These are Nikon RAW files. How do I enhance contrast of a bland sky to bring out clouds?
Please be specific about tools, adjustment bricks and sliders.
(my first stab at adjustments, following 2 months of learning how to import/name files in AP)
Aperture 3, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4), running an iMac
Oz dude, physical ND filters were used (in the days of film) to offset the effect of an ISO rating that was too high. And it enabled shooting at a slower shutter speed and/or wider aperture. For aesthetic reasons.
KIrby, I'll follow your suggestion. A simple keyword for adjusted images. Brilliant idea.
In the past few weeks I have experimented more with Aperture and like your earlier suggestion of employing brushes to darken a sky or brush in some blue. I haven't made side-by-side comparisons, but I think I prefer the brush technique to using NIK ColorEfex or Viveza. Though I am not firm in that.
As the violinist, lost in New York said to a gentleman carrying a saxophone. "Can you tell me how to get to Carnegie Hall? The jazz musician responded, "Practice man. More and more practice."
The same goes for PP software.
I haven't read the thread carefully, but I think the following suggestion will be helpful: work at the pixel level with pixel-level parameters.
Each pixel has, in effect, three parameters that exactly determine its appearance. These parameters are named and displayed differently in various fields. I am trained in painting (and have taught painting), so I use the names and display conventions painters use. I think (not without prejudice) that they are the best and most properly descriptive.
Hue - what part of the spectrum the pixel depicts
Luminance - where in a range from darkest dark to lightest light the pixel falls
Saturation - how far from a gray of the same luminance the pixel is.
These three parameters can be combined to describe a 3D solid which indexes every describable "color". The tripartite system and the color solid are known as the Munsell System, codified by and named after Albert Munsell.
So, at the pixel level, what is "bland"? What are "clouds". What is -- again, at the pixel level -- your goal?
When you specify those, it should be much more apparent which of Aperture's many pixel-adjusting tools will get you from what you have to what you want.
HTH,
--Kirby.
Message was edited by: Kirby Krieger -- mistated the definition of "saturation". Sorry.
OK I worked it out, kind of. You can set up a smart album, add a "File Type" rule, then filter by "externally edited". If you only use NikEfex then this will do what you want. If you use other external editors then at least you can use this smart album, and then search from within that album.
In regards to the ND NikEfex filter, it does work like a physical filter, as the blend level is like using a filter and only putting it over half of the lens etc.
OZdude, how would a smart album filter NIK adjusted images when there are about 6 types in the NIK Collection?
Such as, Viveza, ColorEfex, SilverEfex, Black and White, etc.
Do I rely only on the TIFF label, as Kirby suggested?
My suggestion is the one ozdude "worked out" 😉 .
More helpful, perhaps, than searching for "TIFF" is to use the Rule "File Type" "is" "Externally Edited".
The above will filter for all Images that have been returned from external editors, including plug-ins. That includes all of the NIK Suite, as well as any others (DXO, PS, etc.). The only way I know to filter for individual external editors or plug-ins is to manually keyword them (which I do, with my keywords arranged in a Button Set). Note that BorderFX applies its keyword, so you don't have to add on manually.
--Kirby.
Whoops sorry, I didn't read the bottom of your first reply, just saw the keyword suggestion. Apologies.
😎 Apology accepted! Do read the whole answers though -- almost all who reply take the time to double-check their answers and to edit them into a concise, useful form. Glad you got it worked out.
You mention DxO as an external editor that works with Aperture. Is that true? I have DxO and have been reluctant to switch to PTLens. I was told that I need PTLens for lens distortion correction. It doesn't cost much, but once you've worked with DxO, the automation it provides is heavenly.
And it offers correction for Anthromorphic (sp?) distortion. You know, the 'accordian effect' on faces an limbs seen with very wide angle lenses when the subject is at the extreme edge of the frame.
One thing further, Kirby. I set up a Smart Album, and set the filter to find Externally Edited files. What initiates the search? The the Smart Album remains empty.
I set up a Smart Album, and set the filter to find Externally Edited files. What initiates the search? The the Smart Album remains empty.
Check the Source of the smart album in the Smart Settings HUD. If your album is defined local to a project, folder, album, only the contents of that library item will be searched. Set the Source in the HUD to "Library".
Got it, Leonie. My eyes are old, and I didn't notice the Smart Settings HUD icon next to the Smart Album. More and more, I continue to realize that Aperture truly demands careful inspection.
daikambu65 wrote:
You mention DxO as an external editor that works with Aperture. Is that true?
I apologize -- I have sowed some confusion. I use DxO's Viewpoint as an Aperture plug-in. I do not use DxO Optics Pro.
Hope that clarifies things. Sorry.
Before you do any of the adjustment with the brushes and tool, there is a must do if shooting RAW
In the RAW adustment tab, move all the boost sliders to zero, it makes a HUGE improvment on my canon raw files.
How to Darken Sky and Bring Out Clouds?
