Eliminate Some Annoyances
The CaptureOne interface has some easily eliminated annoyances:
1. When I import images, the dialogue box has a prewritten tip in it. When I add the hard drive location folder name, the prewritten tip disappears when I hit the keyboard. When I create a User Collection, the dialogue box also has a prewritten tip in it, but when I type, it doesn't erase the tip, but adds the folder name to the tip. All entry boxes should work the same: When the user hits the first keystroke, the tip should disappear.
2. I use the Luma Masks all the time--great feature. Every time, I have to check the box that displays the mask. Could you build a feature into this and other parameter setting boxes that allow me to save base settings that I use every time?
3. The crop tool requires me to click the arrow tool to complete the crop. Most photo editing programs allow you to simply double click the screen to complete the crop. Could you add that feature?
4. Your perspective/keystoning tool lacks a standard feature in every other editing tool I have used. Could you give me a horizontal, vertical, "best" overall adjustment option. It should not be necessary for me to bring the image into Photoshop or DxO's perspective correction software to be able to experiment with those quick adjustments.
5. Could you add a better out-of-gamut tool? Currently, I make those adjustments in Photoshop because doing so is much more straightforward--menu item that show you what is out of gamut.
6. If I have heavy masking to do, I use Photoshop, but CaptureOne would clearly benefit from something like the Quick Selection tool. I would say that in terms of substantive changes, improved and more targeted masking would be at the top of the list.
7. You need to better explain the details of many features. Capture One documentation is extremely weak. So, for example, the skin adjustment color has a number of sliders after the basic three adjustments. I have no idea what those are intended to do. Unfortunately, third-party guidebooks for CaptureOne are virtually non-existent. Your videos are good, but they simply don't go into sufficient depth, and if they do, I don't want to spend 5 minutes scrubbing through a video I decide to use a feature at a later point in time.
Thank you for your consideration
Jack B. Siegel
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A lot of good points -- I support your requests -- but I don't get your #7.
There is a myriad of C1 videos on YouTube in which David Grover explains all sliders of the Skin Tone tool (and most other tools).
The function of the last three sliders of the Skin Tone tool is to homogenise colours. Every colour in the selected range is brought closer to the selected colour (there is a dot representing the selected colour in the colour range widget). The "hue" slides shifts all hues in the colour range towards the selected colour's hue, etc. The more you move the slider to the right, the more attributes of a colour in the image (within the colour range and within the applied mask), are modified towards the selected colour.
This is particularly useful to get rid of redness (or other discolourations) in skin but works equally well for other colour ranges (foliage, etc.)0 -
Thanks for the reference on Skin Tone.
I developed and marketed my own software for a number of years. As a one-person band, I learned about the importance of documentation for the user and for me: Well documented software significantly cuts down on calls to tech support, which was me. I also learned that people have different learning styles. For me, I want a piece of paper (or pdf) that lays out the details in a way that I can quickly search for information. I have no problems with videos, and I find the CaptureOne videos to be excellent, but by their nature they tend to be be good for either showing how to integrate a software feature into my workflow (the hour videos) or a quick summary of the basics (a three-minute video). Moreover, they are not good reference tools if you need to look something up because you have to find the location on the video that addresses the specific issue.
I learned Photoshop using Martin Evenings' book, as well as watching Aaron Nance's Phlearn videos--In my estimation, Aaron is the best online instructor I have ever encountered. As for Evening, his book is excellent. I have read it pretty much cover to cover 4 or 5 times. For me, text is still the fastest and easiest way to digest information. I acknowledge that others have different learning modes.
Unfortunately, CaptureOne has more limited market penetration than the Adobe products, although that seems to be changing quickly. As CaptureOne gains market, I am hoping someone will write the definitive guide. I know there is one in German, but I don't speak German.
Anyway, thanks for your comment. I will check that particular video out.
Jack B. Siegel0 -
Jack,
Your #3 - Saving the crop.
You do not have to save the crop. It is automatically applied as you set or edit it.
As I recall the use of a specific key stroke for "save crop" was introduced a few versions ago to satisfy LightRoom exiles who had picked up a habit of having to save a crop and found it a difficult habit to break, thus resulting in some other unwanted result at the time.
Your # 6.
More targetted masking for what purpose? What is the target to chase?
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Jack,
Your #2. Display luma mask.
The display of a layer mask is also the way that Luma masks are displayed.
So basically the tick box in the Luma Masks window is another way of activating the layer mask for those who do not have it displayed all of the time (there are options for controlling when it is visible) or do not use, for example, Keyboard Shortcuts.
I am, in general, with you on providing personal dedicated default settings but the use of masking seems to be very likely to want to turn masks on and off frequently as part of the process - with or without Luma being in play - so, in this case, I'm not sure what benefits your suggestion might add.
Indeed I would foresee the potential for some confusion by having a setting for the Luma range that altered the default layer mask preferences, all for want of not using the keyboard shortcut.
Have I missed something?
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As for "saving:" I realize I don't have to "save" the crop. After I make the crop, I no longer want to see the entire image, just the cropped portion. All I want to do is double-click on the image to show just the cropped portion. Currently, I have to go up and select another tool to do eliminate the other portions of the image.
As for masking: I have a disability that makes using a pencil/mouse as a drawing tool difficult. Therefore, I prefer tools that allow me to mask by "color," by "subject," by "sky," by "tone," or using a tool like Photoshop's quick selection tool. For me, those are much more accurate than trying to draw the mask by freehand.As for Luma masking: I do not have the mask displayed all the time because for me, it makes it difficult to edit the image with the red overlay. Basically, I open Luma mask, set the radius to 100; sensitivity to 50, and turn on Display Mask. I then adjust the range, and then adjust the radius and sensitivity sliders. Every time I use Luma masking, I need to set those three parameters. It would be nice if the system remembered my base settings.
I don't view any of these requests as controversial or radical. While others might not use or want them, their presence would not detract from CaptureOne.
Thank youJack B. Siegel
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After I make the crop, I no longer want to see the entire image, just the cropped portion. All I want to do is double-click on the image to show just the cropped portion. Currently, I have to go up and select another tool to do eliminate the other portions of the image.
You can select another tool without going to the toolbar. Just press V for the move tool or H for the hand tool. Just as quick as hitting enter.
Also one of the reasons for not hitting Enter to save a crop is that it is still there to be changed if you want to. I find with other apps such as Photoshop or Affinity Photo, once I have clicked the button or hit Enter, there is no going back (apart from using Undo). Whereas with Capture One, I can always go back and adjust the crop. Also with Lightroom, I can go back to the crop tool and re-adjust the crop - once the crop tool is reactivated, the cropped-out parts of the image are accessible again. As it's a raw developer, I would expect Capture One to be more like Lightroom in this respect rather than like Photoshop or Affinity Photo.
If you could "save" the crop what would you want to happen next - would Capture One move on to some other tool, and if so, which? If you want to be able to select which one, you'll have to hit the toolbar button for it anyway (or use the keyboard shortcut) so unless you want to do nothing at all after saving the crop, other than perhaps move sliders, would you have saved any time?
Ian
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Regarding the keystone tool, have a look at this request for an update.
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@Jack Siegel
Full Video just about the Skin Tone tool:
https://youtu.be/zVEpznZXaWc0
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