RAW NEF Processing Advice Sought

I use Capture NX-D to adjust exposure, white balance, and "picture control" then crop in Paint Shop X6 and apply "Smart Photo Fix" (brightness, shadows, highlights, saturation). I don't think I know how to use noise reduction and unfortunately don't use it as I've not been happy with my adjustments yet. He's a common occurrence for me: an underexposed bird photo. What adjustments would you do with these programs? Would you recommend another program/add-on for noise reduction? I don't want to spend more than $50 if any. Any opinion is appreciated.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9DaxPC0CwSQQm1GX1o1TWwzeUk/view?usp=sharing

I find Nikon's NX-D an excellent program for the price!!! I use it all the time on Nefs from my D7100. However I find the noise control a weak point and tooooo aggressive.

My workflow involves NX-D. White balance, exposure Picture control etc. Then into PSPx7. In PSPx7 I use the Topaz DeNoise plugin to address any noise issues if noise exists. No point applying noise control until you have a noise problem IMHO.

regards

https://www.flickr.com/photos/126753097@N02/

Don't have that software but used lightroom to make some adjustments, the noise is not that bad, it just needs a little bit more light, open up the shadows, adjust white balance and sharpen.

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PX

This was processed with a Corel workflow:

1. Corel Aftershot Pro
2. PaintShop Pro
3. Plugins, such as Topaz Clarity and Athensoft

larrewl said:

I use Capture NX-D to adjust exposure, white balance, and "picture control" then crop in Paint Shop X6 and apply "Smart Photo Fix" (brightness, shadows, highlights, saturation). I don't think I know how to use noise reduction and unfortunately don't use it as I've not been happy with my adjustments yet. He's a common occurrence for me: an underexposed bird photo. What adjustments would you do with these programs? Would you recommend another program/add-on for noise reduction? I don't want to spend more than $50 if any. Any opinion is appreciated.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9DaxPC0CwSQQm1GX1o1TWwzeUk/view?usp=sharing

Click to expand...

--
Only when you can criticize yourself, should you criticize others. Mikes.

larrewl said:

I use Capture NX-D to adjust exposure, white balance, and "picture control" then crop in Paint Shop X6 and apply "Smart Photo Fix" (brightness, shadows, highlights, saturation). I don't think I know how to use noise reduction and unfortunately don't use it as I've not been happy with my adjustments yet. He's a common occurrence for me: an underexposed bird photo. What adjustments would you do with these programs? Would you recommend another program/add-on for noise reduction? I don't want to spend more than $50 if any. Any opinion is appreciated.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9DaxPC0CwSQQm1GX1o1TWwzeUk/view?usp=sharing

Click to expand...

Using the Free Raw Therapee for RAW conversion, tone mapping and open shadows, then export TIFF into PSP X6 and adjust curves, high pass sharpen, slight black levels adjustment, brightness and contrast, then Nik Dfine for noise reduction.



--
Wishing You Good Light.

Pixel Poetry said:

Don't have that software but used lightroom to make some adjustments, the noise is not that bad, it just needs a little bit more light, open up the shadows, adjust white balance and sharpen.

--
PX

Click to expand...

What lightroom sharpen setting, please?

brucet said:

I find Nikon's NX-D an excellent program for the price!!! I use it all the time on Nefs from my D7100. However I find the noise control a weak point and tooooo aggressive.

My workflow involves NX-D. White balance, exposure Picture control etc. Then into PSPx7. In PSPx7 I use the Topaz DeNoise plugin to address any noise issues if noise exists. No point applying noise control until you have a noise problem IMHO.

regards

https://www.flickr.com/photos/126753097@N02/

Click to expand...

Have you tried PSP noise reduction? I have PSPx6 and don't have Topaz DeNoise. Thanks!

mikes said:

This was processed with a Corel workflow:

1. Corel Aftershot Pro
2. PaintShop Pro
3. Plugins, such as Topaz Clarity and Athensoft

larrewl said:

I use Capture NX-D to adjust exposure, white balance, and "picture control" then crop in Paint Shop X6 and apply "Smart Photo Fix" (brightness, shadows, highlights, saturation). I don't think I know how to use noise reduction and unfortunately don't use it as I've not been happy with my adjustments yet. He's a common occurrence for me: an underexposed bird photo. What adjustments would you do with these programs? Would you recommend another program/add-on for noise reduction? I don't want to spend more than $50 if any. Any opinion is appreciated.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9DaxPC0CwSQQm1GX1o1TWwzeUk/view?usp=sharing

Click to expand...

--
Only when you can criticize yourself, should you criticize others. Mikes.

Click to expand...

Very nice. If you don't mind sharing, what process steps did you do in each of the programs?

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PX

ImageAmateur said:

Using the Free Raw Therapee for RAW conversion, tone mapping and open shadows, then export TIFF into PSP X6 and adjust curves, high pass sharpen, slight black levels adjustment, brightness and contrast, then Nik Dfine for noise reduction.



--
Wishing You Good Light.

Click to expand...

Very good. What high pass sharpen and black levels (brightness?) adjustments did you make, please?

Pixel Poetry said:

--
PX

Click to expand...

Most helpful. Thanks!

larrewl said:

brucet said:

I find Nikon's NX-D an excellent program for the price!!! I use it all the time on Nefs from my D7100. However I find the noise control a weak point and tooooo aggressive.

My workflow involves NX-D. White balance, exposure Picture control etc. Then into PSPx7. In PSPx7 I use the Topaz DeNoise plugin to address any noise issues if noise exists. No point applying noise control until you have a noise problem IMHO.

regards

https://www.flickr.com/photos/126753097@N02/

Click to expand...

Have you tried PSP noise reduction? I have PSPx6 and don't have Topaz DeNoise. Thanks!

Click to expand...

From time to time I'll use PSP's noise reduction but when you have the DeNoise plugin with many more controls then it's hardly worth it. PSP's noise reduction isn't bad. It's just not as good as DeNoise.

regards

There probably is a way to do all you need with NXD and PSX6.

I use LR5 and everything can be done within that programme alone from organising to most things needed for bird images. There are plenty of images to see in my photo stream below with my signature if you want to see if it will do same for you. The thing is bird image processing is a process that that has a number of key steps and in each you use your eye to judge how far to go.

Here's your Woodpecker processed in LR only. I have NOT used ant noise reduction btw. It has some movement blur in the eye glint so it can't be sharpened up fully so I have downsized it to reduce the shake. You don't really need noise reduction plug-ins if you use LR, though I do have them all. Just no need to use them once you know how to use LR to do the same.


Woodpecker processed in LR 5

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You have limited options with an underexposed image as a lot of data is simply missing. A +1.0 EV image is going to provide a better starting point for processing than a -1.0EV shots. The overexposed image when viewed as a JPEG in the camera's LCD may look blown out but a lot of information is there if you used RAW capture.

Overexposed images are more likely if you let the camera set the exposure when photographing small subjects. The camera is exposing for the background which occupies the majority of the frame and not the subject.

Using matrix metering is the worst in this situation. Center Weighted metering will get you closer but you still to learn to use the EV adjustment of the camera to boost the exposure when you take a shot and see that the image is underexposed. The EV adjustment is provided exactly for this situation where the camera as machine is wrong and the photographer's assistance is needed.

The time spent fixing mistakes in an image editor would be better spent learning how to use your camera to avoid the problems in the future.

larrewl said:

I use Capture NX-D to adjust exposure, white balance, and "picture control" then crop in Paint Shop X6 and apply "Smart Photo Fix" (brightness, shadows, highlights, saturation). I don't think I know how to use noise reduction and unfortunately don't use it as I've not been happy with my adjustments yet. He's a common occurrence for me: an underexposed bird photo. What adjustments would you do with these programs? Would you recommend another program/add-on for noise reduction? I don't want to spend more than $50 if any. Any opinion is appreciated.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9DaxPC0CwSQQm1GX1o1TWwzeUk/view?usp=sharing

Click to expand...

Honestly i enjoyed my time when i was editing the photo.

I used my style of editing in lightroom with the picture. The vignetting centered at the bird is the key for my edit. then I used adjustment brush on the sides and i made them less sharp and less contrasty because the branches in the background is sorta distracting. still distracting but i guess it is better this way.