Mike Chaney's Tech Corner

http://www.ddisoftware.com/qimage-u

v2010.110     08/19/10     

Priority: Low     

v2010.110 includes enhancements to the preview window in the image editor such as ability to toggle filter on/off plus ability to click a new position on the main image while the preview window is still open.

Mike

I see two buttons.
One is toggling the Sharpening on and off, and the other button is toggling any and all filters on and off.

That is just what I needed for a long time. I wanted to see the Sharpening difference only at times.

Thanks,
Fred

Thank you Mike.
That has improved the preview in the editor considerably by making it easier & quicker to make edits and see their effect in different areas.
I love the alternating view when a button is held on, very effective. 8)
Terry.

MIke-

The new buttons make it much easier to evaluate the USM features. And the clicking anywhere to move the preview view saves a LOT of time right clicking in the preview window!
Thanks!

Any reason that version .110 required a reboot of the computer to install? .109 didn't , as I recall. (hope my memory isn't getting that bad!)

Jeff Jessee

Hi Jeff,
The only reason that reboot happens to me (more often the older I get) is due to the fact that I forgot to close down Qimage before installing.
Try it again, Once with Q Ultimate open and again after closing Q ultimage, but before clicking install.

Fred

When I click and hold the filter toggle button it flashes on and off. Is that the way it is supposed to work? I was thinking it would be good to have that button in the main edit window because you already have the slider in the preview window and don't have it flash. Press it once it is on or off, press it again and it does the opposite.

Andy

Yes, that's the way it works. It is showing you "original" vs "filtered" when you hold the right hand button.
The left hand button does the same thing, but does the sharpening ; on off.
The beauty of the arrangement is the applied filters stay on all the time when you use the left button.
Let's say you had an image that needed some Levels or curves adjustment, maybe a few clicks of FILL and a boost in saturation.
Then you added  some sharpening.
When you want to look at the sharpening, on off, all the filters would go on off with the sharpening. Considering the changes you made to Levels etc, you would not be able to really judge sharpening unless the Levels and the rest were on in either state.

Works for me.... especially good on JPGS.

Fred

It would also be helpful if the preview image size could be larger so you see more of the image (I am not talking about the 1x, 2x etc).

Mike,

Not sure if this is related to 2010.110 or may be affecting earilier versions. Yesterday I took several images at Dawlish Airshow using a Canon 7D in Raw and Mraw (reduced size raw files) if I adjust the images in QU they turn Pink or green. If I remove the or turn them down a bit filters the images will return to normal.

Sometimes I can adjust white balance in refine raw exposure and the change seeems okay so I save it only for the thumnail to rebuild in pink or green!

It can be as simple as applying a default global filter which just adds a little fill and unsharp other times I just open the refine raw exposure after adding an item to the queue.

Other times I can just open the refine raw exposure window and clear the custom white balance which I have not touched and the image changes colour.

I can see the exposure on these images is difficult which is why I'm trying to correct them but these sudden dramatic shifts are proving a major problem.

It seems to be a conflict between the refine raw exposure and the full page editor. Am I doing something wrong here?

I'm attaching some resized screen snips. I'm using win 7 64 Bit on an I7 powered motherboard with 12GB ram 2 geforce 8800 graphics cards. The monitor is calibrated with coloreyes and a dtp-94.

Regards

Mark

regards

Mark

Hi Jeff,
The only reason that reboot happens to me (more often the older I get) is due to the fact that I forgot to close down Qimage before installing.
Try it again, Once with Q Ultimate open and again after closing Q ultimage, but before clicking install
Fred
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks Fred, that was the problem. This new method of updating is not as simple as before, but I assume it was needed to stop illegal copying. Have you tried .111? Mike just keeps adding great features. I've already gotten my $89 worth!

Jeff

+

Jeff,
I didn't lmpw Mike was up to version 1117. I know he's prolific, but he has to sleep a little too.  :D :D
Of course, I know you meant version 111, and yes, I have been playing with it especially on faces.
It takes some getting used to, because I have to think it through. It also takes some trial and error spotting clicks to find the correct RGB tone to work on.
For example, if I want to sharpen the eyes of a subject but I don't want to sharpen the skin, and I might even want to soften the skin to minimize blemishes, I can do this by turning on the soften untargeted.
The thinking it through part comes from what is in the picture.??
I also have the alternative of selecting a tone for softening (like the skin on the face) and then turning on APPLY SHARPENING to untargeted.
I know it's a lot to absorb, but it's easier than programming your old VCR.
It takes some practice. I was up late playing with the new feature, trying various approaches and deciding which one works best on which image.

I have one trick I learned that helps me to walk through easier.
Instead of the EQ slider being at 100%, I reset that to 90 or 85% and that exaggerates the view and I see where I am sharp and where I am not shop.
When I am happy with my locations, I readjust the slider.

One more observation. (Everyone, please don't get angry!)
This is a new tool. You use it when you need it, not needed usually on every shot on the card.
I know many (over 100) people who found the Topaz filter in Photo Shop, and use it on EVERY picture they turn out because they can.
I tell them, "That's photography on drugs"
You can easily fall in love with the new Tone Targeting dual filter: sharpen and soften on the same image, and some didn't really need both applied.

Right now I am in that mode. I am applying it to all images. That's how I learn stuff.
I will have to wean myself off later.   ;D

Fred

I am having a job to keep up with the Ultimate updates, but must be getting better, even I noticed you can mess about with the slider to see what you are actually doing.

There are getting too many jeffs on this forum I will have to start signing myself correctly.

Grumpy-Jeff
 

Then you might sign your posts with your full name; Grumpy Jeff that takes really good pictures.
I saved that river scene. I like it a lot.
Fred

Hi Mark,

I see no-one has replied to your post. I can't be of much help but was it both Raw & Mraw that were giving the problem? I vaguely remember something similar happening with someone else a while ago but probably a different canon model.
This is one for Mike to comment on I think, why not e-mail support directly.

I see the Red Arrows were at Dawlish, I saw them recently at the Bristol Balloon Fiesta, very clever flying! (http://www.pbase.com/tjm04/bristolballoon10)
Terry

We see the Red Arrows almost daily, eat your heart out.  When they break formation to land we know it is 10to 1 and dinner time.

Grumpy-jeff = Edward Jeffrey Milan.

Show us your pictures then  ;D
When Fred saw mine he asked what shutter speed I was using because he couldn't see the propellers  ;D ;D ;D
Sorry Fred, I've dropped you in it  ;)
Terry.

It's true! I couldn't see the propellers, and now you know how old I am.
 :D

Amen.  Great improvement, Mike.  Coincidentally, I've been working on an underexposed b/w photo my son shot on his Italy vacation.  Needed lots of fill & contrast adjustment.  The first test print (from Studio) clearly showed just how badly I'd oversharpened.  Ultimate made it easy to toggle JUST the sharpening and see exactly how much to back off.  Wonderful feature.

Sorry, I have to confess, we often see the red arrows daily but I do not have a single picture.

1/250 will show the props best, but I doubt it would work with a jet :) ;)

This year I shot one air at auto with good light and shutter was going at 1/750 to 1000th and got good shots but no props, next show I locked shutter at 1/250 and got good props with blured  air craft.

Must fire up Elements and see if I can still cut and paste, don't get much elements practice these days with Ultimate taking over all the processing.

Grumpy-Jeff - EJM