D70 custom curves test

Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2005 9:15 am

I've been messing around lately with various custom curves for the D70. I did a little test a few nights ago, by applying different curves to the same picture, thought that others might be interested in seeing my results:

http://rebeccavt.smugmug.com/gallery/475590

The first photo, labeled "Vivid" is directly out of the camera shot in vivid mode. The rest are labeled with the curve that was applied. Of course, this is just one photo, and all photos are different, so take this for what it is worth.

The only problem is that I can't remember where I got all of the curves, LOL. The fotogenic ones are from the Fotogenic website, but I need to go back and figure out where I got the rest. I'll be adding web addy's once I get them all figured out.

Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2005 10:15 am

I'm assuming you're using the curves in camera? From what I understand, but haven't tried, is that if you shoot RAW and use a custom curve in camera that you lose that curve when you convert it in post processing. So you would have to shoot jpg or apply the curve in post, which isn't the same as doing it in camera.

Have you tried this or had any experience with it? I'd like to use a curve in camera, but there's no point if I'm going to lose the effect because I always shoot in RAW.

Great work, by the way. Thanks.

Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2005 10:41 am

Quote:

is that if you shoot RAW and use a custom curve in camera that you lose that curve when you convert it in post processing.

Yes and no :)

I always shoot in RAW, and I use Nikon Capture for doing RAW editing. If I use any custom settings in the camera (sharpening, custom curves, ect.) those settings *will* be applied to the RAW file when I open the shot up in Capture.

However, if I take that same shot, and open it in Adobe Camera Raw, those custom settings will not be applied.

Nikon Capture will also allow you change those custom settings on the raw file after the fact. For example, if I have the camera set to high sharpening with a custom curve. Those settings will be applied to the RAW file when I upload the shot into Capture. But, if I don't like those settings, I can change the sharpening to Low (or whatever), and I can undo the custom curve and change it to one of the camera's normal settings (ie., low contrast, normal, med. high, or high contrast). Nikon Capture will also let you apply different custom curves that you have saved on your hard drive.

For this particular test, what I did was take one shot on the "vivid" setting with "normal" contrast. I saved that shot as a JPEG. I used Nikon Capture to apply the first custom curve, saved that as a JPEG. Then I undid the first custom curve, applied the next one, and saved that. And I repeated this process for each curve.

Of course, if you can do it this way, then there is no need to use custom curves in the camera, since they can be applied after the fact. However, if there is a curve you find yourself using more then others, it will minimize post processing time. I'm finding that I really like the s_bright_2 or the s_bright_3 curves myself, because the results are subtle, but it helps to brighten up the midtones (which can be kind of muddy on the D70). So I keep the camera set on one of those for most of my general shooting. If I dont' like the results, then I just change it in Capture afterwards.

Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 8:58 pm

Well that makes me feel a little better.

I guess the best if I want to use a custom curve in the camera is to use Nikon Capture for the RAW conversion then import it to PS. I've been meaning to look at and try some in camera curves. I'll be sure to try out the ones you mentioned.

Thanks Rebecca.

Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 9:11 pm

JP, I really prefer Nikon Capture for processing my RAW files, even when I'm not using custom curves. I think it gives me much more control over the image then Adobe RAW.

Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2005 12:10 am

Not sure why I hadn't really tried out Nikon Capture. I already had it on my computer. It is a really nice program, I like the file browser system it has and it does a good job on B&W conversions too.

Thanks for reminding me about it!