Mike Chaney's Tech Corner

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

v2012.100    08/15/11

Priority: Low

v2012.100 includes the following:

• UI refinements: The user interface has been improved for 2012.  Included are some bug fixes, visual refinements, and improvements to the way the print properties dialog opens and closes via the main window.
• Raw photography: New auto black level detection removes haze from some difficult raw shots, allowing for maximum clarity.  Option can be turned on/off via raw format options or on an individual basis by using raw refine and clicking on the exposure grid to activate the new exposure options.
• 3D photography: Both MPO and JPS 3D photo formats are now supported.  New 3D preferences allow conversion of 3D MPO/JPS files to "side by side" JPG files that are compatible with all 3D televisions, allowing you to view your 3D photos on your DLNA 3D TV!  We're working on lenticular printing support for 3D photos and plan to have 3D lenticular printing available in late 2011 or early 2012.
• Fixes: Various bug fixes and refinements improve the overall user experience.

Mike

So when I click on a grid square, I can choose which exposure scheme is best by checking a colored square that pops up, and still use the fill on any of the choices.
Then I can move the choice of selected grid square from the sky left to sky right or dead center, or shut it off by selecting the normal check box:Right?

I am spending the rest of the week going over my old shots that were not as good as I wished for.

Thanks, Mike.

Yee Hah!

Fred

Can't update - when I click the update button it tells me that my e-mail address is not in the database.  If I try to update the registration it also gives me that message.

I apparently just needed to renew - didn't realize it had been a year.  I assume that will unlock the registration problem.  Don't know if I should have gotten notice of that first - maybe yahoo put it in my spam foder.

Fred said,
I found an image that seems to demonstrate all the features in Raw Refine, see screen shots below.

1. Image when first opened in Refine. Note that the white house has highlights that need recovery.
(http://www.pbase.com/tjm04/image/137279035/original.jpg)

2. Image with centre grid clicked to blue, no discernible change, highlight recovery still needed
(http://www.pbase.com/tjm04/image/137279036/original.jpg)

3.  Image with centre grid clicked to red, highlights recovered but contrast is low.
(http://www.pbase.com/tjm04/image/137279037/original.jpg)

4.  Image with centre grid clicked to magenta, (the new recovery with auto black level) highlights are recovered and contrast greatly improved.
(http://www.pbase.com/tjm04/image/137279038/original.jpg)

The final version is here, cropped, Tone Targeted Sharpening applied and a tad more contrast.
http://www.pbase.com/tjm04/image/137279039

That seems to be a good reason to upgrade to me, no doubt there are plenty more images that will benefit; I'm pleased that I upgraded  8)
Terry

Mel,
Time flies when you are having fun  ;D
You can update your registration here:  -
http://www.ddisoftware.com/qimage-u/purchase.htm

Terry

Yep - already did it, downloaded, and playing with the new toys.

Hi guys and gals,
It seems as though anyone that tries to update their Qimage Ultimate from the current 2011 version and whose year has expired, is getting a message that says,
" You are not in the database"

If you get such a message, just go to the Qimage web page  and click on Ultimate Purchase.
That will take you to http://www.ddisoftware.com/qimage-u/purchase.htm

If you try to get the 2012 version from the web page instead of the HELP in Qimage Ultimate, you will have no confusion at all.

Hope this helps someone!!

Fred

Just had a session with new feature on some recent shots.

I find the feature a bit subtle, I had to check a few images to get a good candidate. However, it's very quick to run through.

The image/s below is result of my efforts, ignore the sensor dirt in center sky, I think it was a large lump of horse muck (I(http://) am in polite mode today) off a new lens, I finally moved it with a paint brush :o

Image as shot Grid Ex Normal
(http://jeffmilan.zenfolio.com/img/v25/p717587305-4.jpg)

Grid Ex HL=Camera Blk Level
(http://jeffmilan.zenfolio.com/img/v18/p1062009441-4.jpg)

Grid Ex Rec HL+Auto Blk Level
(http://jeffmilan.zenfolio.com/img/v31/p973506223-4.jpg)

Final Image.
Small level adjust
Contrast +10
Sharpened on Rocks @ 3/300 85%
Shadow noise checked
Cropped to a Phi golden rectangle

Any comments - go on pull them to bits.

Jeff
(http://jeffmilan.zenfolio.com/img/v31/p364297526-4.jpg)

 

Hi Jeff,
Nice scene  :)
It very much depends on the image as you a have discovered; It seems to be very useful on images where the lighting is generally low contrast but with a hot spot that needs recovery.
On the images I've been through, it often means no contrast increase is required in the editor, just some TTS.
Your sky blotch will be easy to remove with the blemish tool.
Terry

Some example of images that benefited from the auto black level.
Just attachments of screen shots of the Comparator so the differences in real life are more marked.
Auto black level images on the right - it should be obvious!
Terry

Jeff,
I came across this on the ddi - QU web site, explanation of auto black level with an example:
http://www.ddisoftware.com/qimage-u/tech-raw.htm
Terry

 I think my camera- Pentax K20 - tends to give lowish contrast and I often increase in the Editor by 5 or 10.

 I did use the blemish tool with varied success on some of the images, it was this set of images - a lot - all with the horse much added that resulted in my feature request for some sort of cloning tool.

 Any way the new black level will be useful,  I find processing gets quicker and quicker, except that my Vista gets slower and slower and is on point of collapse.

Got to do some serious budget thinking.

Jeff 
 

   

My sensor needs cleaning again but the blemish tool works fine, a little practice is needed.
Move to W7-64 bit and a quad core PC, mine is fast  8). I also upgraded my dual core laptop to W7-64 with more memory and it's very much better.  :)
Terry

Jeff,
I took the liberty of downloading your Orkney photo and tweaking it - hope that was ok.  ::)
Removed blemish, a little curve for more contrast on the rocks and 10 on saturation.
See attached below.
Terry

Jeff was kind enough to send me the Raw image, and my liking leans toward what I attached here.
A White Balance correction using the gray rock in the foreground pepped the colors right right up.

I used grid 2,1 with the Recover Highlights and Auto Black Point selected (Magenta check box)
I used the blemish tool in Qimage Ultimate to remove the lens shmutz from the sky, and this is what I got.
I didn't crop because I felt that more sky gave a greater depth to the shot.
(PS Jeff takes wonderful pictures)

Fred

Fred sent me his files and I must say his  image is much better,  probably warmer than the actual view as I saw it, I tend to like warmer images any way.

I will be investigating further - when I have time available.

Great service this forum, much appreciated.

Jeff

I just want to clarify.
I did a White balance based on the large gray flat surface of that rock in the foreground.
Based on the overall lighting of the shot, which seems to have the same type (open shade) of light throughout, that should give a close to true white balance
It was not intentionally "warmed" because I liked it better warmer than cooler.

What did happen, and you can try it, is that *ALL* the colors jumped out at me as if I added saturation, which I did not.
Then I knew I nailed the White Balance.

In the background, there seems to be a few pieces of land in sunshine. That came alive. The water got bluer, and the sky got richer blue too.

Factoid!  When in REFINE in Qimage Ultimate, and in auto mode where Qimage Ultimate is moving the Fill light slider for you, a White Balance at times, will cause the Auto Fill to change value.
This is showing you that a proper White Balance has an effect on the image, and sometimes, is emphatic enough to brighten the whole image.


Fred