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Photo

Post Processing Software?


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26 replies to this topic

#1
Cjtamu

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I am woefully clueless on processing images after they're taken. I have Capture NX-D on one of our WIndows laptops. Have browsed it a little. It's cumbersome, but appears to be fairly powerful. From reading the forums, it looks like there are things I can do with aftermarket products (lens corrections for one) that I can't do with the Capture software. Are most using Photoshop and Lightroom for processing?

 

P. S.  I see photos posted with watermarks on them. Is that done in the camera or in post processing? Considering getting a Flickr page, and I know there are peeps that like to collect photos and claim them as their own. Thanks.



#2
ScottinPollock

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I would say that most use Adobe products. I am not one of them for a number of reasons that I have already posted on these forums.

 

I use Capture NX-D for serious raw conversions, XnView for organization of my libraries, and Affinity Photo for stacking/compositing/effects. The later two are by indie developers (who I prefer to support) who don't force you into making monthly payments for the rest of your life (among other nasty habits).

 

There are actually two ways to mark your images. One is to add a copyright notice to the comments area in the EXIF data, and the other is to physically add an image overlay to your posted picts using an image editing app like PhotoShop or Affinity Photo. Both are easily removed with the right software (unless your watermark is so obnoxious it ruins your image). So if you're looking to circumvent image theft, the only effective way is to post only low res thumbnails.



#3
morticiaskeeper

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I have done two photoshoots in the past 24 hours! One was recording all aircraft landing at an event, the other was a glamour shoot, in the woods at sunset.

Tomorrow, when I've recovered, I will use Darktable to sort, then the 5 star shots will be moved to a server, where I can access them on my iPad. Final editing will be done in Photogenie.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

#4
Merco_61

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My workflow today is:

  1. Ingestion into Photo Mechanic.
  2. Rating and keywording in PM.
  3. Batch conversion followed by individual tweaking in Capture NX-D with export to .tif in the original folder.
  4. If necessary, I run the files through the Google NIK filters.
  5. Adjusting IPTC on the .tif files to reflect the output targets.
  6. Export and when applicable watermarking with PM, sometimes followed by sharpening for output medium with Google NIK Sharpener Pro.

There are cases where I run a file or set of files through specialist applications like Autopano Giga or Zerene Stacker, or sometimes Photoshop when I need to work in layers.



#5
Cjtamu

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Whoo, boy. I have a lot to learn. Thanks to everyone for the info. Think I'll try to master Capture NX-D for a bit while I look at other software and decide what suits me.

#6
Merco_61

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If you read the Editing Exercise threads for this year, I think I did the basic edits in Capture NX-D for all of them with at least broad descriptions on *what* I did. Some weeks, I did quite a lot and the step-by-step  procedure descriptions might be of some help in learning the software. From last year, there are some that are made with NX2 and some with ACR, I don't remember exactly when I switched over to NX-D as my main raw converter.

 

Edited... mail raw converter doesn't make any sense.



#7
Cjtamu

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Thank you, sir. Fairly computer literate, hopefully that will help.

#8
nbanjogal

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I'm one of the many who use Adobe (though lately I've been experimenting with MacPhun and Capture One products). For someone who is just starting out with processing, Adobe's Lightroom is pretty intuitive and easy to learn, and it's a pretty powerful tool for adjustments as well.



#9
Ron

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Like Nicole, I also use Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop .... in my case, almost exclusively. Lightroom is my main tool and serves as both my image library application and my photo correction application. As I've said before in other threads, I do approximately 99% of my work in Lightroom. I only use Photoshop when I have an image that requires extensive manipulation which can be more easily performed in Photoshop Layers. 

 

I also have the Nik plugin suite and occasionally use them from Lightroom. I've downloaded Topaz's new photo editor (which is free) and plan to give that a try. I also have Nikon's Capture NX-D (also free) installed on one machine but frankly, I find it counter intuitive and seldom use it. However, you may find it to your liking so I encourage you to give it a try. 

 

There are many other photo manipulation and organization applications available which can be, understandably, difficult to wade through. Starting out, I personally believe that you need a way to keep your photo library organized before anything else. So, I would start there. And, of course, my suggestion would be Lightroom. Either as part of the Adobe Photography plan or as a stand alone application. 

 

--Ron



#10
TBonz

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I use Lightroom for the vast majority of my work.  For simple shooting, import the images, edit and categorize the ones I want to keep and export images with or without watermark as needed.  Some might see the NIK plugins or Topaz plugins but rarely do they see anything but Lightroom.  When I shoot larger events and have lots of images to go through, I usually cull down the list in PhotoMechanic before Lightroom and then proceed as I would with the other images...



#11
Cjtamu

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At work. Currently being reminded how much I dislike certain Adobe products. That may be the deciding vote ha!



#12
nbanjogal

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By the way, since you originally asked about watermarks--Lightroom will export your images with watermarks and metadata (which can also be helpful if your image is stolen).



#13
dcbear78

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Our cameras came with software?

I was on the Lightroom bandwagon from day one of camera ownership, and also shot in raw from the start. So I'm very familiar with Lightroom and try to do as much as I can within it.

I am using Photoshop more and more. But if I can get away with it, I won't go there.

#14
morticiaskeeper

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Today, I have finally achieved the holy grail, not editing a shot!

This was a photoshoot in an evening woodland, so used a bit of available light and a lot of diffused flash.

I loaded one of the RAW files into Photogenie, rotated it so the model was the right way up, then went to do the edits. Everything I tried to improve the shot just didn't work!

I thought it might be me, being under the weather through illness, so I waited for She Who Must Be Obeyed to come home. She couldn't find anything wrong with it either.

I suppose it'll happen again in another 51 years :-)


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#15
Cjtamu

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That's awesome ha ha ha. Since getting a DSLR I've had discussions (both within my head and with others!) about the difference between taking a great photo and making a photo great. Congratulations.

#16
Dogbytes

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The main thing to avoid, as you've no doubt been told, is trying to edit a bad shot into a good one!

In terms of post processing, there are endless possiblilities and, to a great extent, it depends what you're trying to achieve. You don't HAVE to go mad. I use a D610 and I have one memory card recording jpegs and the other recording RAW. I put all the jpegs on my iPad and immediately trash the ones that are clearly flawed. The RAWs go on a a standalone hard drive, via my laptop, in case I ever need them...

My post processing (and they all get some) is done initially on Snapseed, which gets ever more powerful, and on the odd occasion I need layers I turn to Photoshop Touch. All in all it's a compact, economical set up.

#17
Nikon Shooter

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After investing a lot of time studying and exploring all kinds

of software, after being with adobe for quite some years I am

adobe free now. I made mine the Capture One's approach to

RAW development and Affinity Photo's pixel editing power.

After 6 years, I am still looking for even better solutions from

time to timeā€¦ one never knows.



#18
Fletch

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I'm still using Adobe PS CS 5.1 because I love the RAW editor, Spot Remover and Object Remover, and don't want to pay a monthly subscription for the newer version.  I also use Corel Paintshop to edit as I like some of their tools better than Adobes.



#19
Nikon Shooter

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I'm still using Adobe PS CS 5.1 because I love the RAW editor, Spot Remover and Object Remover, and don't want to pay a monthly subscription for the newer version.  I also use Corel Paintshop to edit as I like some of their tools better than Adobes.

 

RAW editor, Fletch?



#20
Fletch

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Yes, Adobe PS 5.1 has a RAW editor