Zoombrowser RAW Processing - Auto Levels question

[colinm85]

Hi all,
I posted the question below on the RAW forum, and someone told me that pretty much everyone there used an EOS, and either used DPP or a commercial RAW processor, so I might be better trying the post here. So any help appreciated

Colin

Hi all,
So I just got a G9, and I'm pretty new to image adjusting. I have done some stuff with Jpgs with Microsoft DIS, but just basics on autoadjust. I have read all the stuff about shooting in RAW, and I took a bunch of underwater shots while on vacation, using the RAW+Jpeg setting on my camera. Obviously, they all need editing. I have used the Gimp, with some success on the Jpegs, but am finding that the RAW 'images' seem to be a little better. I've tried most of the free convertors (RAW Therapee, UFRaw, etc) but as a novice, I find them confusing. I'm sure that I could figure it out with some work, but I have a lot of processing to do, and its just too hard. So I stated looking at ZoomBrowser, which came with my G9. It's much easier to figure out, probably because its much less powerful, but it meets my current needs. Anyway, the question I have is regarding the 'Auto Adjust' button on the 'Levels' menu. It seems pretty powerful, and it looks to me like it cleans up the images nicely, but I think that there's a tendency to 'overdo' some of the colors, at least with my underwater shots. I'm wondering if ther is any way to see what adjustment the 'auto adjust' button is making. It has to be something that I could do myself, but it would take a while to figure out, and I'm thinking if I could see the 'auto adjustments, I could apply something similar myself, while also toning the image down - in other words, do a little less of everything and see how that works.

Long question for a short subject - any ideas? Thanks

Colin

[sdommin]

I use CS3, but I think the general concept is the same. I don't think there's a way to tell exactly what settings the software used when you press the "auto" button for levels or any other function. In CS3, for example, if the colors came out too bright you can "fade" the effect of the auto function you used. It's under the Edit menu and it brings up a slider where you can tone down the changes you made. See if there's a similar function in Zoombrowser.

[rpolitsr]

I do not have the ‘Auto’ function on my ZomBrowser’s RAW Image Task either because it is an older version or because the Pro1 version of the RAW Image Task does not have it. I use PhotoShop CS2 most of the time. In Camera RAW ver. 3.7, when you hit ‘Auto’, the sliders move and values are shown on the boxes so you can re-adjust them as you wish. PhotoShop is expensive, but I think that Elements use the same Camera RAW plug-in.

The best for fast processing a big number of RAW (or jpg) images is LightRoom, I think. It uses the same Camera RAW plug-in as PhotoShop on a slightly different user interface with very similar functionality. The ‘Recovery’ slider is the best tool for highlight detail recovery that is not present in PhotoShop CS2 yet.

[WT21]

I have heard that the Canon auto on their zoombrowser does the exact same work as the in-camera jpg, so you're better off just taking the jpg. Haven't confirmed it myself, but I've read that on more than one place on-line.

Agree on Lightroom (or Aperture, if you're Mac). Very nice tools for ingesting and developing RAW.

[colinm85]

Wt21, Thanks for the advice. However, I'm not asking about the ZB 'Auto' button, I'm asking about the 'Auto' bitton in the 'Levels' menu. I think you may be right about the 'Auto' button. I was on vacation, and I took some underwater images with the G9 in taking RAW and Jpg with the Underwater setting, and some with the white balance on auto. I did notice that if I hit the regular 'Auto' fix when the underwater setting was on, there was a considerable change from the original RAW, but when the white balance was set to auto, there was not much difference. However, if I go to the 'Levels' menu, the Auto button makes a considerable difference. Take a look at the images below. Thats why I'm trying to figure what the changes are - I'd like to be able to recreate them at slightly different values. Thanks again though

Jpg Image, no adjustments


RAW Image with levels Auto button applied