Camera Raw Processing HELP! - DPChallenge Forums

09/07/2011 11:59:50 PM · #1

Help! I absolutley LOVE RAW now that I have tried it, BUT, I can't figure something out. The images all turn out with speckles, as it would with high ISO, just without the colored noise. How do I get the images sharp, but not speckled? Any other tips for RAW processing (I am VERY new to it)?

kenskid

Nikon D700

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

09/08/2011 12:11:17 AM · #2

Not sure what you mean by speckles. Does it show up when you convert to Jpeg?

goinskiing

Canon EOS-6D

09/08/2011 01:17:17 AM · #3

It took me a while to get adjusted to RAW at first, they typically show a little softer and that frustrated me to no end as I thought it was me. I'm still trying to develop a RAW workflow and Aperture has helped a lot with that (Mac). Show us these freckles you speak of...

goinskiing

Canon EOS-6D

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

09/08/2011 01:17:44 AM · #4

My bad, speckles...

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

09/08/2011 02:33:30 AM · #5

Post up a 100% crop of the speckles in your workshop and post a thumbnail. Then we can disagree about what to do about it.

Silent-Shooter

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM II

09/08/2011 04:36:36 AM · #6

Dont forget to tell us what ISO the shot was taken at?

09/08/2011 12:09:06 PM · #7

ISO 100. I don't think a 100% crop will really show much...

kenskid, I haven't tried converting to jpeg yet. Perhaps I'll try some things later tonight.

BTW, I could get the speckles/noise to 'dissapear' by playing with the 'detail' or sharpness setting in camera RAW, but for some reason I wonder if it is not the right way to do it. ???

Message edited by author 2011-09-08 12:11:46.

kenskid

Nikon D700

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

09/08/2011 12:37:16 PM · #8

Two things - Is the photo you put in the thread a jpeg? I think it is !

As far as speckles go, I may be seeing some slight "noise" in the sky but nothing that jumps out at me.

Is this the speckles you are talking about?

Originally posted by ph0t0trip:

ISO 100. I don't think a 100% crop will really show much...

kenskid, I haven't tried converting to jpeg yet. Perhaps I'll try some things later tonight.

BTW, I could get the speckles/noise to 'dissapear' by playing with the 'detail' or sharpness setting in camera RAW, but for some reason I wonder if it is not the right way to do it. ???

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

09/08/2011 12:41:14 PM · #9

Originally posted by ph0t0trip:

ISO 100. I don't think a 100% crop will really show much.

OK, good luck.

Apple iPhone 5

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

09/08/2011 12:45:46 PM · #10

Originally posted by ph0t0trip:

ISO 100. I don't think a 100% crop will really show much...

'100% crop' means to crop a small section of your photo where you're seeing the speckles, and post it here *without* resizing. So we can see what you see when you're viewing at 1:1 zoom in photoshop.

adigitalromance

Nikon D750

09/08/2011 02:32:05 PM · #11

I did a long exposure for my At Home challenge and when I initially loaded it up in to ACR it was COVERED in speckles, sounds like what you are referring to. I thought my camera must be broken.

However, after ACR loaded the image and I began processing they all disappeared.

In other words, after you process the file, do you still see them?

If so, can you link a raw file so we can take a look?

09/08/2011 03:08:44 PM · #12

If I know what you mean by 'processed', then yes, the photo showed here has the speckles.

THIS IS A JPEG.

How would I link a RAW file? I'm not great with computers...

Again, I can sort of get rid of them, but am not sure if it degrades the quality of the image.

09/08/2011 03:22:41 PM · #13

do you have high iso noise reduction turned on? this might remove the colored noise artifacts but still leave the image grainy some what grainy, especially with an XSi.

when working with raw you will need to apply your own noise suppression and sharpening.

09/08/2011 03:55:07 PM · #14

I need to update my profile! I have a 60d, if that makes much of a difference...

My noise suppression was turned off (the image was taken at 100 ISO), but that wouldn't effect RAW, would it?

When I do work in RAW, to 'get rid' of the graininess, I limit the 'sharpening amount', and play with those 'detail' settings. Is that the right thing to do?

kenskid

Nikon D700

09/08/2011 03:59:42 PM · #15

You do have some kind of Noise issue there. 100 ISO should not do that IMO. Can you shoot a few more at the same ISO and shutter speed to see if it repeats?

Originally posted by ph0t0trip:

09/08/2011 04:23:24 PM · #16

Sure, I can do that. I'm busy this afternoon, so it'll be posted a little later...

When I do post it, should I open it up in Camera Raw, not touch anything, crop, then save to JPEG?

Simms

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

09/08/2011 04:26:40 PM · #17

Silly question - you don`t have an `add grain` slider in Aperture? I Know there is one in Lightroom and this looks a bit like this on mild settings.. Also, how much are you pushing the exposure from the original `out of camera` shot - even ISO100 when pushed too far will get noisy.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70 f2.8 L IS

09/08/2011 04:43:33 PM · #18

If the speckles appear in different colors, but are widely spaced and appear different/more prominent than noise, you are very likely seeing hot pixels. Normally, ACR (and Lr, since they use the same engine) will remove them with no interaction or effort on your part. It's kind of scary to see how many of them there can be, but they are easily dealt with. I don't know if Aperture deals with them the same way as Lr.

Canon EF-S 15-85mm IS USM

09/08/2011 04:50:35 PM · #19

i have a 60D and i see the same noise you do at times, not sure what causes it. i only see it when i pixel peep, but its really apparent when i push the exposure of a dark image.

does this noise become apparent if you have an underexposed shot and you try to bump the exposure in post?

DCNUTTER

Canon EOS-7D

09/08/2011 05:55:06 PM · #20

Originally posted by ph0t0trip:

Too much editing in RAW can add or amplify noise in an image that was better before you even started. If you have to sharpen in RAW or Lightroom then make sure you don't over do it. RAW sharpening is really pre-sharpening that helps correct some of the softness inherent in RAW images based on how the sensor sees the light and the filters in front of it. You can use the masking function along with the sharpening slider in RAW to remove the sharpening from areas you don't want or to lessen the effect. I prefer to do my sharpening in Photoshop and just leave the input sharpening of the RAW converter to the default setting which is Standard for screen display.

Dave

Nikon AF-S DX 18-105 f/3.5-5.6 ED VR

09/08/2011 06:09:00 PM · #21

A lot to reply too...

kirbic... In that case, then these are not hot pixels.

mike_311... Hmmm. I was bumping the exposure up a bit. I didn't think I was over doing it, but later tonight I may open the shot and be aware of that.

DCNUTTER... Maybe I was doing too much. You said, "I prefer to do my sharpening in Photoshop and just leave the input sharpening of the RAW converter to the default setting which is Standard for screen display". What do you mean by "input sharpening" and "default setting which is Standard for screen display"?

I was using the masking function some, but felt it was softening the photo too much. But yes, I will re-edit soon with all this in mind.

sarampo

Nikon D7100

09/08/2011 06:24:06 PM · #22

Is it possible that your camera is under exposing, and when you import it in Aperture it bumps up the exposure, hence showing the noise already there?

Just a thought, since you mentioned to have upped the exposure.

Does this happen on high key (very bright) images?

09/08/2011 06:24:48 PM · #23

when you work in lightroom make sure you work your way down the list, ie, set your exposure first and sharpening and noise reduction last, also if you didn't know hold "alt" when you sharpen it will show you more clear what you are sharpening.

09/08/2011 06:26:51 PM · #24

Originally posted by sarampo:

good point. by default my 60D was set to slightly underexpose, now i choose to slightly overexpose and darken in post if needed and i have noticed less noise in my images. I just have to watch the highlights.