Results 1 to 13 of 13

Thread: shadows

  1. #1
    Shadowman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    WNY
    Posts
    36,717
    Real Name
    John

    shadows

    Is it normal to introduce clipping in the shadows after a levels adjustment? And if so, how much is acceptable? I reopened a file in RAW after making a levels adjustment and now there is clipping around the sunglasses.

    shadows

  2. #2

    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    New Zealand
    Posts
    17,660
    Real Name
    Have a guess :)

    Re: shadows

    It depends on how far the data is above the threshold to start with, but having just said that, just take a look at the image; if there's no longer detail where you need to see it then you'll have to do something about it. If it's not an area of concern then don't worry about it.

    I have clipped blacks in just about every image.

  3. #3

    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    New Zealand
    Posts
    17,660
    Real Name
    Have a guess :)

    Re: shadows

    I might add that the irony of "Shadowman" asking for "shadow advice" has not been lost on me :P

  4. #4
    arith's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Burton on Trent, UK
    Posts
    4,788
    Real Name
    Steve

    Re: shadows

    Quote Originally Posted by Shadowman View Post
    Is it normal to introduce clipping in the shadows after a levels adjustment? And if so, how much is acceptable? I reopened a file in RAW after making a levels adjustment and now there is clipping around the sunglasses.

    shadows
    Nah; I don't really John unless the bottom is off the bottom, I mean to the right of the bottom. Mostly I would drop exposure because I try to expose to the right and it might be useful to drop exposure above by 1 EV and then try recovery. But I wouldn't go too far.

  5. #5
    Shadowman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    WNY
    Posts
    36,717
    Real Name
    John

    Re: shadows

    Quote Originally Posted by Colin Southern View Post
    It depends on how far the data is above the threshold to start with, but having just said that, just take a look at the image; if there's no longer detail where you need to see it then you'll have to do something about it. If it's not an area of concern then don't worry about it.

    I have clipped blacks in just about every image.
    Colin,

    This example was very subtle. I had another image that was somewhat underexposed to start and when I applied the levels adjustment, the clipping was very prominent, covered about 60% of any black object. I discarded that edit and started from scratch again. I usually don't review my edits in this manner, sounds like a good practice though. Glad to know I am not doing more harm than good.

    Thanks

  6. #6
    Shadowman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    WNY
    Posts
    36,717
    Real Name
    John

    Re: shadows

    Quote Originally Posted by Colin Southern View Post
    I might add that the irony of "Shadowman" asking for "shadow advice" has not been lost on me :P
    Colin,

    Not so ironic given the fact I prefer very dramatic shadows in my images. This example had very subtle shadows as I tend to expose to the left in most of my images.

  7. #7
    Shadowman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    WNY
    Posts
    36,717
    Real Name
    John

    Re: shadows

    Quote Originally Posted by arith View Post
    Nah; I don't really John unless the bottom is off the bottom, I mean to the right of the bottom. Mostly I would drop exposure because I try to expose to the right and it might be useful to drop exposure above by 1 EV and then try recovery. But I wouldn't go too far.
    Steve,

    i usually increase the temperature, clarity, and vibrance on most of my raw edits and that tends to push the histogram to the right. If I add a little contrast then things start to go to the bottom.

  8. #8
    Moderator Manfred M's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Ottawa, Canada
    Posts
    21,925
    Real Name
    Manfred Mueller

    Re: shadows

    I usually care less about loss of shadow detail than I do of clipped highlights.

    I think it is just the way the human eye works; we have problems when we look at great areas of pure while where highlight details have been lost, but we have no issue when we look at areas of shadows that are very dark, if not black.

  9. #9
    Shadowman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    WNY
    Posts
    36,717
    Real Name
    John

    Re: shadows

    Quote Originally Posted by GrumpyDiver View Post
    I usually care less about loss of shadow detail than I do of clipped highlights.

    I think it is just the way the human eye works; we have problems when we look at great areas of pure while where highlight details have been lost, but we have no issue when we look at areas of shadows that are very dark, if not black.
    i tend to go the other regarding shadows, yes highlights are very-very important, but having started out pursuing art and painting as an form of expression, I would always attempt to create reflected light and cast shadows to create the illusion of 3 dimensional form. As you stated, in photography-subtle changes of light i shadow are sometimes overlooked or ignored. The only problem with this form of shadow expression in photography is that it tends to look like noise rather than shades of light.

  10. #10
    John Morton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    New York NY USA
    Posts
    459

    Re: shadows

    John, I don't use Adobe Camera Raw but I notice at the bottom of your screen capture, below the middle of the image, that the file is listed as an 8 bit TIF. Were you editing the file as an 8 bit TIF or, convert to that at some point?

    I don't use Photoshop Elements either so I might be missing something here if it doesn't handle 16 bit files!

  11. #11
    Shadowman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    WNY
    Posts
    36,717
    Real Name
    John

    Re: shadows

    Quote Originally Posted by John Morton View Post
    John, I don't use Adobe Camera Raw but I notice at the bottom of your screen capture, below the middle of the image, that the file is listed as an 8 bit TIF. Were you editing the file as an 8 bit TIF or, convert to that at some point?

    I don't use Photoshop Elements either so I might be missing something here if it doesn't handle 16 bit files!
    John,

    PSE doesn't allow you to edit 16 bit files beyond ACR. I hear there is a work around but haven't been able to find the solution.

  12. #12

    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Grand Cayman, GT
    Posts
    830
    Real Name
    Graham Heron

    Re: shadows

    Quote Originally Posted by Shadowman View Post
    John,

    PSE doesn't allow you to edit 16 bit files beyond ACR. I hear there is a work around but haven't been able to find the solution.
    In ACR (PSE 10 at least), below the image you have the option to select either 8 bits or 16 bit. Do your initial editing in ACR and 'Open' into the main editing space as 16bit.
    You cannot use the tools in the tabs, but you do have access to them in the Enhance menu at the top. Given you can use the Quick Selection tool, this allows you to have selective processing. It may be destructive editing (no layers until you convert to 8bit), but not too shabby.
    Graham

  13. #13
    Shadowman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    WNY
    Posts
    36,717
    Real Name
    John

    Re: shadows

    Quote Originally Posted by GrahamH View Post
    In ACR (PSE 10 at least), below the image you have the option to select either 8 bits or 16 bit. Do your initial editing in ACR and 'Open' into the main editing space as 16bit.
    You cannot use the tools in the tabs, but you do have access to them in the Enhance menu at the top. Given you can use the Quick Selection tool, this allows you to have selective processing. It may be destructive editing (no layers until you convert to 8bit), but not too shabby.
    Graham
    Thanks Graham.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •