Are pixels really blown in ACR?

[kris]

I am not following. The "facilities" may differ from camera to camera but surely, the process of composition and exposure would be the same regardless.

Yes the composition is the same. What I mean is that since they have a different DR when you expose you use different combination of ISO/Aperture/Speed. Moreover, unless you do not use the Manual setting, the AE compensation may be different. In general I found that in bright light the D800 tends to underexpose more than the D300. So the compensation for a good exposition is different.

Cheers.

[Bobobird]

Yes I suppose each camera has its own quirks and working with 2 or more will make it more obvious.

[Lon Howard]

Glenn I wasn't aware of this but have just tried it on my 600D and found that it does indeed improve the accuracy of the histogram in relation to blown highlights. I've actually got it set to -4.

Thanks for sharing

Dave

Dave and Glenn, I very much appreciate your discussion on this subject. I did reset the Contrast value on my camera (5D Mk II) to -4. I also played with the Sharpness setting, going all the way from 0 to 7. But regardless of what combination I tried, for this image, the histogram and image for the jpeg in camera never changed. It still shows the same amount of clipped highlights.

So does this mean resetting the contrast value to -3 or -4 will only 'help' the in-camera image if it's done prior to capture?

[dje]

So does this mean resetting the contrast value to -3 or -4 will only 'help' the in-camera image if it's done prior to capture?

I believe so Lon.

Dave

[Glenn NK]

So does this mean resetting the contrast value to -3 or -4 will only 'help' the in-camera image if it's done prior to capture?

Lon:

What it actually does is render the in-camera JPEG so that it's highlight clipping is closer to the what actually occurs in a RAW file.

However, I believe that it does not work is one is shooting JPEG.

If the camera Contrast setting is set to default (zero), and one is shooting RAW files, and uses the RGB histogram to ETTR (expose to the right), then in post processing, the converted RAW files will not be exposed to the right (ETTR), and this available headroom will not be utilized.

But of course this all hinges on whether or not one subscribes to the ETTR concept. We've already had a "discussion" on that topic recently (and I'm not going to get into that one again ).

Glenn

[rambler4466]

JPEG have color correction, sharpening, contrast etc. done in camera, RAW images do not have any of that done in camera as Glen has pointed out. JPEG are seen in the LCD and that's why RAW does not look as nice right out of the box!

In ACR 7 in CS6 when you have a raw image, you can improve its look right away to make it look more like a JPEG: goto the Camera Calibration Tab (The icon looks like a camera) with the Process at 2012 (Current) select one of the "Camera Profiles"

Also, Dave is correct. LR4 is the same as ACR 7 in PS CS6. So, if you have LR 4 you have ACR 7! Here is a link that shows you the comparison of ACR 6 to ACR 7. Note the change in sliders and note that the sliders in ACR 7 are indeed the same sliders in LR4. Be sure to check out the Contrast slider. It is a big improvement over ACR 6, it actually does something noticeable.

I just learned this in a Photoshop seminar with Scott Kelby.

PS I believe when you have the red blinkies, there are no details in those washed out areas. Printing them as is produces a white, washed out area.

http://melissajill.com/blog.cfm?post...-and-lightroom

I am not certain what Melissa was responding to, but I just wanted you to look at the slider differences between the older an newer editions of LR 4 and PS CS6. Prices have dropped for LR 4. With the new sliders dragging the highlight slider to the left darkens the highlights.

[Lon Howard]

Thanks guys. I should have made clear that I only shoot in raw. Next clear day (may be awhile around here) I'll take some images including sky at different contrast settings in camera and compare the histograms. I'm finding all this fascinating, even though at my level, some of it is kinda out there for me. Baby steps right now. Good stuff!