Post Processing - What does everyone use?

[richardday]

I convert from RAW usually using Capture One Pro 4 or Silkypix to TIFF and then finish off using Photoshop CS4. I believe I get the best results from Capture One Pro.

... but I prefer Silkypix (especially the new Pro version) as it has much more control over CA and perspective corrections, but I frequently use Capture One v4, especially for higher ISO shots. I don't have Capture One Pro, but it doesn't add much in the lens control areas which I want.

I'm still using Photoshop CS2 for some of my finishing touches and printing, but I found that the new Silkypix Pro, which now has profiled printing support, seems to produce a marginally better result.

Adobe's Raw converters (ACR & Lightroom) don't cut it for me, nor do any other DCRaw based converters, I much prefer the results from SP and C1. Pentax Photo Lab (which some folk wrongly call Silkypix) can produce decent results as it uses an earlier Silkypix engine, but the interface and controls are a nightmare, plus it's very cumbersome and slow.
--
Richard Day - 'Carpe Diem!'
Gloucester UK

 

[djezraj]

I use Aperture 2. I alway try other apps but I always come back. I can definitely say nice things about others such as Lightroom, Capture one, Capture NX etc but Aperture has the most natural look to me and i also find it simple to use. '
I combine that with some Nik Plug ins and so far so good.
Cheers
Roger

 

[Tom__Brown]

I don't recommend it over other alternatives, but it is a good platform for those of us who use Linux.

--
-- Tom

 

[Pete226109]

Apple Aperture. Love the workflow and color tools.

Pete

 

[dolnick]

Isn't without its quirks but I know them now and don't want to relearn another system.

 

[Lance B]

I convert from RAW usually using Capture One Pro 4 or Silkypix to TIFF and then finish off using Photoshop CS4. I believe I get the best results from Capture One Pro.

... but I prefer Silkypix (especially the new Pro version) as it has much more control over CA and perspective corrections, but I frequently use Capture One v4, especially for higher ISO shots. I don't have Capture One Pro, but it doesn't add much in the lens control areas which I want.

I still think that Silkypix has the slight edge with regards to lens distortion control and CA controls, but Capture One Pro still does a reasonable enough job in these areas anyway.

I'm still using Photoshop CS2 for some of my finishing touches and printing, but I found that the new Silkypix Pro, which now has profiled printing support, seems to produce a marginally better result.

Adobe's Raw converters (ACR & Lightroom) don't cut it for me, nor do any other DCRaw based converters, I much prefer the results from SP and C1. Pentax Photo Lab (which some folk wrongly call Silkypix) can produce decent results as it uses an earlier Silkypix engine, but the interface and controls are a nightmare, plus it's very cumbersome and slow.
--
Richard Day - 'Carpe Diem!'
Gloucester UK

--
Lance B
http://www.pbase.com/lance_b

 

[Gerald Hill]

Greetings. I'm sure all the programs mentioned so far can work great, so I would advise you to pick one, acclimate yourself using it and focus on creativity and photographic excellence. That said, I've used photoshop for over a decade and still haven't maxed out it's possibilities. I'm still learning.
best wishes.
Gerald.
http://www.ghillphotography.com
http://www.christianphotoworks.com
-
G. Hill

 

[zardozfromoz]

Output directly from Lightroom for proofs, or non-critical stuff, edit in Photoshop CS4 if I'm serious. I use the embedded profile in the K-7 DNGs, or I create my own with Adobe's DNG Profile Editor and a GretagMacbeth Color Checker chart.

Someone mentioned the lack of soft proofing in Lightroom. It's annoying. Lightroom uses a bastardised version of the ProPhoto colour space, and that's all well and dandy on my calibrated wide gamut monitor, but I have no way of knowing whether my output will fit nicely into sRGB, for instance. I have to use Photoshop to squeeze the resulting file into a smaller gamut, using the soft proofing provided there. Not ideal. Adobe should add a target colour gamut option just like the one in ACR, or better still copy the soft proofing in Photoshop exactly. It would make Lightroom much more useful.

--

Beware of he who would deny you information, for in his mind he dreams of being your master.
More of my stuff: http://photos.claytonhaynes.com
Stuff for sale: http://www.redbubble.com/people/gnosis/art

 

[Taffy]

For RAW conversion Silkypix, or at least the version of it that Samsung use. For anything else it's Paint Shop Pro X2.
--
Have a good day.
Regards Allan

 

[Brad99]

Silkypix 3 is much better than any other converter (tried the lot) for obtaining natural colours, and that's the most important and elusive photo quality for me, so Silkypix it is.

 

[Royi Avital]

Gain one stop of ISO and the Filmpack is awesome!
--
My Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/RoyiAvital

 

[samhain]

Lucky sky- I'm using k-7 & k10d. Not seeing the option as you described it, just as stated