raw files, curve adjustments and HD sliders

Jim Hughes

• May 04, 2017 19:28

I've been working with raw files for years - but I still don't totally understand what I'm doing with curve adjustments vs exposure adjusments vs "HD" sliders for Highlights and Shadows, in C1.

When using 'exposure' adjustments or Highlights/Shadows sliders, am I really accomplishing anything that I couldn't do with direct curve adjustments? Looking at it another way - does the histogram in the Curve tool contain all the pixel data (dynamic range) that's in the raw file? If it does, then Exposure and Shadows/Highlights are just alternative ways to manipulate the curve. But if not - if the Curve tool shows a subset of the full raw dynamic range - then I guess Exposure and Shadows/Highlights are acting to pull more data into the range of the histogram, by reaching out into the end regions of the raw file's range.

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  Weirdo

  • May 07, 2017 09:23

  Good question. I watched a web seminar with Capture one and a photographer explained his workflow. He used curves instead oh shadows/highlights slider. The guy from capture one said it was a more advanced way then using the sliders. That if you want to keep it simple, use the sliders. If you want more control-use the curves. So it's the same information in both I belive, but with more precise control in curves.

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  Jim Hughes

  • May 10, 2017 00:49

  Thanks - any idea where that particular webinar could be found?

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  SFA

  • May 10, 2017 01:41

  Might have been this blog entry.
  
  It's possible there is a webinar/video too but this is the thing that came to mind.
  
  http://blog.phaseone.com/customized-wor ... nd-tricks/

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  Jim Hughes

  • May 10, 2017 20:58

  I started reading the text in that blog entry and encountered this:
  
  "I first adjust my High Dynamic Range sliders to ensure all the detail is well within the histogram."
  
  That's a different spin from what you got from the webinar. Not surprised. I don't think P1 has done much to properly explain Highlight/Shadow, and Adobe has the same issue in LR.

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  SFA

  • May 11, 2017 10:40

  NN635790973675498599UL wrote:
  I started reading the text in that blog entry and encountered this:
  
  "I first adjust my High Dynamic Range sliders to ensure all the detail is well within the histogram."
  
  That's a different spin from what you got from the webinar. Not surprised. I don't think P1 has done much to properly explain Highlight/Shadow, and Adobe has the same issue in LR.

  
  
  Taking into account the potentially huge differences in files from different sources there is unlikely to be a single approach to processing that gives a consistent result.
  
  Taking account our personal preferences in all things ... we can pretty much guarantee that there will be no single approach that work for all - or even a few - users on here.
  
  As I understand it Highlight/Shadow is a relative adjustment that, in the current iteration, is very specifically designed to address only the more extreme ends of exposure ranges leaving the middle ground unadjusted.
  
  I somehow doubt that a full technical explanation, interesting as it might be, would be meaningful to the majority of C1 users who are mainly indulging their creative brains towards an artistic result.
  
  While personally I do like to understand how things work in some situations the knowledge is not really necessary - indeed some might claim it distracts from the fluid use of software where the intention is to deliver a result that appeals to emotional senses rather than one's technical side.
  
  I suspect I learn more from setting up a suitable test image and playing with it than I would reading or hearing a lot of technical information.
  
  But we are all different in that respect so I would suggest that you put in a Support Case to ask if more detailed technical information could be made available for those who desire it.
  
  
  Grant

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