Polarizing filter effect?

Could I duplicate polarizing filter effects using pp software eg: DPP or CS3? I 'm guessing it's better to have the polarizing filter on the camera rather to do pp after, if latter is possible. Can any of you share your experiences?
Ta.

You can replicate the effects of a deeper blue sky and nice clouds in software, but the way a polariser reduces / kills reflections can't be done with any reasonably simple method. It may be possible to go over the entire picture, a bit at a time, with cloning and healing tools to smooth and remove reflections in some cases, but only if you are a highly skilled retoucher and prepared to spend hours on each image.

So, no, there isn't a way of realistically reproducing the effects in software.

Just the sky color changing properties, but not the alterations they have on reflections.

sandpiper wrote in post #5054946
You can replicate the effects of a deeper blue sky and nice clouds in software, but the way a polariser reduces / kills reflections can't be done with any reasonably simple method. It may be possible to go over the entire picture, a bit at a time, with cloning and healing tools to smooth and remove reflections in some cases, but only if you are a highly skilled retoucher and prepared to spend hours on each image.

So, no, there isn't a way of realistically reproducing the effects in software.

What is the best technique to make a deeper blue sky in PS.

ypx3 wrote in post #5055052
What is the best technique to make a deeper blue sky in PS.

You can set your foreground color to 'black' and apply a gradient layer. If done right, it looks pretty good, but not as good as when using a polarizer. Here's a before and after shot. This was shot with a 5D and the Canon 15mm fisheye, so use of a threaded filter was out. The first is the 'normal' shot, the second has a gradient layer applied in Photoshop.

As Shot:

ypx3 wrote in post #5055052
What is the best technique to make a deeper blue sky in PS.

I would actually use lightroom for that as you can select the blue colour channel and alter the hue and saturation just for the blues. The channel mixer in lightroom is fantastic for altering specific tones.

In PS you could select the sky area and play with the saturation on that, or simply use the burn & sponge tools to darken and saturate the sky. I have seen a tutorial on exactly reproducing the tonal affect of a polariser on the sky, and it was a little more complicated than that, but that will make a start.

Personally, I just stick a CPL on the camera and don't have to worry about fixing it later .

You can also do a 'selective color' adjust. Simply choose the 'cyan' color from the dropdown and adjust its black channel to 20 or 30. Then, select the 'white' color from the dropdown and adjust its black channel as well, again to 20 or 30. These numbers are guides...you can adjust to whatever your preference. Again, as in my example above, its just doesn't give the same results as using a CPL.

Thanks for all the help, I don't have a CPL and when I did I never found myself using it, I will consider purchasing one but the problem is I have three lenses with three filter sizes.

ypx3 wrote in post #5055696
Thanks for all the help, I don't have a CPL and when I did I never found myself using it, I will consider purchasing one but the problem is I have three lenses with three filter sizes.

Me too. I also have 3 CPLs

You can use the burn tool a big radius set to around 7%.

argyle wrote in post #5055202
You can set your foreground color to 'black' and apply a gradient layer. If done right, it looks pretty good, but not as good as when using a polarizer. Here's a before and after shot. This was shot with a 5D and the Canon 15mm fisheye, so use of a threaded filter was out. The first is the 'normal' shot, the second has a gradient layer applied in Photoshop.


I should add that I played with the contrast a little in the gradient image...the gradient was only applied from the curvature of the upper rim to the top. Below the rim was not affected by the gradient layer.

sandpiper wrote in post #5055212
I would actually use lightroom for that as you can select the blue colour channel and alter the hue and saturation just for the blues. The channel mixer in lightroom is fantastic for altering specific tones.

In PS you could select the sky area and play with the saturation on that, or simply use the burn & sponge tools to darken and saturate the sky. I have seen a tutorial on exactly reproducing the tonal affect of a polariser on the sky, and it was a little more complicated than that, but that will make a start.

Personally, I just stick a CPL on the camera and don't have to worry about fixing it later .

argyle wrote in post #5055267
You can also do a 'selective color' adjust. Simply choose the 'cyan' color from the dropdown and adjust its black channel to 20 or 30. Then, select the 'white' color from the dropdown and adjust its black channel as well, again to 20 or 30. These numbers are guides...you can adjust to whatever your preference. Again, as in my example above, its just doesn't give the same results as using a CPL.

All great advice, all far above my PS skill unfortunately but I will practice and see if I can't make it better.

ypx3 wrote in post #5055696
Thanks for all the help, I don't have a CPL and when I did I never found myself using it, I will consider purchasing one but the problem is I have three lenses with three filter sizes.

You could always get one for the biggest thread size and get some step-up rings for the other lenses.