IL76 From Netherlands, joined Jan 2004, 2235 posts, RR: 51 Reply 3, posted (8 years 4 months 3 weeks 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 1331 times:
Unless your camera produces very noisy images, do not use NeatImage...
Functions to use in PhotoShop:
- levels
- rotate
- crop
- resize
- magic wand
- USM (unsharp mask)
That should cover the basics.
Play with them first to see how they work, perhaps after that you can ask specific questions about parameters.
Cheers,
Eduard
Jofa From Sweden, joined Apr 2002, 320 posts, RR: 17 Reply 4, posted (8 years 4 months 3 weeks 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 1310 times:
I agree with Eduard... stay away from NeatImage as smoothing the image also means removing details and giving the image a very unnatural and unprofessional look, the last IMO ofcourse.
Fergulmcc From Ireland, joined Oct 2004, 1916 posts, RR: 54 Reply 5, posted (8 years 4 months 3 weeks 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 1293 times:
Then what do you do if you don't use Neat Image, (NI).
A thread was started on giving your best PS tip. I read that and printed it off so that I could practise all the tips. I tried the magic wand and only selected the plane to be USM. I stayed away completely from NI and I got more rejections than I care to remember. So I went back to NI and although my acceptance didn't rise a great deal, I got a lot of images in that I thought might not. OK I agree I don't have the best lenses, but that will change this Friday, please God, when I get to NY. I have learnt to use NI so that the grass doesn't look plastic etc. What do you do to get rid of the grain, and in case you ask I have also tried Smart Blur. I got more rejections for bad grain when I didn't use NI. But then I can pull about whole load of photos uploaded recently with more grain on them than I can plant a whole wheat field!
Neat Image is not bad if you learn to use it in the right way, it can be adjusted to clear the grain without affecting the photo.
IL76 From Netherlands, joined Jan 2004, 2235 posts, RR: 51 Reply 6, posted (8 years 4 months 3 weeks 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 1287 times:
I have a 10D too... I've never had to use NeatImage. Sometimes on high ISO or underexposed shots you can use some smart blur, but for normal properly exposed shots there is absolutely no need for NeatImage on a 10D. If there is, you're probably doing something wrong. And yes, I have used a cheap Canon 28-80mm F4-5.6(non USM). Still no need for Neat Image.
Sorry, I'm just not a big fan of it. It ruins more than it fixes.
Fergulmcc From Ireland, joined Oct 2004, 1916 posts, RR: 54 Reply 7, posted (8 years 4 months 3 weeks 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 1286 times:
Ed!
I would never question you judgement on it. I have tried and can't seem to get it right. I you care to take a raw image of mine and try youself please feel free to send me an e-mail and I'll attach a photo that was rejected.
You can give me all the pointers afterwards.
I want to learn the best way possible while keeping my images looking professional and reduce the rejection rate.
Fergulmcc From Ireland, joined Oct 2004, 1916 posts, RR: 54 Reply 11, posted (8 years 4 months 3 weeks 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 1264 times:
Thanks Ed
Javibi, Thanks aswell but I have read that so many times, I almost know it off by heart. Bear in mind as well, not everybody has PS 7.0 or CS. Some tools that they talk about are not available on PS Elements 2.0 and 3.0. I have just recently bought 3.0 because it can handle raw images and its a great improvement on 2.0.
Thanks again
Fergul
PS: I'm in work as well, too bloody quite here now.
Fergulmcc From Ireland, joined Oct 2004, 1916 posts, RR: 54 Reply 13, posted (8 years 4 months 3 weeks 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 1259 times:
Ahhhh yes the home life!!
I have a 75-300mm USM and a 28-90mm, your baisic Canon comsumer lens. I will be in NY on Friday getting my 70-200mm f2.8 LIS, 300mm f4 LIS and the Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 DG EX plus a 1.4 converter, can you tell that I'm excited
Fergulmcc From Ireland, joined Oct 2004, 1916 posts, RR: 54 Reply 15, posted (8 years 4 months 3 weeks 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 1237 times:
Yeah can't wait,
Sent you an e-mail
Patrik!
I rotate first and get everything level, then I crop to size. 1043x683 1:5 ratio. keep it the same as your camera. Adjust your levels in brightness and Hue saturation. Apply a bit of USM. Everybody has there own settings for USM but I find 100;0.3;0 are quite good.
PutteMMX From Sweden, joined Jan 2005, 3 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (8 years 4 months 3 weeks 5 days 3 hours ago) and read 1225 times:
Hello guys
Thanks for all the interesting replies to my thread. I´m sure your tips will help me a lot.
I know I have to work very hard with my pictures because my camera 8 Konica Minolta dimage Z3 ) produces a lot of noise. But I´ll try not to use Neat Image because of the big loss of detail in the pictures.
The good thing is that I´ll buy a new camera in April/may next year. I was planning to buy a Nikon D70 with a 18-70 and a 70-300ED lens. Does that sound like a good choice or is it just crap??
So far I´ve only heard good things about that camera and the ED-lenses, but you´ll never no, maybe someone out there have some negative things to say.