Running LS_D60 for the first time

[drandy]

I managed to download and install the LS_D60 action into Photoshop 6 last evening. I then imported a RAW file via BreezeBrowzer. All well and good - a nice dark image! I then selected the Convert + Sharpen HQ and let it go. A few things I noticed - not sure if it is running correctly. Near the end of the cycle, the program stalled at the Play action "masked_gb" of set "LS_D60 stage. The image had a few pixels highlighted and flashing but would go no further. I just clicked on the Purge command on the next line and it seemed to run to completion.

I also noticed that I ended up with a 36M file. Is that normal. When I imported the action it seems that everything is "ticked" on the left hand side. Is this right? Do you need to modify the tick selections at all or is the whole action geared up ready to run as is?

As a beginner in this digital workflow area, I appreciate any help. I have made progress and have at least run the action now - just need to know that I am running it right.

Thanks

[Yavor74]

Hey Randy-
See you are doing much better..learning fast!
On the Actions, my left boxes are all checked, and the right ones are not. I have no stops in my Action processing. One is executing as I type this. Yes, your images should be 36MB.
After it completes, use the saturation/brighteness Actions under the Convert ones -as needed. If you have too much noise from a high-ISO image, use noise blur.
How you convert the image at first has a lot to do with how LS acts on it. As I've mentioned, I've found that Yarc+ with ARF2 does a better job on conversions. It results in deeper colors and less artifacting. The main thing to watch is that you have a large scratch disk designated in Photoshop, and that you have as much RAM as possible.

Have Fun!
Bob

[GenEOS]

I am going to try Yarc myself. I have tried Pekka's actions with sub par results. I am sure it is the way I am handling the image files and my photoshop skills, because I have seen peoples work done with it and they are great.


If anyone, maybe Roger is interested, I wouldn't mind someone taking one of my files and putting the digital mojo on it, so I can see what I have to look forward to and have a goal to meet in my digital darkroom skills.

let me know...

daniel@tunstall.cc

[drandy]

Encouragement helps! On the scratch disk issue.....how do I modify this? I did have a warning notice about this when I installed PSP 6.0 but didn't know what to do. My RAM is 256M - do I need more? Or do I need to apportion it differently.

Thanks,

Yavor74 wrote:
Hey Randy-
See you are doing much better..learning fast!
On the Actions, my left boxes are all checked, and the right ones are not. I have no stops in my Action processing. One is executing as I type this. Yes, your images should be 36MB.
After it completes, use the saturation/brighteness Actions under the Convert ones -as needed. If you have too much noise from a high-ISO image, use noise blur.
How you convert the image at first has a lot to do with how LS acts on it. As I've mentioned, I've found that Yarc+ with ARF2 does a better job on conversions. It results in deeper colors and less artifacting. The main thing to watch is that you have a large scratch disk designated in Photoshop, and that you have as much RAM as possible.

Have Fun!
Bob

[Pekka]

Download 1.01 from http://photography-on-the.net/D60/LinearSharpen_D60_101.zip

To run this action you'll need Adobe Photoshop 6.0 or later.

You install it by dragging and dropping the LinearSharpen_D60_101.atn file over Photoshop's action palette.

It converts linear TIFF's to sharpened final photo, fully in 16-bit mode.

Linear TIFF's are converted from RAW (CRW) files using either Canon RAW Converter 2, Yarc or Breezebrowser. Each program has a setting for converting to
LINEAR TIFF 16-BIT
(NO SHARPENING may apply too)

In Canon Raw Image Converter 2 settings are (sharpening setting does not affect linear conversions in Canon's software):

http://photography-on-the.net/D60/LStutor/CRIC.gif

LINEAR TIFF is very dark looking and that is just ok:

http://photography-on-the.net/D60/LStutor/linear.jpg

When you open a linear TIFF to Photoshop, it must be converted or assigned AdobeRGB color space. Set color preferences so that profile mismatches are "asked" by PS, so when you open an "untagged RGB" profiled image, which is what e.g. Canon conversion gives, you get a dialog to choose what color profile should be used.

http://photography-on-the.net/D60/LStutor/color_preferences.gif

When you open a linear TIFF use either of these settings:

http://photography-on-the.net/D60/LStutor/assign_1.gif

http://photography-on-the.net/D60/LStutor/assign_2.gif

Now,open LinearSharpen action folder if it is not opened:

http://photography-on-the.net/D60/LStutor/opened.gif

Select one action from top three choices
JUST CONVERT
CONVERT + SHARPEN (FAST)
CONVERT + SHARPEN HQ (smooth)

http://photography-on-the.net/D60/LStutor/select_action.gif

and press PLAY (the triance button in the bottom of the action palette).

Now you see a lot of automated steps. Wait until all action stops and you see a finished image.

http://photography-on-the.net/D60/LStutor/converted.jpg

When chooser is selected in aftershave action you have several choices of brightness and saturation on Photoshop's HISTORY palette after conversion. Click on them and select one to your liking.

http://photography-on-the.net/D60/LStutor/done.gif

If you need less saturation, or noise reduction for high ISO photos, select an appropriate action and press play.

http://photography-on-the.net/D60/LStutor/select.gif

Most modification actions above are very subtle, you may need to apply them more than once to get the effect you want.

If you need to batch run LS or want to skip chooser and use a certain brightness saturation level, set aftershave action to one end result only, not the chooser:

http://photography-on-the.net/D60/LStutor/aftershave.gif

[Pekka]

drandy wrote:
Encouragement helps! On the scratch disk issue.....how do I modify this? I did have a warning notice about this when I installed PSP 6.0 but didn't know what to do. My RAM is 256M - do I need more? Or do I need to apportion it differently.


256 is not much these days, but if you set photoshop RAM usage to 70% and see that you have at least 2GB free on your scratch disk you should be fine.

But you say "PSP 6.0". I'm afraid LS needs Photoshop...