WPF - World Photography Forum
Home Gallery Register FAQ Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Welcome to World Photography Forum!
Welcome!

Thank you for finding your way to World Photography Forum, a dedicated community for photographers and enthusiasts. There's a variety of forums, a wonderful gallery, and what's more, we are absolutely FREE. You are very welcome to join, take part in the discussion, and post your pictures!

Click here to go to the forums home page and find out more.
Click here to join.


Go Back   World Photography Forum > Photography Technique > The Digital Darkroom


The Digital Darkroom The In-Computer editing forum.

alternatives to CS3

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #21  
Old 23-01-08, 12:25
Chris
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Yes Rudra, Aperture 1.5 is down to £220 here (more tax), rumour says 1.6 in the offing, but I need newer computer for even trial version and have just spent n years frivolity money on 80-400 lens. Anyone wanting to see if they can do the masking Clive describes in Aperture??

Mike: does PSE6 have curves, essential to my mind? - and then its back to square 1, if you are going to end up with CS3, might as well start there as I assume all the menus and everything else possible is different even if most of the same stuff is included? - or has there been the longed for re-write and a bit of consistency?

I really am NOT trying to say there is an 'all-things-to-all-men' alternative, but am trying to explore if there are alternatives that will take keen learners most of the way faster and cheaper...and maybe in one or two areas even further.
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 23-01-08, 12:48
andy153's Avatar
andy153 andy153 is offline  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Bodelwyddan Denbighshire
Age: 78
Posts: 5,271
Default

What are these super costs of Aperture? Amazon sells it for £149 and on ebay you can get it for £70. If it is an older copy it automatically updates to the latest version via Software update.
__________________
"I take pictures of what I like - if someone else likes them - that's a bonus" Andy M.

http://www.pbase.com/andy153

http://andy153.smugmug.com/

Equipment: Nikon - More than enough !!!
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 23-01-08, 12:59
Gidders's Avatar
Gidders Gidders is offline  
Super Moderator
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: West Midlands
Posts: 2,795
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rudra Sen View Post

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gidders View Post
I never do any sharpening at the conversion from RAW stage... in fact I do all my post processing and then sharpen at the last step - I find this reduces the occurrence of odd sharpening effects.
Absolutely right here. But I keep‘0’ sharpness in my camera and push sharpness to 3 during raw processing. Tell me if I’m doing anything wrong here.
Rudra

As I understand it in camera sharpening only applies if you are shooting JPGs - in which case you would probably want a little sharpening applied. RAW files always look a little soft 'straight out of the camera'.

At the conversion from RAW stage I apply what ever noise reduction setting I feel are appropriate (in lightroom I have a set of standard ISO dependenant settings that are applied automatically when my RAW files are imported.

However I apply zero sharpening at the time of converting from RAW (which is probably why the colour original image I posted of Victoria looked soft). I will then apply any retouching to lines, wrinkles, spots etc, brightening of eyes, darkening of lips etc.

The final step before printing is then to apply sharpening either via smart sharpen (CS2/3) or unsharp mask. In either case I do this on a separate layer so that I can mask off any areas I do not want to sharpen (eg skin tones) and then also fade the opacity until I have the degree of sharpening I want. (In the case of Victoria, with hindsite it is perhaps a tad oversharpened in some areas but this was down sampled for the web from a file prepared for printing A4 - thats my excuse & I'm sticking to it )
__________________
Clive
http://www.alteredimages.uk.com
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 23-01-08, 13:03
Don Hoey's Avatar
Don Hoey Don Hoey is offline  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 4,462
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris View Post
I really am NOT trying to say there is an 'all-things-to-all-men' alternative, but am trying to explore if there are alternatives that will take keen learners most of the way faster and cheaper...and maybe in one or two areas even further.

I'm following the thread with interest. Masterclass from Clive a bonus.

I think Chris's point is very valid particularly for anyone on a limited budget. What gives best bang for your bucks is then the most important question.

Don
Reply With Quote
  #25  
Old 23-01-08, 13:23
Rudra Sen Rudra Sen is offline  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Bangalore, India
Posts: 2,632
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gidders View Post
The final step before printing is then to apply sharpening either via smart sharpen (CS2/3) or unsharp mask. In either case I do this on a separate layer so that I can mask off any areas I do not want to sharpen
Yes, I follow the same process in CS2.
Reply With Quote
  #26  
Old 23-01-08, 13:25
Chris
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Andy, I see you are right and Aperture is available much cheaper inc 'buy now' UK source £85. Just I would need a new computer to go with it. Also, what does it actually DO? How about asking Clive for his RAW as I did and doing a comparative for us? Clive & I are also tentatively plotting a software workshop, would you be interested in coming Brumwards to do the honours with Aperture?

On sharpening in-camera, I assume all decent cameras have settings within (as 350D & D80) so that you can shoot with your normal/preferred settings of sharpness, saturation, contrast and only need to touch them during RAW conversion if it is a different shot from the usual.
Reply With Quote
  #27  
Old 23-01-08, 13:33
andy153's Avatar
andy153 andy153 is offline  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Bodelwyddan Denbighshire
Age: 78
Posts: 5,271
Default

Hi Chris, I would be very interested in the workshop, but short of bringing my G5 dual core desktop with me it might be difficult. My laptop is an old Titanium Powerbook which will not run Aperture. But let me have a think and I might be able to lay my hands on a more up to date Laptop. If Clive would send me the RAW file in question I'll show you what Aperture can do. As Don says this is becoming a very interesting thread.
__________________
"I take pictures of what I like - if someone else likes them - that's a bonus" Andy M.

http://www.pbase.com/andy153

http://andy153.smugmug.com/

Equipment: Nikon - More than enough !!!

Last edited by andy153; 23-01-08 at 13:50.
Reply With Quote
  #28  
Old 23-01-08, 13:48
Birdsnapper's Avatar
Birdsnapper Birdsnapper is offline  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Lincs
Posts: 5,666
Default

For sharpening, I use a two-layer method with USM or use high pass filter and layer blending mode. Both methods give similar results, better than USM alone, but rely on layers, for which I understand requires PS.

Elements 5 does not have curves. However, I find shadows/highlights together with layer blending modes gives results that I find quite acceptable.
__________________
Mike
Nobody ever erected a statue of a critic
http://www.pbase.com/sunnycote
Reply With Quote
  #29  
Old 23-01-08, 14:22
Derekb's Avatar
Derekb Derekb is offline  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Bradford
Age: 64
Posts: 550
Default

Andy, Chris, etc

I'd be more than happy to come on a workshop. Andy, I have a pretty good laptop you could use and I could arrange to come over then go down together.

Thoughts?
__________________
My Website

My New Website
Reply With Quote
  #30  
Old 23-01-08, 14:44
andy153's Avatar
andy153 andy153 is offline  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Bodelwyddan Denbighshire
Age: 78
Posts: 5,271
Default

Derek - Here are the minimum system requirements - can you meet them?
Minimum system requirements

One of the following Macintosh computers: Mac Pro; Power Mac G5 with 1.6GHz or faster PowerPC G5 processor; MacBook Pro; MacBook; 15- or 17-inch PowerBook G4 with 1.25GHz or faster PowerPC G4 processor; Mac mini with Intel Core Solo or Intel Core Duo processor; iMac with 1.8GHz or faster PowerPC G5 or Intel Core Duo processor
1GB of RAM (2GB required for Mac Pro)
5GB of disk space for application, sample projects, and tutorial
DVD drive for installation
Mac OS X v10.4.8
__________________
"I take pictures of what I like - if someone else likes them - that's a bonus" Andy M.

http://www.pbase.com/andy153

http://andy153.smugmug.com/

Equipment: Nikon - More than enough !!!
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 12:07.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.3
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.