Layering/Bracketing/panoramas
Discussion
Chaps, what is the best option for layering? I don't think you can do it in Lightroom 4. Should I buy photoshop, or is there a simple option elsewhere?
Similar question for making panoramas and stitching.
I am guessing that you would want an integrated solution, to allow you to fiddle with settings (e.g. WB) in the different photos while layering, for example.
I also detest Lightroom's organisational traits (not intuitive) and the difficulty of importing/exporting from various drives (although this is also a matter of me simply not "getting" Apple's OS after being a Windows person for so long: I think I just need to put the time in!)
Similar question for making panoramas and stitching.
I am guessing that you would want an integrated solution, to allow you to fiddle with settings (e.g. WB) in the different photos while layering, for example.
I also detest Lightroom's organisational traits (not intuitive) and the difficulty of importing/exporting from various drives (although this is also a matter of me simply not "getting" Apple's OS after being a Windows person for so long: I think I just need to put the time in!)
I prefer to use grads when shooting stitched panoramas, as your camera should be level as you pan around it is quite easy.
If you were determined to use exposure blending I'd be tempted to create a panorama of each set of exposures, eg a full panorama of -2 stops, a full panorama at your chosen exposure, then one at +2 stops, then stack the panoramas and blend them.
Similarly WB should be constant across the panorama, otherwise you'll end up with weirdness like clouds that change colour half way across.
If it helps my workflow for shooting a stitched panorama is this:
1) Level up tripod head (I use a Manfrotto 038 leveling unit)
2) Set lens up to rotate on nodal point (I use a Novoflex focussing rack)
3) Set camera up on tripod in portrait format, check level with on screen level and compose
4) Check exposure, apply grads as required, manual mode so no variation
5) Set focus in manual, check DoF
6) Photograph my hand, when scrolling through shots taken this tells me where the start of the panorama set is
7) Start the exposures, I overlap quite a lot, storage is cheap and it makes it easier for the software to stitch
8) Pan around (I use a Novoflex Panorama to measure the angles) taking shots
9) When finished take another shot with my hand in front of the lens to show the last frame when processing
My workflow for processing a stitched panorama is this:
1) Add individual frames to a smart album to keep them all together. The hand shots show which frames to use.
2) Carry out raw processing on first shot, set WB, contrast, shadow and highlight recovery, lens corrections etc. Also dust spots.
3) Copy adjustments to remainder of files
4) Export all files as 16 bit TIFFs to retain quality for further editing
5) In Bridge select all and "Merge In Photoshop"
7) Continue editing resulting panorama in CS6
8) Save as PSD for future return
9) Flatten and save as TIFF
10) Keyword and caption TIFF in Capture One
11) Add to Media Pro library
12) Export smaller jpegs for web use etc.
If you were determined to use exposure blending I'd be tempted to create a panorama of each set of exposures, eg a full panorama of -2 stops, a full panorama at your chosen exposure, then one at +2 stops, then stack the panoramas and blend them.
Similarly WB should be constant across the panorama, otherwise you'll end up with weirdness like clouds that change colour half way across.
If it helps my workflow for shooting a stitched panorama is this:
1) Level up tripod head (I use a Manfrotto 038 leveling unit)
2) Set lens up to rotate on nodal point (I use a Novoflex focussing rack)
3) Set camera up on tripod in portrait format, check level with on screen level and compose
4) Check exposure, apply grads as required, manual mode so no variation
5) Set focus in manual, check DoF
6) Photograph my hand, when scrolling through shots taken this tells me where the start of the panorama set is
7) Start the exposures, I overlap quite a lot, storage is cheap and it makes it easier for the software to stitch
8) Pan around (I use a Novoflex Panorama to measure the angles) taking shots
9) When finished take another shot with my hand in front of the lens to show the last frame when processing
My workflow for processing a stitched panorama is this:
1) Add individual frames to a smart album to keep them all together. The hand shots show which frames to use.
2) Carry out raw processing on first shot, set WB, contrast, shadow and highlight recovery, lens corrections etc. Also dust spots.
3) Copy adjustments to remainder of files
4) Export all files as 16 bit TIFFs to retain quality for further editing
5) In Bridge select all and "Merge In Photoshop"
7) Continue editing resulting panorama in CS6
8) Save as PSD for future return
9) Flatten and save as TIFF
10) Keyword and caption TIFF in Capture One
11) Add to Media Pro library
12) Export smaller jpegs for web use etc.
That is bloody useful Mark: thank you (hand tip is something I wish I had thought of myself!).
Layering questions are more for non-landscape stuff (interiors?) and general desire to learn PP techniques.
What software do you use for layers and stitching...?
Layering questions are more for non-landscape stuff (interiors?) and general desire to learn PP techniques.
What software do you use for layers and stitching...?
Edited by Harry Flashman on Tuesday 23 April 17:02
With interiors (of which I do quite a lot) I will sometimes use HDR if the dynamic range is too great in a room, for that the workflow is quite similar to the panorama process, but instead of using PS to merge them I use HDR Efex.
I use CS6 for pixel editing, it does layers as well as anything on the market.
Stitched panoramas I use CS6 too.
I use CS6 for pixel editing, it does layers as well as anything on the market.
Stitched panoramas I use CS6 too.
The panorama/stitching tools in Photoshop Elements aren't too bad either.
My Lightroom workflow is similar to Mark's, although I've not used the photo of the hand thing before. When the Panorama has been rendered in Elements I then import it back to Lightroom and stack it along with all the source images.
With regards to Lightroom in general, the organisation of it is exactly the same on Mac and PC, but the real key is making sure that all changes are done in Lightroom, so that you aren't breaking the links in the database. I only export images from Lightroom for a specific purpose, upload/email/print etc, as with export presets it is easy to re-export images so it isn't worth filling up your hard drive with images you already have in Lightroom.
My Lightroom workflow is similar to Mark's, although I've not used the photo of the hand thing before. When the Panorama has been rendered in Elements I then import it back to Lightroom and stack it along with all the source images.
With regards to Lightroom in general, the organisation of it is exactly the same on Mac and PC, but the real key is making sure that all changes are done in Lightroom, so that you aren't breaking the links in the database. I only export images from Lightroom for a specific purpose, upload/email/print etc, as with export presets it is easy to re-export images so it isn't worth filling up your hard drive with images you already have in Lightroom.
Thank you so much chaps - lots of things to practice on thanks to you both.
Adobe Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements 11 (Full Version) Digital camera Bundle Pack (PC/Mac) purchased - found the two for £70, which seemed pretty good!
Adobe Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements 11 (Full Version) Digital camera Bundle Pack (PC/Mac) purchased - found the two for £70, which seemed pretty good!
Edited by Harry Flashman on Wednesday 24th April 15:37
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