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Author Topic: Merging images in PS and LR  (Read 9101 times)

Bart_van_der_Wolf

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Re: Merging images in PS and LR
« Reply #20 on: January 03, 2016, 11:05:12 am »

What do you do when you encounter a series that LR/PS refuse to merge?

PTGUI to the rescue, and that also uses better interpolation quality for the required warping, and it can do a lot of complicated stuff more effectively. It is also better when the individual shots have Chromatic aberrations.

Cheers,
Bart
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== If you do what you did, you'll get what you got. ==

alainbriot

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Re: Merging images in PS and LR
« Reply #21 on: January 03, 2016, 11:09:49 am »

Regardless of the subject content I personally think that's one terrific image of Badwater, so I'm glad the article was there.

The use of the term collage is probably incorrect (to me a collage is a completely different animal and something i never do) , but then Alain is French so I'll cut him some slack.  I knew what he meant.

Thank you Wayne.  It is a once in a lifetime image. 

Regarding my use of 'collage' the word, in French and to me in this context, means 'assembling elements.'  This can be done by gluing them together physically, as in Matisse's collages, which is the most widely accepted meaning of the term.  However it does not need to be limited to this.  My approach is to adapt the use of the word to a digital environment by applying it to the assembly of digital captures.  Besides finding this actualization of the word appropriate to my needs, I also find it inspirational because, as I mention in the essay, the use of artistic words leads me to focus my efforts on art while the use of technical words leads me to focus them on technique.
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Alain Briot
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Peter McLennan

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Re: Merging images in PS and LR
« Reply #22 on: January 03, 2016, 11:50:34 am »

In part, it's not Alain's fault the piece is a little elementary.  There's not much to say. I blame the limited progress of Adobe's Photomerge function over the years.  While some improvements are noticeable, it's basically unchanged since it was first introduced.  Given the importance of both stitching and focus stacking in today's photographic world, we'd be better served by Adobe if they offered improved performance in these modules.  In particular, more user control over the process.

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amolitor

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Re: Merging images in PS and LR
« Reply #23 on: January 03, 2016, 11:50:40 am »

I do respect the artistic process, Alain, and I know it can be strange. If you wanted to call it catgut, or vodka, so be it. My process includes any number of peculiar rituals.

There is a distinction between the words we use to think with, where we all use a private vocabulary, and words we use to communicate with others. I am happy to stipulate that I didn't understand how you were using the word in your piece. I see now that it is more private vocabulary, to guide internal thought, than it is external.

That clarifies things. Thank you.
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amolitor

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Re: Merging images in PS and LR
« Reply #24 on: January 03, 2016, 11:57:29 am »

I don't even believe in "levels" for photography. There are too many dimensions to it for 'level' to make sense. There are simply topics about which each of us knows more or less, skills we have a better or worse grasp of. Some of the best photographers have had very narrow knowledge and skill, and some of the worst seem to know everything about everything.

I did use the word "beginner" above, I think, but hesitated. The phrase "newcomer to the use of software for creating panoramas" was clumsy, I was on my phone, and it didn't seem to be an important distinction in context. My bad for contributing to that.
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AreBee

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Re: Merging images in PS and LR
« Reply #25 on: January 03, 2016, 12:07:40 pm »

Bart,

Quote
PTGUI to the rescue...

Exactly.
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alainbriot

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Re: Merging images in PS and LR
« Reply #26 on: January 03, 2016, 12:19:26 pm »

There is a distinction between the words we use to think with, where we all use a private vocabulary, and words we use to communicate with others. I am happy to stipulate that I didn't understand how you were using the word in your piece. I see now that it is more private vocabulary, to guide internal thought, than it is external.

That clarifies things. Thank you.

Good point.  The goal of the essay was to describe how I created this particular piece, but I do see the need for an essay that talks about how I approach art from a personal perspective.  The why, not the how.  Why I do what I do rather than how I do what I do.
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Alain Briot
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Paulo Bizarro

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Re: Merging images in PS and LR
« Reply #27 on: January 04, 2016, 05:12:59 am »

Is anyone else as baffled as I at Alan's latest?

He written some pretty serious pieces at times, but lately he wants to tell us about his to use basic features of various tools in remarkably unsophisticated, a cynic might even say naive, ways.

I actually found the piece refreshing... meaning that it was nice to see a piece from such an accomplished photographer that goes back to basics, so to speak. At least, it makes me want to try LR photomerge, as for years I have been using Panorama Factory (which is very good), but LR fits seamlessly in my workflow.

ErikKaffehr

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Re: Merging images in PS and LR
« Reply #28 on: January 04, 2016, 11:39:30 am »

Well I have a great respect for Alain. Regarding the Pano Merge in Lightroom it actually works very well. I feel it is reasonable to test it first as it actually keeps the files in DNG (whatever it now means). If it doesn't work my way I go Autopano Pro.

The HDR merge in Lightroom is really great, far better than anything I tried. Now, I hear someone whispering SNS-HDR, and that is indeed a very good program, but it is Windows only, and I am not the kind of person who walks over the river to find some water. Also, HDR merge in LR is a DNG solution which I appreciate.

I wouldn't think either Pano or HDR merge produces a real raw file, but some kind of linear DNG but I still feel pretty comfortable with the files.

To put it short, I appreciate Simplicity as long as she make a great work.

Best regards
Erik


I think this is really harsh...if you don't like the article, fine, say so. But to attach a demeaning series of descriptions is useless.

Point in fact, it was during this trip that I convinced Alain to try the Pano merge in Lightroom and he was quite surprised at how good it was. So, for him it was a revelation which prompted an enthusiastic article.

BTW, not for nothing but his name ain't Alan...he's French. His name is Alain...kinda another sing of a lack of respect huh?
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kencameron

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Re: Merging images in PS and LR
« Reply #29 on: January 13, 2016, 03:34:46 pm »

...the use of Warp function to correct panoramas and the use of Image Size function to reshape the image,,,
I learned about the first of these from Schewe and/or Reichman somewhere in the (excellent) Camera to Print and Screen video series. I have also found the warp tool useful for correcting distortion in fisheye and ultrawide lenses. Reshaping panos is always tempting because compared to reality they often look excessively long and skinny but there is a price to be paid in sharpness.  The Alain Briot article was a good illustration of the use of specialised tools for artistic purposes, because the photograph was interesting in itself rather than just being a vehicle for technical talk. The panorama function in Lightroom usually works very well with limited numbers of images although it gives me occasional random failures to stitch. For anyone bumping up against its limitations, PtGui and AutoPano Pro are both excellent if you can afford them, Hugin is a good open source alternative, and for Windows users Microsoft ICE is, imo, an excellent free program, a bit of a sleeper from Microsoft.
« Last Edit: January 13, 2016, 05:01:52 pm by kencameron »
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Ken Cameron

Isaac

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Re: Merging images in PS and LR
« Reply #30 on: January 14, 2016, 12:24:58 pm »

… doesn't do raw or stitch 16bit TIFFs into a 16bit TIFF panorama.

What makes you think that?


"… ICE can read many of the camera raw formats produced by various digital SLR cameras and other high-end cameras."


Quote
---- ExifTool ----
ExifTool Version Number         : 10.09
---- System ----

File Size                       : 268 MB

---- File ----
File Type                       : TIFF
File Type Extension             : tif
MIME Type                       : image/tiff

---- IFD0 ----
Subfile Type                    : Full-resolution Image
Image Width                     : 11181
Image Height                    : 6752
Bits Per Sample                 : 16 16 16
Compression                     : LZW

Software                        : Microsoft ICE v2.0.3.0
« Last Edit: January 14, 2016, 12:55:31 pm by Isaac »
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kencameron

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Re: Merging images in PS and LR
« Reply #31 on: January 15, 2016, 05:05:01 pm »

My only complaint about ICE is that it doesn't do raw or stitch 16bit TIFFs into a 16bit TIFF panorama. Actually, if it just did 16bit TIFFs properly, I might not even both with stitching in ACR/LR!


Just checked this. It certainly accepts 16 bit TIFFs exported from Lightroom. Don't know how to tell if the resulting pano is also 16 bit. Advice on that welcome - Isaac's post seems relevant  but I am not sure how to get the data he shows.


Always worked fine with my Sony, Olympus and Ricoh raw files on Windows 7 - needed to update the codecs (see the link in Isaac's post) to make it work on Windows 10, which it now does, very well.



« Last Edit: January 16, 2016, 03:17:00 am by kencameron »
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Ken Cameron

Isaac

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Re: Merging images in PS and LR
« Reply #32 on: January 15, 2016, 05:25:05 pm »

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kencameron

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Re: Merging images in PS and LR
« Reply #33 on: January 16, 2016, 04:55:12 am »

fyi ExifTool
Thanks. Great tool. Confirms that my ICE tiff exports are 16 bit.
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Ken Cameron
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