Pixiq

FOUNDATIONAL ADJUSTMENTS IN LIGHTROOM / ACR

In my last post I outlined an approach to analyzing your image prior to proceeding with active optimization. Once you have an overall strategy in mind, how you go about implementing your adjustments is crucial to optimal results.

This is a graphic representation of the steps I follow to bring out the best in my images.

• FOUNDATIONAL: Adjust large problems first (Excessive noise, shadow, highlight clipping, capture sharpening, orientation, distracting artifacts, distracting image elements)

• GLOBAL: Adjust global Luminosity, Hue and/or Saturation issues that adversely affect the entire image.

• REGIONAL: Adjust Luminosity, Hue and/or Saturation issues that are limited to specific areas of your image.

• LOCAL: Adjust Luminosity, Hue and/or Saturation by brushing in the adjustments on an appropriate blend mode layer.

• COVER: These include, but are not limited to, adjustments such as Vignettes, Midtone Contrast, Non-Destructive Crop, Overlay Based Sharpening, Output Specific Adjustments.

 This posting is not meant to be a Lightroom tutorial so please refer to an appropriate source for additional information should these steps seem unfamiliar.

Some of these steps take place in my RAW convertor – Lightroom / ACR, and others in my imaging software - Photoshop. I tend to do the “heavy lifting” in Lightroom and the “final polish” in Photoshop. It is important to note that these “steps” are only points to consider. The sequence of these “considerations” is what is important.  As the pyramid illustrates, optimization is a process of refinement. Start by adjusting the larger issues and progressively deal with more and more granular concerns. You’ll notice that my first three considerations take place in Lightroom / ACR where the most Luminosity and Color data are available.

In Lightroom / ACR the sequence slightly varies from what I recommend in Photoshop. These minor departures from sequence are not critical and I find that the adjustment sequence set forth in Lightroom / ACR is a well thought out and efficient workflow.

I begin the process in Lightroom. My goal here is to:

-       Select on appropriate White Balance

-       Luminosity adjustments

-       Recover and optimize Highlight and Shadow information

-       Capture Sharpening. 

-       Noise Reduction

-       Lens Distortion and Chromatic Aberration issues

-       Perform “spotting” of the image to remove any unwanted minor artifacts (i.e.          Sensor dust)

 To start I recommend zeroing out the Tone and Presence settings. The reason for this is that it lets the user visually determine the proper balance between Exposure and Brightness. They both affect the Luminosity but how they alter it is very different.  Defaults are handy and I understand they can be tweaked but very often they alter the decision making process and can promote less than optimal results.

This image illustrates how Exposure and Brightness differ. A visual Balance is the key to setting these sliders properly.

The following steps are considerations only. Obviously some, or even all of these steps, may not be appropriate for every image. In keeping with the idea of “heavy lifting” in Lightroom / ACR and “final polish” in Photoshop I recommend that some of the adjustments be made with some “wiggle room” in mind.

#1. Setting the White Balance - Global LHS – 100%

Use the White Balance tool to select an area of the image that should be a light neutral grey. Turn off Auto Dismiss so that you can make multiple, successive selections without having to reselect the tool.  Also turn on Show Loupe which will display a zoomed in area and make selecting the appropriate point to neutralize much easier. Once you’ve settled on a point you can “tweak” the results with the Temp and Tint sliders. Remember – your eyes are your most important tool!

#2. Luminosity Adjustment  (Exposure) - Global LHS – 90%

Set your Exposure keeping in mind that you do not want to introduce any clipping. I think of it as adjusting 90% in Lightroom / ACR with the final 10% adjustment to take place later in the process in Photoshop

#3. Recovery and Fill Light - Global LHS – 100% 

Create an appropriate balance between Exposure and Recovery to diminish any Highlight clipping. Next, if necessary, open up Shadows using the Fill Light slider.

#4. Black Point - Global LHS – 90% 

Set your Black keeping in mind that you do not want to introduce any clipping.  Once again - 90% in Lightroom / ACR with the final 10% adjustment later in Photoshop.

#5. Brightness and Contrast - Global LHS – 90%

Adjust your Brightness. Very often this requires you to back off slightly on your Exposure setting so don’t be afraid to move back and “tweak” adjustment you’ve already made. Contrast is a “salt to taste” move keeping in mind that a final contrast “tweak” can be implemented in Photoshop.

This image illustrates “wiggle room”. Leave room for final Black point and White point adjustment in Photoshop.

#6. Capture Sharpening – Foundational – 100%

With your Detail adjustments add an appropriate amount of Capture Sharpening. Remember – Capture Sharpening is a minor amount of sharpening that is meant to compensate for capture induced softness – softening that occurs when light passes through a lens. Adding too much Capture Sharpening can severely limit your ability to perform optimal Output Sharpening.

#7. Noise Reduction – Foundational – 100%

Next, if necessary use the Noise Reduction sliders to reduce Luminance and Color noise.

#8. Lens Distortion and Chromatic Aberration Correction – Foundational – 100%

Use the Enable Profile Corrections check box to auto correct and Lens Distortion and Chromatic Aberration. If your camera and /or lens are not profiled then use the Manual setting to correct manually.

#9. Spotting – Foundational – 100%

Remove any sensor dust or minor artifacts that will never be needed. Save more critical cleanup and image editing for Photoshop. I leave “spotting” to last as Luminosity adjustments very often reveal artifacts that may not be obvious in the unaltered state.

Now Export as a Smart Object into Photoshop. Be sure to export as a ProPhoto, 16 bit image to insure you the most Color and Luminosity data possible. This will allow you a convenient “emergency exit” into ACR should you need to adjust any of the 9 RAW adjustments. These 9 steps are all I do in Lightroom / ACR.

Adjustments I do not make in Lightroom:

• Major editing

• Cropping

• With the exception of setting a White Balance, all Global Hue and Saturation adjustments.

• All Regional LHS Adjustments

• All Local LHS Adjustments

• All Cover adjustments

Once the image is exported into Photoshop the final adjustments can be made. The precision of the Photoshop tool set allows for much greater control and the readily accessible layers and adjustment layers make for easy “tweaking” throughout the optimization process. This allows one to remain in Photoshop where minor adjustments can made without having to bounce back and forth into ACR.

Next Week: Foundational Adjustments in Photoshop