Before and After - The Weekly Editing Challenge

Here's my version of the Jay. PL6 then to CEFX 5 in Nik collection 5 to finish up.

LR + PS + Neo

Bianchi wrote in post #19442851
LR + PS + Neo

Hosted photo: posted by Bianchi in
./showthread.php?p=194​42851&i=i237057548
forum: Competitions

Nice. Reminds me of Monty Python and the "Twin Peaks of Mt. Kilimanjaro" https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=a52lkaY1CCE

Time to move on to the next set.

As always, really appreciated the variety of treatments, and accomplished improvements on my originals. As always, too, hard to settle on a favourite.

But since I have to choose, I'm going with Bianchi's isolated Blue Jay. Also great work by rrblint, Stiga and 'Peano, scenes and Jay.

Thanks all.

Your move next, Bianchi!

^^ Thanks Rob

Before and After - The Weekly Editing Challenge

The Rules:

Download the image file(s) for the current challenge (link below).

Contestants will have - at least - 7 days to edit the image and post their edited version to the thread (as many entries as you like).

The Challenge poster will choose the winner.

The winner will copy & paste this post text and include a new downloadable image link.

The new image(s) must be unedited / SOOC (straight our of camera), full-resolution, and in a RAW format, ie. CR3, CR2, DNG, TIF, etc

(Dropbox works well for uploading and linking these large files)

"The purpose of this game is to be creative and learn new editing techniques. You must give some insight into exactly how you went about editing the image. For example, increased shadows sliders, reduced highlights, local sharpening, white balance adjustment, specific filters used, tone curve adjustments, etc. Comments and/or questions regarding the edits are encouraged."


Pick one or as many as you would like to edit. They were all free downloads from Unsplash >>> "Have Fun"

This Challenge's images are:

1) https://www.dropbox.co​m …tQXXNhs-unsplash.jpg?dl=0

2) https://www.dropbox.co​m …62sN_yI-unsplash.jpg?dl=0

3) https://www.dropbox.co​m …K5Uy-KI-unsplash.jpg?dl=0

4) https://www.dropbox.co​m …B5uTlaU-unsplash.jpg?dl=0

5) https://www.dropbox.co​m …Smart%20Object-1.tif?dl=0

6) https://www.dropbox.co​m …f9lga6Q-unsplash.jpg?dl=0

Bianchi wrote in post #19443427
^^ Thanks Rob

Before and After - The Weekly Editing Challenge

The Rules:

Download the image file(s) for the current challenge (link below).

Contestants will have - at least - 7 days to edit the image and post their edited version to the thread (as many entries as you like).

The Challenge poster will choose the winner.

The winner will copy & paste this post text and include a new downloadable image link.

The new image(s) must be unedited / SOOC (straight our of camera), full-resolution, and in a RAW format, ie. CR3, CR2, DNG, TIF, etc

(Dropbox works well for uploading and linking these large files)

"The purpose of this game is to be creative and learn new editing techniques. You must give some insight into exactly how you went about editing the image. For example, increased shadows sliders, reduced highlights, local sharpening, white balance adjustment, specific filters used, tone curve adjustments, etc. Comments and/or questions regarding the edits are encouraged."


Pick one or as many as you would like to edit. They were all free downloads from Unsplash >>> "Have Fun"

This Challenge's images are:

1) https://www.dropbox.co​m …tQXXNhs-unsplash.jpg?dl=0

2) https://www.dropbox.co​m …62sN_yI-unsplash.jpg?dl=0

3) https://www.dropbox.co​m …K5Uy-KI-unsplash.jpg?dl=0

4) https://www.dropbox.co​m …B5uTlaU-unsplash.jpg?dl=0

5) https://www.dropbox.co​m …Smart%20Object-1.tif?dl=0

6) https://www.dropbox.co​m …f9lga6Q-unsplash.jpg?dl=0

Congrats on the win Bianchi. The photos that you posted are beautiful but they are JPGs and one TIF. Rules say they must be RAW.

rrblint wrote in post #19443488
Congrats on the win Bianchi. The photos that you posted are beautiful but they are JPGs and one TIF. Rules say they must be RAW.

Here is a raw file:

https://www.dropbox.co​m …lnfgvki/_DSC452​4.ARW?dl=0

This is a beautiful photo! I went for a sunset tone. (Just practicing, not competing.)

Heads up!

For the PP addicts, there is a new set of problem RAWs to tackle here.

Massiveness dynamic range, excessive blue haze, lack of colour, noise - I would welcome your opinion.

Took up a special offer to buy three of the new extensions for Luminar Neo for the price of two, so trying out their functionality using Bianchi's interesting image (Steampunk Prospero maybe?)

AI Masking test: This version, using AI masking to select the person and gear. Considering how complex the foreground / subject is, it did a very good job on its own. Some refinement needed, especially between / around some of the headgear spikes. But good, considering. Then inverted the mask and changed background to B&W. Some other "Develop" adjustments, etc, Also, a run through the NEO HDR extension, and the new "Supersharp" extension at the start.

Did this to check out the new Neo Supersharp extension and compare to Topaz Sharpen AI. (The extensions I chose were Sharpen, Background Removal, and Focus Stacking; I had HDR extension already as an earlier Neo freebie.)

The examples here are screen grabs, so not the greatest quality, but maybe OK for comparison. (See how Supersharp worked in images edits above for regular uploaded files.)

At the moment, Neo only has "Motion Blur" correction available (Low, Middle, High intensity) but others are promised (focus, softness presumably). Topaz has many more adjustment sliders one can use but I usually find its AI choice is best, anyway.

I was playing around with this photo with a new action. Started playing with the results and doing some color grading with it. Unfortunately I broke my wrist while working at the farm and couldn't finish it. I can't really use my mouse anymore and it is hard to type and I could be in a cast for the next 8 to 12 weeks. lol So this is the best I got. I know it is not the raw image but it was still fun playing with it.

RDWP wrote in post #19445935
Took up a special offer to buy three of the new extensions for Luminar Neo for the price of two, so trying out their functionality using Bianchi's interesting image (Steampunk Prospero maybe?)

AI Masking test: This version, using AI masking to select the person and gear. Considering how complex the foreground / subject is, it did a very good job on its own. Some refinement needed, especially between / around some of the headgear spikes. But good, considering. Then inverted the mask and changed background to B&W. Some other "Develop" adjustments, etc, Also, a run through the NEO HDR extension, and the new "Supersharp" extension at the start.

Hosted photo: posted by RDWP in
./showthread.php?p=194​45935&i=i190773725
forum: Competitions

AI Background Removal test: Steampunk image through HDR and Supersharp, then used the new Background Removal AI extension, and saved result as a png with transparency. Again, good job of removal for such a complex test. Had to do a bit more refinement masking with Brush, but I find that's easier now in latest NEO. Next, started with my moon photo, added saved png as a new layer. Flipped, stretched moon layer, arranged the two. Some other Develop-type adjustments. Intresting note: there does not seem to be a way of creating a "stamped" layer within Layers. Saving under a new file name merges the layers, and the original remembers the edits, so you can go back with that version. Would like a merged/stamped layer option though.

Hosted photo: posted by RDWP in
./showthread.php?p=194​45935&i=i206168921
forum: Competitions

RDWP wrote in post #19445940
Did this to check out the new Neo Supersharp extension and compare to Topaz Sharpen AI. (The extensions I chose were Sharpen, Background Removal, and Focus Stacking; I had HDR extension already as an earlier Neo freebie.)

The examples here are screen grabs, so not the greatest quality, but maybe OK for comparison. (See how Supersharp worked in images edits above for regular uploaded files.)

At the moment, Neo only has "Motion Blur" correction available (Low, Middle, High intensity) but others are promised (focus, softness presumably). Topaz has many more adjustment sliders one can use but I usually find its AI choice is best, anyway.

Hosted photo: posted by RDWP in
./showthread.php?p=194​45940&i=i77478229
forum: Competitions

RDWP wrote in post #19445940
Did this to check out the new Neo Supersharp extension and compare to Topaz Sharpen AI. (The extensions I chose were Sharpen, Background Removal, and Focus Stacking; I had HDR extension already as an earlier Neo freebie.)

The examples here are screen grabs, so not the greatest quality, but maybe OK for comparison. (See how Supersharp worked in images edits above for regular uploaded files.)

At the moment, Neo only has "Motion Blur" correction available (Low, Middle, High intensity) but others are promised (focus, softness presumably). Topaz has many more adjustment sliders one can use but I usually find its AI choice is best, anyway.

Hosted photo: posted by RDWP in
./showthread.php?p=194​45940&i=i77478229
forum: Competitions

Very interesting, Rob. So, is Neo aimimg to overtake PS and Topaz?

Bianchi wrote in post #19443716
Here is a raw file:

https://www.dropbox.co​m …lnfgvki/_DSC452​4.ARW?dl=0

Unfortunately this image fails to inspire me.

So, I will be patient and await the next RAW

Stiga wrote in post #19446093
So, I will be patient and await the next RAW

I decided to work on the JPGs as I'm not into Steampunk. There are some JPG artifacts but for the most most part they worked out okay. PL6 to LP for landscapes and PL6 to PP for portraits,