Ubique Critique

[arith]

and for something completely different; how do you make a rock look good

[Bobobird]

I see some really ubique post-processing in these. What have you done?

[arith]

First I get the image in ACR with the grey card.

Pulling back on exposure and recovery + fill, setting white balance. But in these images every one was yellow on the grey card. Mystery.

Using 16 bit I then use Topaz Denoise5, important since deconvolution doesn't like noise.

Then I use Topaz InFocus; mostly the unknown option set around radius 4.

Then I use Topaz Detail2 adding medium to large detail, but also use the colour sliders and that normally messes up the white balance.

Saving everything as 16 bit tiff no compression.

I then get Helicon Filter, and choose distortion; correcting as best I can.

Might even use some cloning but always finsh by cropping using the Mitchell interpolation routine to give me 300dpi on A3+.

Saving as 16 bit tiff again.

Now is the only time I go to 8 bit in PSE10.

Select all and save selection.

Make 9 duplicates.

From the top we have;

Color 100%
----------------
Luminence 10%
Color 100%
0%
Multiply 100%
Screen 100%
Screen 100%
Screen or normal !00%
Screen or normal 100%
Base

Sometimes I add overlay base duplicate inverted with Gauss blur on the top.

On layer 5 I try various Gauss blur from 30 to 250px to see If something pops out then:

Basically I play with the layer 6 as Pin or difference or Linear and layer 8 opacity or other blends, but mostly difference.

However the rock is linear blend and the waterfall pin light.

Adjusting opacity in layer 6 and 8 then create an an adjustment layer from layer 8.

A levels layer over 8 with Pin Light blend using auto mostly; but moving the middle needle or gamma as required and output before flattening.

Now I add a border to make it fit an A size, save as tiff now 8 bit.

Then choose standard rgb and save as a 10 jpeg for the web.

Well that is all there is too it really; lot of sucking and seeing.

[Bobobird]

Thanks Steve for detailed explanation. I will try a variation using PS.

What is the Mitchell routine for cropping?

[arith]

The Mitchell method is a method of enlargement available in Helicon Filter and other applications while resizing or cropping. I believe fractal design is also quite good for resizing but in Helicon Filter you have to set the Mitchell method in options, it is hidden otherwise, and I don't know how it works but Helicon Filter describes it as a superior method and it looks better than bicubic to me.

I do it when resizing/cropping in Helicon Filter because it is no trouble and in the unlikely event I want a print, I always do A3+ or bigger, then it is ready and waiting.

cheers bobo

[arith]

layer 5 is the multiply layer.This is where I put the blur.
layer 6 is set to 0% initially, then choose pin 100% to just see the changes, mostly I end up choosing difference around 50%.
layer 8, luminence has its opacity increased once I know or have an idea what layer 6 is going to be.
An adjustment layer is always created from layer 8, set to pin blend and levels. Try auto first.

Good for adapted Orton, or drammatic skys, or making things stand out, but I wished I could do layers in 16 bit.

[Bobobird]

Thanks for the additional info.

Looks like you might be moving on to PS hehe.

I do not have Helicon Filter so cannot try it out. What other apps have this?

[arith]

Cheers bobo; it is not essential to resize but I can't find another app with it, every time I try and google it I just get references to the mathematics.
I've heard Fractal is very good for enlargements, but the last print I did was just to test out the 16 bit driver in my printer and I used bicubic, whilst I could see a difference at 100% the A3+ print was silky smooth.Of course I've had A1 size printed , the dpi drops below 150dpi and maybe this is where I would see the difference.

[Bobobird]

Thanks again for taking the time.

I seldom print so it is no biggie.