Camera Setup/ Exposure Testing - Camera RAW Workflow

Camera Setup / Exposure Testing - JPEG + Traditional Photoshop Workflow

 

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Beginning Camera Setup/ Exposure Testing - Photoshop Workflow

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Camera Configuration

Camera Setup/ Exposure Testing - Camera RAW Workflow

Camera Setup / Exposure Testing - JPEG + Traditional Photoshop Workflow

- Highest Resolution
- Lowest Compression

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- No Flash
- Shooting Modes - (*P), Av, Tv, M

- ISO - lowest required (*Auto, 50, 80, 100, 200, 400), 800, 1600, 3200

- White Balance - Auto, Bracketed

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Testing and Experimentation with :

- Bracket exposures -.3 .5 .7 over and under

- Half Step Shutter Lock

Auto Exposure (Lock) AE-L
Auto Focus (Lock) AF-L or AIF-L

- Auto Bracketing AEB
- White Balance Bracketing
- Metering/Exposure and Focus Modes
( Multi-zone/Pattern, Center-weighted, Spot)
- Exposure Compensation Value (and meter)

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Best Practices Camera

- Format media card after every major upload
(erase all, delete all, format)

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Traditional Photoshop Work Flow

Adobe Bridge - preview and editing

- JPEG to Adobe Photoshop .PSD - working file format

Adobe Photoshop

- All adjustments to layers (adjustment/smart object) - reveiw handout here:

http://www.basearts.com/curriculum/PDF/TechHandouts/EssentialLayersPhotoshop.pdf

Digital Camera Configuration - Camera RAW , first steps

- Camera Image Quality Setting - Camera RAW + Largest JPEG
- Lowest Compression - Finest Quality - (Super Fine)
- Flash Off
- ISO - Auto
(Unless experimenting or lowest required to achieve optimal Aperture or Shutter speeds.)

- White Balance - Auto
(Unless experimenting or you know the camera is not acurate in detecting light source. Irrelevant with regards to Camera RAW image editing)

-AEB - auto exposure bracketing enabled or on - ( 3 shots (-1/3 or .3) or (-2/3 .7 ) or ( .5 or 1/2 stop increments)

- Media card FORMATTED following each major accumulation of images. (Low Level Format on monthly basis)

---Camera RAW Work Flow

Adobe Bridge - preview and editing
- Camera RAW Plug-in
- Lightroom
- Aperture

- PhaseOne/ CaptureOne



Adobe Camera RAW Workflow (updated whitepapers):

Recovering detail in raw images by Richard Harrington http://tv.adobe.com/watch/learn-photoshop-cs5/recovering-detail-in-raw-images/
Adobe Camera Raw workflow by Russell Brown - http://av.adobe.com/russellbrown/ACRBridgeToBridge_SM.mov


Technical Specifications and White Papers :

Camera RAW
http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/cameraraw.html


Camera_raw-the_basics.pdf
non_destructive_imaging.pdf
phscs2ip_camraw3.pdf
understanding_digitalrawcapture.pdf
linear_gamma.pdf

Digital Negative (DNG)
http://www.adobe.com/products/dng/

DigitalNegativeSpec.pdf



HDR Resources
basearts.com/curriculum/software/HDR

HDRSoftware - Photomatix - http://hdrsoft.com/


Trey Ratcliff - stuck in customs - HDR Tutorial
http://www.stuckincustoms.com/
http://www.stuckincustoms.com/hdr-tutorial/

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HDR - Tone Mapping
About high dynamic range images

The dynamic range (ratio between dark and bright regions) in the visible world far exceeds the range of human vision and of images that are displayed on a monitor or printed. But whereas human eyes can adapt to very different brightness levels, most cameras and computer monitors can capture and reproduce only a fixed dynamic range. Photographers, motion picture artists, and others working with digital images must be selective about what’s important in a scene because they are working with a limited dynamic range.

High dynamic range (HDR) images open up a world of possibilities because they can represent the entire dynamic range of the visible world. Because all the luminance values in a real-world scene are represented proportionately and stored in an HDR image, adjusting the exposure of an HDR image is like adjusting the exposure when photographing a scene in the real world. This capability lets you create blurs and other real-world lighting effects that look realistic. Currently, HDR images are used mostly in motion pictures, special effects, 3D work, and some high-end photography.


PhotoMatix
http://hdrsoft.com/

Differences standalone Photomatix Pro versus Plug-In for Photoshop

 
 
 
Photomatix Pro is a standalone application. It includes HDR Tone Mapping and Exposure Blending among other features. Images produced with Photomatix Pro can be further processed in any image editing application.
The Tone Mapping Plug-In for Photoshop is a plug-in. It offers only one Tone Mapping method and works within Photoshop CS2, CS3 or CS4.
 
Advantages of Tone Mapping with the plug-in for Photoshop
- You don't have to leave Photoshop
 
Advantages of Tone Mapping with Photomatix Pro
- Integration with powerful Batch Processing
- Ability to tone map larger HDR image files (the plug-in is limited to sizes between 30 and 40 MegaPixels).
- No need to change the bit-depth of the 32-bit HDR image after tone mapping.
- No need to adjust the exposure when Tone Mapping is applied directly after creating HDR image (with the plug-in, tone mapped image may show black artifacts when an incorrect 32-bit preview option is assigned by Photoshop).

Imagenomic- Noiseware - http://www.noiseware.com -
Noise reduction plug-in for photoshop/lightroom - educational discount information


Nik Software - niksoftware.com

Adobe: Photoshop CS5 Optional Plugins

http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/828/cpsid_82824.html#main_Plug_ins_available_via_web_download
  • Lighting Effects
  • Extract (Use Refine Mask under the Selection menu)
  • Variations
  • Contact Sheet II
  • Web Photo Gallery
  • Layer Comps to WPG
  • PatternMaker
  • PhotoMergerUI
  • Picture Package
  • Firewire
  • Firewire DLL
You can download the optional plug-ins for Photoshop CS5 from these locations:  For Mac OS: http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=4687 
For Windows: http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=4688 
Trouble Shoot Optional Plug-ins http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/409/kb409112.html


CS-4/3 Vers.:
Optional plug-ins and ReadMe
If you wish to use these plug-ins and presets still you can find them in your Goodies folder on your DVD install disc or available via this link to Adobe Downloads:

http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=4048: Windows/PC
http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=4047 : Macintosh

The following plug-ins and associated files are included in this package: • Bigger Tiles
• Picture Package (ContactSheetII)
• ExtractPlus
• PatternMaker
• PhotomergeUI
• Web Photo Gallery (WebContactSheetII) plus presets
• script for Layer Comps to Web Photo Gallery
• Texture presets for Texturizer



Automation/ Extensions /Plug-ins
basearts.com/curriculum/software/PLUGINS

Misc.
basearts.com/curriculum/software/
Scripting


Misc. Related Resources:

Hack Your Point-and-Shoot to capture RAW

If you're using a consumer grade point-and-shoot Canon digital camera, you've got hardware in hand that can support advanced features way beyond what shipped in the box. With the help of a free, open source project called CHDK, you can get features like RAW shooting mode, live RGB histograms, motion-detection, time-lapse, and even games on your existing camera. Let's transform your point-and-shoot into a super camera just by adding a little special sauce to its firmware.

<a href="http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK_for_Dummies">http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK_for_Dummies

You can see whether a digital camera and firmware version is currently supported by CHDK by checking the official CHDK camera list:

<a href="http://mighty-hoernsche.de/">http://mighty-hoernsche.de/

Card Tricks download:
<a href="http://chdk.setepontos.com/index.php/topic,964.0.html">

http://chdk.setepontos.com/index.php/topic,964.0.html

What is CHDK?

The Canon Hacker's Development Kit, aka CHDK, is a firmware enhancement that supports an impressive array of Canon digital cameras. I emphasize the enhancement aspect of CHDK because the tool is non-permanent and non-destructive, meaning that you load it onto your camera whenever you want to use it; CHDK makes no changes to your camera, and turning it off is simply a matter of restarting your camera. Installing CHDK involves copying a couple of files onto your camera's memory card; permanently removing it from your camera entails deleting those files. It's simple and powerful (sort of like hacking your router firmware) but even easier.

What Can CHDK Do For Me?
Now that you're convinced that CHDK is easy to install and use, let's consider what makes it worth doing so. From the CHDK wiki: (Pictures below of CHDK in action also from the CHDK wiki, since I have only one camera and it's the one running CHDK.)

* histogram-example.pngEnhanced Image Capture: CHDK supports RAW format for pictures (in addition to JPEG), longer recording time and length for videos (up to 1 hour or 2GBs), and several new compression options.

* Additional Information On-Screen: With CHDK, you can customize your on-screen display to your heart's content, including worthwhile information like remaining battery life, histogram, depth of focus, and more.

* Additional Photographic Settings: CHDK takes many of the features already available on your camera and gives you way more options, including longer exposure times (up to 65 seconds), faster shutter speeds (1/25,000 sec or faster), automatic bracketing of your photos, and more.

* chdk-userscripts.pngSupport for Small Programs/Scripts: CHDK can run small scripts that will allow your camera to perform a set of actions based on the conditions of the script. Tons of scripts are available, and they provide functionality like motion-sensing photography (which reportedly works for lightning strikes) and unlimited interval time-lapse photography (see video below).

<a href="http://lifehacker.com/387380/turn-your-point+and+shoot-into-a-super+camera">http://lifehacker.com/387380/turn-your-point+and+shoot-into-a-super+camera

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The OpenRAW Solution

We want camera manufacturers to publicly document their RAW image formats — past, present, and future.

The goal of OpenRAW is to encourage image preservation and give creative choice of how images are processed to the creators of the images. To this end, we advocate open documentation of information about the how the raw data is stored and the camera settings selected by the photographer.

http://www.openraw.org/

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dcraw is an open source computer program which is able to read numerous raw image formats, typically produced by high-end digital cameras. dcraw converts these images into the standard PPM and TIFF image formats. This conversion is sometimes referred to as developing a raw image (by analogy with the process of film development) since it renders raw image sensor data (a "digital negative") into a viewable form.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dcraw

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The Unidentified Flying Raw (UFRaw) is a utility to read and manipulate raw images from digital cameras. It can be used on its own or as a Gimp plug-in. It reads raw images using Dave Coffin's raw conversion utility - DCRaw. UFRaw supports color management workflow based on Little CMS, allowing the user to apply ICC color profiles. For Nikon users UFRaw has the advantage that it can read the camera's tone curves. Even if you don't own a Nikon, you can still apply a Nikon curve to your images.

Gimp plugin to decode RAW
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFRaw

GUI Ports:
Windows
http://www.wizards.de/rawdrop/

MacOSX
http://www.frostyplace.com/dcraw/

CHDK README

CHDK Wiki: http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page

Main CHDK Manual: http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK_firmware_usage

Allbest CHDK Manual: http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK_firmware_usage/AllBest

JuciPhoX CHDK Manual: http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK/MoreBest

CHDK Forum: http://chdk.setepontos.com/index.php

In-Depth Guide explaining a lot of things: http://chdk.setepontos.com/index.php/topic,1167.0.html

Timeline (changelog) of chdk: http://tools.assembla.com/chdk/timeline

For more information about this build visit: http://chdk.setepontos.com/index.php/topic,688.0.html

Download the sources of this build here: http://tools.assembla.com/chdk/changeset/head/branches/juciphox?old_path=%2F&format=zip

You can get a nice app that will help you making your card bootable on windows: http://chdk.setepontos.com/index.php/topic,964.0.html