Is Capture One 6 better alternate than photoshop CS5?
My current work involves lots of scanning original artwork, such as paintings, and color correcting the digital file to match the original. As some can imagine, color correction of scan involves lots of fine tuning and color correcting locally to match scanned image to the actual original.
I can kind of see (at least from the videos and reviews) how Capture One might be similar, or even better than Camera Raw. Camera Raw itself is not best software for me to color correct to match the original, if not making the images more appealing. Although Camera Raw gives me more specific color range choices for adjustments, it's not so great for local adjustments, lacking layers.
Photoshop CS5, on the other hand, does provide me enough features to fine tune the colors, however it almost becomes really tedious when I have to stack more than 10 adjustment layers, each with specific layer masks, just to fine tune each color. I wish I had more fine control on colors, maybe as much as Camera Raw can. It is almost impossible to adjust color accurately on some complex paintings without affecting other neighboring colors without masking thoroughly (imagine if you have to color correct one of Gherard Richter's painting... masking colors can be pain, really).
Also, although Photoshop and Camera raw are somewhat connected each other, being in one suite, it isn't really ideal for me to use both for the job, as it is impossible to work on both simultaneously.
For those reasons, I currently researching for alternatives, and was wondering Capture One will be able to provide me that fine tuning ability far better, or at least, easier... I'm not trying to make captured image 'appealing, but more accurate to the original. Would Capture One be good candidate for my purpose?
I can kind of see (at least from the videos and reviews) how Capture One might be similar, or even better than Camera Raw. Camera Raw itself is not best software for me to color correct to match the original, if not making the images more appealing. Although Camera Raw gives me more specific color range choices for adjustments, it's not so great for local adjustments, lacking layers.
Photoshop CS5, on the other hand, does provide me enough features to fine tune the colors, however it almost becomes really tedious when I have to stack more than 10 adjustment layers, each with specific layer masks, just to fine tune each color. I wish I had more fine control on colors, maybe as much as Camera Raw can. It is almost impossible to adjust color accurately on some complex paintings without affecting other neighboring colors without masking thoroughly (imagine if you have to color correct one of Gherard Richter's painting... masking colors can be pain, really).
Also, although Photoshop and Camera raw are somewhat connected each other, being in one suite, it isn't really ideal for me to use both for the job, as it is impossible to work on both simultaneously.
For those reasons, I currently researching for alternatives, and was wondering Capture One will be able to provide me that fine tuning ability far better, or at least, easier... I'm not trying to make captured image 'appealing, but more accurate to the original. Would Capture One be good candidate for my purpose?
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realizing this is a user forum, and the opinions are well worth what you pay...
I don't think PS and COne are alternatives to each other, they have different strengths. I use them both and could not do without either...
That said, scanning does not to my knowledge have a RAW file workflow...that is the primary focus and strength of COne. I would think your direction might be to improve your color mangement techniques throughout the scanning aquisition and ajusting the scanning software interface..
If you are photographing with a scanning back on a camera, and producing RAW files, ignore the above. It's not clear what you are really doing.0 -
Thanks for your reply, John
Here's the video of the Cruse Scanner I mainly use at work. It's not our company's video, but it's similar model, and should give you an idea..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3On7KXANVX0
You're correct in saying that scanning is not an RAW file workflow. I use Tiff format mostly, but I have not yet encountered problems working on Tiff formats on Camera Raw, so I am guessing it should be fine with Capture One as well (unless there's possible problem against Tiff format).
I'll admit I am not an 'expert' in color management, yet I am trying my best to keep colors in control. However, what's unique about art scanning is that different ink pigments, varnish coated finishings, and media reacts differently under the scanning light (standard d50 or 5000k), thus interpreted differently through scanner than what you actually see by naked eye, sometimes making scanner profiles basically unusable on some cases. For that reason I scan GM Color Checker to give me a starting point of color correction, but fine adjustments are still needed most of the cases.
That's why I'm looking for the software alternative, not that I am not looking for better implementation color management...0 -
Only giving my response as a user...I haven't scanned anything since good digital cameras were introduced. Photoshop is an application that works on tiff and jpeg files, Camera RAW was introduced to handle raw files and convert them to those formats for Photoshop as RAW camera files were made common. Capture One was introduced and continues as a RAW converter using an ICC profile workflow...while it will work to an extent on TIFFS and jpegs, that's far from it's design point.
I guess what I'm saying is that I THINK much of what Camera RAW (or Lighroom) and Cone do would be better done with your scanning software, then fine tuned in Photoshop. I doubt there are many scan operators are using RAW converters, so your replies here in a user forum might be somewhat sparse...0 -
Ok I think I get your point 😊
It just seemed that usually RAW converters does have more flexibility in color correction than Photoshop, or bundled software that comes with scanner... but as there are not that many Cruse scanner around, i guess there will be even less that can answer my questions. 😜
But I guess easiest way to find out is trying it out and see for myself, which i am doing right now.
Thank you very much!0 -
Hi NNN634473863310387205,
A RAW converter mainly concerns the process of de-mosaicking the interleaved colour pixels of a 2D camera sensor to obtain correct RGB values in an equivalent pixel matrix. A scanner usually outputs RGB values directly line by line. So there is actually no use for a RAW converter with a line scanner. Although I am not familiar with Cruse Scanners, I guess they output completely different pixel information a regular 2D camera sensor does.0 -
I actually do not see anything wrong with the logic of using software like Capture One, or any other Raw converter, for non-Raw Tiffs. If you feel that the color correction tool in CO are better for your use than PS than go for it by all means.
That said, there's no comparison between the local adjustments capabilities of PS and CO. CO 6 is the first generation of CO to have layers. There's no selection tools, no bezier pen tool, just a brush tool, and even that is no where near as responsive of versatile as the brush tool + quick mask + layer masks in PS.
There's really nothing in terms of color correction that you can't do in PS. I suspect that some of the color tools in software like ACR and CO seem more intuitive but that does not mean you can't achieve the same results in PS if you know how to work with it. Plus you have things like LAB colorspace and 32bit color that are not available in CO/ACR.
In any case, you can do some stuff in ACR/CO, and then finish the job in PS. This is how many people choose to work anyway.
Also - if you open your files in ACR, you can transfer them to PS as "smart objects" which means you can work on them in PS but go back to ACR, make changes, and have them updated inside PS.
good luck whichever choice you make 😉0 -
@Pjotr
I did not know differences between those until now you mention.. thanks for the info!
As far as I can understand Cruse, It works the same as standard scanner, just that it's not done in enclosed setting like tabletop flatbed scanners or drum scanners
@JonS
I tried Capture one past couple days, and I guess I figured as much as you mentioned. There were nothing really I couldn't find in PS or ACR, it almost felt like Camera raw + bridge integration and some tools i actually found easier to use.
I actually never tried work in ACR and then bringing it into PS as smart object. I learned about it but never really understood its purpose... Perhaps I should try that method instead of purchasing a new software that will take hours or days to get used to.
Thank you everyone for kind inputs and suggestions.0 -
@NNN634473863310387205
My comments per COne/ACR went to the specific case of the initial poster. I've been a long time COne user because it uses a TRUE ICC profile workflow for RAW files, unlike the "profile" used by ACR/Lightroom that is simply a set of saved parameters rather than a true profile. While you CAN make just about every color correction needed in Photoshop...IMHO using COne means you have FAR less to do in Photoshop...in fact we use that just about exclusively for retouching. I find corrections done in COne are faster/better/easier than in PS...and the WYSIWYG approach with a good calibrated monitor remains my choice.0
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