Workflow

[DeMorcan]

I have tried the versions of the programs I can. Some I used up my 30 day trial. I see the comparisons of various programs and know that each will have new versions in the future. I chose what was for me the most versatile filter. With some denoise and sharpening programs you lose your RAW data once you apply the program. Often I want to go back to the RAW data to rework some highlight or shadow recovery as I flatten my image to get all detail at the start and then decide later in the processing when I want to remove detail to increase contrast, clarity etc. This video shows my workflow and why my choice is Topaz Denoise AI and Sharpen AI. Just something to consider. I readily admit when processing a photo, I am a control freak and want to do everything the way I want, not the way some programmer thought was right. This is the video that explains my workflow and choices. As I do the other adjustments, I can always go back to the RAW and tweak it for the adjustments I am making later in the process. Also, with this way I can go back and peak the Denoise or Sharpen since they are filters on the RAW and I do not have to deal with a Tiff. I like that because sometimes as I do the Selective Color peaking and tuning, it affects the detail. This makes the 2 programs like a slider in Lightroom you can adjust or readjust at any time. BTW, I do not use Lightroom very often and work from ACR as when I open my smart object, all my adjustments are there and it I export from Lightroom, I do not have the adjustments I made.

[Rob Trek]

I'll take a closer look. I just did a quick scan of the video and looks interesting. Thanks for sharing this one.

[Siegfried]

I see a mix of new trends, advanced editing techniques, specifications photography, and a mix of image editing techniques, all dumped into one presentation. The result is a little over-the-head for beginners and a choice or preferred editing style for advanced image editing...

For example:-

- Working with linear profiles seem like a bit of a new hype or trend at the moment - I looked at it and not interesting
- Luminosity masks is something interesting depending on your editing style and needs - not something for beginners
- Noise - I am always amused by the hype about noise, especially with FF photographers - when do we overdo things?
- Smart Objects - not new and a great way of working with layers - that said I only use them for specific layer tasks...
- Sharpening - wow he is working that poor bee? Does each little detail in the image need to be super perfectly sharp?

I always preferred simple solutions, good knowledge, and sound basics. For example, one can get as much as 99.85% of those same results by simply using good Photoshop editing techniques. Photoshop on its own is more than enough... For example:-

- Always open Photoshop first (get the Adobe prescription, it's not much)
- Master working with layers, Curves, Color, selections, plus, plus... (Consider a prescription at Kelby Training...)
- Select and work with Smart Objects as needed - even ARC works perfectly in layers & with smart Objects
- WorkSpace is one of the best raw converters for Olympus, especially when working with enhanced raw files

I think one of the most difficult things specification photographers are facing is the transition to real or creative photography and editing techniques. The simplicity of accepting that no camera is technically perfect but as creative tools what a joy...

Baby steps

Best

[DeMorcan]

You have an excellent start which is how I started. I used Luminosity Masks early on as I found I could edit faster and better with them. For most purposes Photoshop works great. Also PS has the most support and it is very easy to find out how to do anything you might want to. It is the standard for a reason. Me personal quirk is I hate halos so I do not user sharpening in PS. That is just me. I do like to sharpen parts of an image often. Usually this is with a luminosity mask to sharpen the mid tones only because sharp shadows look weird and unnatural. Sharp highlights give an unnatural sky. I did not used to recommend this as there was a learning curve. Adobe has a free TK panel that makes luminosity masks (and other adjustments) much easier and faster. Since I wrote my workflow article, Topaz has updated Sharpen AI since I wrote this and it is much better today. I think with the right technique and enough effort many things can be done in PS. I personally find it easier to use some of the addons as filters to save time. It is not required most of the time. Especially if you have no plans to print and only post photos online. Sometimes shooting in cathedrals and other places I cannot use flash and have to use a high ISO so need something for the noise. That is not what most people do. I think you have the perfect solution for you. You know how to use it and it works. Nothing more is needed. It does not make sense to spend money on something you will not use. Looking at the beta neural filters and the coming ones much of this will be available in PS. Using the Beta filters and giving feedback, I have watched them improve and think PS will have noise reduction and AI sharpening equivalent of anything you can buy now. What I wrote was not to imply someone should use these external filters. Some people are discussing them and comparing them at ISO 25,600. To those people I just wanted to point out there are other considerations when choosing to get one (or not get one). As for noise, often after I am done processing a photo, I have to add noise to it which increases apparent sharpness and gives a more natural look. I am seeing more noiseless photos that look like paintings more than photos. And sometimes I want that effect. Thank you for your comments and the many valid points you made. Of course I enjoy processing and making the photo mine with the look I want that day. Which may be different the next day. Many people do not enjoy the process and just want to done adequately for their use. There is no reason at all they should go to the levels I do. It should be fun. If it becomes work, one had better be well paid for it. BTW, I also use ACR rather than Lightroom and minimize the number of smart objects (often just the base unit) as they make files big and can slow things done. Sometimes I do not use a sharp object at all and just make copies of the base layer, process each one for a certain part of an image and use a mask to put them all together.

[Siegfried]

Your welcome.

I think the best statement I saw in terms of Photoshop is that each challenge has at least a hundred solutions. Like you, I enjoy editing my images and discovering what more info is amongst all those saved bits and bytes.

Personally, I am always looking for the simplest ways to get it done...

You are obviously at a way more advanced level than I

Best

Siegfried

[DeMorcan]

I do not know about that being more advanced. I am learning every day. I have seen your photos and know I could learn somethings from you. I started using PS in 1994. I learned to do what I do and it worked. But as it added new things I kept doing what I knew how. So I am actually learning it to learn the better ways or easier ways. I had about 80 actions according to what I was working on. I have gotten rid of 25 or 30 of them because once I learned the new things in PS, I did not need them. I have redone every one of the others in the past 2 years. BTW, after the 3o day trial and workflow with Topaz Denoise and Sharpen, I ended up not getting them. For most of my photos I do not need them. I had to do so much masking as I did not like the look applied to the whole photo. Maybe if I did not print, I would use them more as most sites mess up the photo anyway. I have used 3D Creator to make a lot of profiles, because no program shows the real raw. They all apply a curve and color profile at the start which limits the detail and editing choices. After over a year of that, now someone makes free linear profiles without the curve on the highlights. So now I am redoing all of my color profiles to work with flat RAW. Wish there was a way to share some of them. but have not learned how to export them. Sometimes someone mentions they like a look on the stream and I would love to send them the color profile (or preset or action) to get them started with that look. I learned a lot from other people's action and seeing what they did. Wish I could share so other people could learn from them as a starting point. PS is so much easier today than it was 2 years ago. They made so many changes. But to use them, you have to know they are there and PS really does not let us know what the changes are. They have a partial list that means almost nothing until you see what it does.