image (compare it to the "levels" tool in other software) - it mainly allows you to set black and white point. There is no gamma manipulation possible, but you can do some contrast adjustments. Note that this histogram is not linear, it is logarithmic!
You ask about exposure - always adjust that in the raw luminance tool because that allows editing at the full dynamic range.
The RGB histogram takes the output of the RAW processing step and manipulates that in terms of output range. It works more like the curves tool in other software.
Ciao, Joost
All feedback is highly appreciated!
Just read this today and do appreciate reply. I have been mucking around (DPP) with an image with high dynamic range and wonder, if you have the inclination, would you be willing to comment if I posted them? - just 3 images; the original from the raw into jpeg, a raw luminance adjusted and then a 3rd using RGB curves/levels (DPP again). It may help me (?other newbies too) understand the software possibilities a little better...
cheers, rick
Rick, you would need to post them into member photos area, for critique. The tutorials area is not a place for photo reviews. So post them in the relevant photo area stating what you want feedback on etc, and you will get it.
I think I know what Rick (nouveau1) is getting at here, as I think I have the same question.
It appears to me that these levels adjustments are very similar to what you might do with Adobe Camera Raw with a raw image? (Or any other raw image tool for that matter)? DPP is similar in that you can drag the edges of the histogram in and ACR uses the numerous sliders to do effectively the same thing. They all just have subtly different terminology or ways of displaying these controls.
Am I right?
Ok so I'm on the right track. Would it be safe to saw where possible do your levels adjustments in the raw form and if all you have is jpg or tiff, use PS and the method above?
Now then, curves is another story yes? ACR can't do curves other than some minor adjustments with saturation etc. Whereas PS can do curves adjustments with much more flexibility yes?
(DPP has another tab for doing curves adjustments which could account for the confusion earlier in this thread).
Curves I have no idea...I look forward to that tute when you get the time!
Cheers,
I tend to do a general check of the histogram in my RAW software(Lightroom) and occasionally make adjustments at that point. Ultimately it is about getting the exposure right in-camera, well as right as you can, and then work wit it in the editing software of your choice. All the adjustments and changes you make to your photo while editing it in PS or similar can affect the histogram, so it can be worthwhile re-checking your histogram (and levels) towards the end of your work-flow as well.
Thanks Rick, that helpful advice is very much appreciated. Elvie
Thank you everything is starting to make sense to me now.