Want to do some Post Proc, but not sure what

So, I know I get pretty crappy images usually... and with post processing I can probably squeeze a bit more out of them. I deal with a lot of low light, high movement, and no flash photography. Also, I am in places where the primary light sources are red or some other color. So, it can make people look like weird lobster aliens. Not sure where I could upload a 25mb RAW file to show you what I mean, but here is a small example of what I deal with: http://img543.imagesha​ck.us/img543/3729/img2​095a.jpg

What I want to do is make it look better... and I don't exactly have the most artistic eye, but if you can give me an idea of what would make that picture look better (besides a better camera/lens/lighting, etc) then that would be cool.

You shot Raw?
What Raw converter do you use?

You could try setting the color temperature to 2500K and then use the "tune" wheel to correct a bi more (DPP), or you could try lowering the red saturation and / or change the red hue (LR)

The image you posted is OoF and has no exif, so hard to tell what settings might be set better.

If you want to upload a raw, use Yousendit or something similar. Send to yourself and post the link here.

René Damkot wrote in post #12538805
You shot Raw?
What Raw converter do you use?

You could try setting the color temperature to 2500K and then use the "tune" wheel to correct a bi more (DPP), or you could try lowering the red saturation and / or change the red hue (LR)

The image you posted is OoF and has no exif, so hard to tell what settings might be set better.

If you want to upload a raw, use Yousendit or something similar. Send to yourself and post the link here.

That was just .cr2 to jpeg by Irfanview. And yes, I shot that in raw.

Filename - IMG_2095.CR2
ImageWidth - 5184
ImageLength - 3456
BitsPerSample - 8 8 8
Compression - 6 (JPG)
Make - Canon
Model - Canon EOS REBEL T2i
ExifOffset - 422
ExposureTime - 1/20 seconds
FNumber - 1.80
ExposureProgram - Aperture priority
ISOSpeedRatings - 1600
ExifVersion - 0221
DateTimeOriginal - 2011:06:03 23:01:28
DateTimeDigitized - 2011:06:03 23:01:28
ComponentsConfiguratio​n - YCbCr
ShutterSpeedValue - 1/21 seconds
ApertureValue - F 1.76
ExposureBiasValue - 0
MeteringMode - Multi-segment
Flash - Flash not fired, compulsory flash mode
FocalLength - 50 mm
UserComment -
SubsecTime - 08
SubsecTimeOriginal - 08
SubsecTimeDigitized - 08
FlashPixVersion - 0100
ColorSpace - sRGB
ExifImageWidth - 5184
ExifImageHeight - 3456
InteroperabilityOffset - 46078
FocalPlaneXResolution - 5728.18
FocalPlaneYResolution - 5808.40
FocalPlaneResolutionUn​it - Inch
CustomRendered - Normal process
ExposureMode - Auto
White Balance - Auto
SceneCaptureType - Standard

Maker Note (Vendor): -
Macro mode - Normal
Self timer - Off
Quality - RAW
Flash mode - Not fired
Sequence mode - Single or Timer
Focus mode - One-Shot
Image size - Large
Easy shooting mode - Manual
Digital zoom - None
Contrast - Normal
Saturation - Normal
Sharpness - Low , -32769
ISO Value - 32767
Metering mode - Evaluative
Focus type - Auto
AF point selected -
Exposure mode - Av-priority
Focal length - 50 - 50 mm (1 mm)
Flash activity - Not fired
Flash details -
Focus mode 2 - 65535
Auto ISO - 100
Base ISO - 1600
White Balance - Auto
Sequence number - 0
Flash bias - 0 EV
Subject Distance - 0
Sharpness (A0) - 3

Thumbnail: -
JpegIFOffset - 46436
JpegIFByteCount - 12421

Just some quick adjustment with ACDSee with your JPEG file.
RAW file can manage lot more easy.

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Would you be happier with something like this?

Just a quick 5-minute effort. A white balance adjustment has improved the image overall, but created a slight green cast in the background.

I also did a little sharpening and levels which has unfortunately introduced a little noise.

The image already had a bit of noise to it, given the ISO you used. Pushing the levels a little introduced a little more.

I did some noise removal but didn't want to push it too hard as I didn't want to lose what sharpness there was.

I notice the image was shot at 1/20th of a sec. That's not going to give you sharp shots.

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The problem with those is that it kinda makes it look far too green and he doesn't seem that natural looking.

I fooled around a tiny bit. Used some of the automatic stuff it has... tweaked very minorly... http://img137.imagesha​ck.us/img137/1528/img2​095ha.jpg Still has the warmer feeling (Maybe a bit too warm) that resembles his typical tones. One of the things is that in those photos you guys did is that I cannot see his hair detail at all. It's like a black blob, which looks weird to me.

Problem is that you can see that weird lens flare or whatever the heck that is in on his collar. I'd like to get that very hard to notice/removed. Any ideas on that one?

While it may be a bit beyond you're current grasp to take in right now, but color correcting in LAB mode probably fix all that up good, especially if you're doing a lot of imaging in weird lighting.

Think its Kelby training thats got Dan Margulis's working in LAB video tutorials.

TridenTBoy wrote in post #12538892
I cannot see his hair detail at all. It's like a black blob

Calibrate your screen. Assuming the images is sRGB, there's plenty of detail in the hair: It measures about 20 to 30.

Flare: Probably easiest to clone it out. Or just desaturate and darken a bit.

I don't see a problem with it (j/k), I missed the 2nd jpg so the edit below is from the 1st jpg posted (the very red one). Had a bit of time over lunch, I have posted the workflow after the image. I use PaintShop Photo Pro X3 so some of the terminology might be a bit alien.

I think the camera is doing an admerable job under the conditions, I think the white balance is the main issue and I would be deliberatly over exposing slightly to get more detail back from your raw.

I guessed the skin tone and as a good pointer there appears to be a white caucasian female to the left of the main subject and it was easier to use her skin tone as a pointer than the main subjects as he has very dark features but could be almost any skin tone. I also tried to keep the warmth in the picture as it looks like a happy time.

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WayneCornish wrote in post #12544818
I don't see a problem with it (j/k), I missed the 2nd jpg so the edit below is from the 1st jpg posted (the very red one). Had a bit of time over lunch, I have posted the workflow after the image. I use PaintShop Photo Pro X3 so some of the terminology might be a bit alien.

I think the camera is doing an admerable job under the conditions, I think the white balance is the main issue and I would be deliberatly over exposing slightly to get more detail back from your raw.

I guessed the skin tone and as a good pointer there appears to be a white caucasian female to the left of the main subject and it was easier to use her skin tone as a pointer than the main subjects as he has very dark features but could be almost any skin tone. I also tried to keep the warmth in the picture as it looks like a happy time.

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Workflow (bit backwards and forwards to resolve color issues in places):

White Balance
- Temprature 6000
- Tint 80

-20% red channel
-15% saturation
+5 (of 255) Brightness

Histogram Adjusment
- Expand Mid-Tones by 8%
- Set Gamma to 1.15

Remove Digital Camera Noise
Unsharp Mask (Whole Image)
High-Pass Sharpen 40% hard light (face inside of hairline and edge)

Fill flash 30% (was a little dark on the main subject)

Still a bit red removed another 10% from red channel

Work on lens flare
- Freehand mask very edge of colar and around flare with extra at front and back
- Convert mask to layer
- Use puch brush to get edge of colar correct
- Merge layers again
- Use smaller push brush from back of colar to get big enough area to copy/past
- copy/paste down colar rotating if required
- 25% opacity push brush used over joins
- select new area and apply noise to make consistant with image
- freehand select edge of colar and soften
- burn some parts of new colar to make consistant look

That looks pretty nice! That's mostly what I was going for. Thanks a lot. I'll try to learn from that.

Channel mixer and then curves,

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