Open DXO, filter on 3+ stars, save as TIF, sync back into Lightroom, open in PS (or other for HDR, focus stack, pano etc) for further processing (incl NIK if desired), sync into LR, print from LR as required.
Thanks ! So... you use DXO noise filter ON RAW FILES, before to post-process the images and convert to *.TIF !?! That seem to go against the usual (old) way to do, which was to do all the post-process and AT THE END only clean the noise and sharpen...
DXO PhotoLab is a comprehensive RAW file processor, kind of like ACR on steriods.
Lightroom is a catalog/database of edits. The edits are not applied to the files until .you export them as TIF/PSD/JPG. RAW conversion is by ACR which is embedded in LR
Photoshop needs to save images as PSD/TIF/JPG after processing, RAW conv in PS is optional (not done on already rendered files, but required for RAW files). If you open a RAW file it uses ACR, as does LR to do the conversion. You then have to save the file as something other than the original RAW format.
DXO is the same, RAW in, TIF/PSD/JPG out.
Unless you work exclusively in LR and never export (ie use!) a files it has to come out as TIF/PSD/JPG (or a print).
DXO, somewhat like LR, does all its processing at once (except for the live preview).
Do you want to "enhance" the noise in processing? If not, do it up front were it is easier to remove and can be done using sensor noise profiles (for cameras that have been profiled). The profile data (in DXO and ACR) is based on the RAW file, not a rendered image.
...and, BTW, what is "3+ stars" ? I haven't used DXO Optic Pro, so I'm lost...
That is a reference to LR's rating system. DXO can read the sidecar (xmp) files and see that data. Originally I used DXO's "Projects" to select images but when they added the ability to read xmp files it was easier to use that. Just a way of selecting images to be processed.
Here's a friend's DXO Noise reduction window screen-copy ! Is that correct ? are the figures normal ?
Insufficient data, but he's selected "Prime" which is DXO's heavy duty NR for high ISO images. It looks quite noisy.
I would not normally use values like that but they might be needed depending on the camera/ISO used.
Since i try and always use reasonably low ISO values i would bot be there.... unless shooting the proverbial black cat in a coal bin, or a black bear at dusk with no flash...
Try the DOX demo, there is a learning curve as it is a very powerful program.
Richard
