Posted by Robert Bunch on August 14, 2011 at 1:31 PM
Recently I started shooting raw instead of jpeg files. I am using nikon viewnx the software that came with my D300s. I have heard it is not so hot and I plan on getting better software pretty soon, probably nikon capture2, but for now I am using view. My question is how do you recover highlight and shadow detail in raw if you under or overexpose? Is it done with the shadow protection, highlight protection and d-lighting sliders in view or by using the exposure comp slider in view or by some combination of them all. It seems like that as you move the shadow protection slider higher you get more shadow detail it also seems that the higher you set d-lighting (none, low, medium, high) you get more shadow detail. Does the highlight protection slider work the same way? So far from playing with it I haven't been able to see much difference when I move it around. Also does using these exposure controls on raw files have any effect on noise? Any advice you can give me about working with raw files before converting them to jpegs would be appreciated. Thanks for any help you can give.
Posted by Lance Warley on August 15, 2011 at 8:53 AM
I can't comment about the sw you're using as far as the specific interface, but I'm sure the idea is the same as in Photoshop. You could try searching Youtube for tutorials on your sw.
In Photoshop Adobe Camera Raw (or via a different interface in Lightroom), you easily can adjust highlights and shadows with the sliders on the first panel. There are plenty of good tutorials out there on ACR.
One thing though - no matter how much you can adjust in the sw, you'll always have a better photo if your in-camera exposure is good. This includes blending multiple in-camera exposures.
Posted by Bill Chambers on August 15, 2011 at 12:32 PM
I'm afraid I can't answer your question either as I'm not familiar with View, but I would defintiely try the trial version of Capture NX2 before buying. It does a good job with conversions but I found it to be very unwieldly and cumbersome - not user friendly at all. I would try the trial versions of Elements 9 and Capture One as well, I think you would be much happier.
Posted by David Bostedo on August 15, 2011 at 12:42 PM
...no matter how much you can adjust in the sw, you'll always have a better photo if your in-camera exposure is good.
But also keep in mind that the best exposure for digital sensors is as bright as possible without clipping highlights (Expose To The Right, or ETTR as most call it). And in most cases this means you DO need to do an adjustment with the sliders to pull things back down.
Posted by Robert Bunch on August 17, 2011 at 8:35 AM
Discussion
4 repliesIn Photoshop Adobe Camera Raw (or via a different interface in Lightroom), you easily can adjust highlights and shadows with the sliders on the first panel. There are plenty of good tutorials out there on ACR.
One thing though - no matter how much you can adjust in the sw, you'll always have a better photo if your in-camera exposure is good. This includes blending multiple in-camera exposures.
But also keep in mind that the best exposure for digital sensors is as bright as possible without clipping highlights (Expose To The Right, or ETTR as most call it). And in most cases this means you DO need to do an adjustment with the sliders to pull things back down.
Robert