I'm looking for some advice on workflow using Nikon Capture NX2 together with Photomatix. Surely there's more to it than "Develop the bracketed RAW files in CNX2, then send tiffs to Photomatix." For example, what Picture Control setting(s) do you use? Do you perform capture sharpening? Noise reduction? Do you apply the identical adjustments to all files in the bracketed series, or do the adjustments depend on the exposures? Do the answers to such questions depend on whether you're planning to do tone mapping or exposure fusion?

I'm not unhappy with my results (mainly doing exposure fusion). But I'm looking for great results, so any suggestions will be appreciated!

Visit my gallery on 23hq

Unless you are using ADL in camera (and you shouldn't for HDR) I don't see any reason to preprocess the raw files in NX2. Photomatix seems to handle NEF's just fine in my experience.

Charlie...
stalking light

Nikonians Team Member

As I mentioned, I mainly do exposure fusion. Photomatix themselves advises against using RAW directly for either fusion or HDR. From their FAQ:

http://www.hdrsoft.com/support/faq_photomatix.html#process_raw

"...it is recommended to first process your bracketed RAW files in your favorite RAW converter, and then combine the converted TIFF or JPEG files in Photomatix. This is particularly recommended with Exposure Fusion, given that Exposure Fusion is intended for images that have been fully processed, either in-camera or through a RAW converter."

...

"For Exposure Fusion, it is better to process your RAW files using the auto-settings of the RAW converter."

...

"When using a RAW converter with files intended for HDR merging, you should disable sharpening and uncheck all tonal and exposure-related automatic settings (especially the Exposure adjustment setting but also adjustments for contrast, shadow, etc.) which should be set to zero."

The advice for converting RAW for HDR is pretty clear: In CNX2, you would override Camera Settings by selecting Standard (or Neutral?) Picture control and slide the sharpness back to zero. But for fusion, what do they mean by "auto-settings?"

Visit my gallery on 23hq

Interesting. In the several years I have been using Photomatix I have never preprocessed any of my HDR or exposure fusion images, I'll have to give that method a try (and maybe I should read the manual, too ). It's also interesting that they say, for HDR, jpeg is as good as raw if the exposures properly cover the range.

The way I read it for fusion is that you would let NX2 process the in camera settings so that the output would match the jpeg preview generated by the camera. In other words, don't disable the things it says to disable for HDR.

Charlie...
stalking light

Nikonians Team Member

I have been following the advice of Jason Odell in his NX2 book, using the same in-camera settings for everything I shoot so I don't have to fiddle with the camera settings in the field. Then I have Picture Control presets in NX2 for Landscape, Portrait, Wildlife, etc. -- again, the ones recommended by Jason Odell in his book.

When the Photomatix FAQ says "auto-settings" it probably means that NX2 users like me should choose a Picture Control setting (in NX2) appropriate for the subject type (landscape, portrait, wildlife, etc.), since this is presumably what the camera would have chosen if you let it make the decision for you.

My only question concerns additional NX2 adjustments that you would typically make for these subjects, such as Capture Sharpening and perhaps adding an S-curve, color control points, etc. Should such adjustments be made (a) to the individual bracketed exposures, before sending them to Photomatix, or (b) to the tiff that you output from Photomatix? I think I just convinced myself that (b) is the right answer.

Visit my gallery on 23hq

b) would be my choice, except maybe for the sharpening since I don't do any sharpening in camera.

Charlie...
stalking light

Nikonians Team Member

Jason recommends sharpening +2 in camera in order to get a good preview. His NX2 Picture Control presets (which override camera settings) remove the sharpening, allowing you to do "capture sharpening" and "creative sharpening" as adjustment steps. In an exposure fusion workflow, it is probably best not to sharpen before sending to Photomatix, then sharpen the Photomatix output.

Thanks for your comments!

Visit my gallery on 23hq

IMHO sharpening is always the last adjustment you do no matter what your workflow.

Suggest using the exact same adjustment routine in NX2 for each image you use in tonemapping. Like in make a custom adjustment and stick with it. If you have to use "creative sharpening" something is wrong with the original capture.

Best,

Chuck

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

Hi Chuck,
The Photomatix FAQ explicitly advises against doing any sharpening prior to HDR/tonemapping. This implies that sharpening, if needed, should be done to the tonemapped image. This can be done by bringing the tonemapped image back into NX2. That way, sharpening is indeed the last adjustment you do! I'm not sure this is what you're saying, but if it is, I agree with you.

As I said, I'm primarily interested in fusion. My fusion workflow been to send unsharpened images to Photomatix, then sharpen the fused image. But perhaps it is better to sharpen the input images before fusing them in Photomatix.

Visit my gallery on 23hq

John, yes, bring the tonemapped image back into another application for sharpening. NX2 does a very nice job. I use NIK Sharpener Pro. Focus Magic http://www.focusmagic.com/ is a plugin that does the same thing. NX2 calls it Unsharp Mask. Photoshop USM is probably the last choice you would want to use. Again, always do USM or sharpening as the ast step.

Best,
Chuck


>Hi Chuck,
>The Photomatix FAQ explicitly advises against doing any
>sharpening prior to HDR/tonemapping. This implies that
>sharpening, if needed, should be done to the tonemapped image.
> This can be done by bringing the tonemapped image back into
>NX2. That way, sharpening is indeed the last adjustment you
>do! I'm not sure this is what you're saying, but if it is, I
>agree with you.
>
>As I said, I'm primarily interested in fusion. My fusion
>workflow been to send unsharpened images to Photomatix, then
>sharpen the fused image. But perhaps it is better to sharpen
>the input images before fusing them in Photomatix.


Best,

Chuck

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

Get Trey Ratcliffs book "A world in HDR". It has a workflow in quick, in detail and his method of using layers and subsequent merging is brilliant. He uses Nikon as well. The book is really worth it, and he is a master at this craft. -Migs

“ Your first 10000 photographs are your worst." – Henri Cartier-Bresson

I feed NEFs directly into Photomatix.
The chosen result then goes into Capture NX2 because I find the adjustments to be made easier there than in PhotoShop.
Then open it in Photoshop for final minor touches, resizing and sharpening with the FocusMagic plugin.

Have a great time
JRP (Founder & Administrator. Nikonian at the north-eastern Mexican desert) Gallery, Brief Love Story, The Team
Join the Silver, Gold and Platinum members that help this happen; upgrade. Join your personal web site to the Nikonians WebRing
Make sure you check our workshops at The Nikonians Academy