Highlight Recovery versus Negative exposure...

[MMarz]

....Discuss.

While applying the recovery slider removes the blown highlight indicator, it's seems that if the highlight was blown in the first place, there isn't much information there to recovery in the first place. I have better luck applying negative exposure since most of the time the blown highlight was an error in exposure on my part to begin with.

Other than what the name says, what exactly does Recovery do?

Along the same lines... I still don't REALLY understand (from a technical perspective) the difference between adjust the white and black points using exposure and Blacks sliders versus using the Tone Curve. I "see" a difference and use both, but I'd like to know why one versus the other.. It seems like I can often get the image to look as I remember/visualize it without using the tone curve..Am I missing something?

 

[dj_paige]

If your exposure is truly bad, then I would recommend you use the exposure slider. In my case, when there are highlights blown out, it isn't really because the exposure is bad, so in that case, the highlight recovery slider is a very effective way of uncovering detail in the highlights. And there's no reason why you can't use both.

Highlight recovery does exactly what the name says. It allows you to uncover detail in the highlights without having much effect on the overall exposure (I think it has a small effect on the overall exposure if you make a large adjustment to the highlight recovery slider).

You can't independently control the black and white points using the exposure slider. So if you want to control the black and white point independently, you need to use the exposure slider, the black slider (and the highlight slider).

 

[MMarz]

Thanks Paige.. sounds like I am using the sliders as intended. Any thoughts on the difference between adjust the white and black points using exposure and Blacks sliders versus using the Tone Curve?

 

[dj_paige]

The exposure, highlight and black sliders will move parts of your histogram, and thus your photo, to lighter or darker. The tone curve then gives you ability to fine-tune this, but it affects local and global contrast. The way tone curve is implemented in Lightroom (as opposed to the curves in Photoshop), you wouldn't use it to set white or dark point or overall exposure.

Martin Evening's book The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 Book has lots of good detail and examples of using the tone curve and the basic sliders.

 

[Denis de Gannes]

Are we referring to working with raw files?

 

[dj_paige]

Are we referring to working with raw files?

My explanations are in no way limited to raw files.

 

[Mark Sirota]

I think of it this way -- the tone curve works within the existing white and black point range. The white point and black point do not shift when using the tone curve, but you can adjust the brightness and contrast of tones within that range.

 

[MMarz]

The exposure, highlight and black sliders will move parts of your histogram, and thus your photo, to lighter or darker. The tone curve then gives you ability to fine-tune this, but it affects local and global contrast. The way tone curve is implemented in Lightroom (as opposed to the curves in Photoshop), you wouldn't use it to set white or dark point or overall exposure.

Martin Evening's book The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 Book has lots of good detail and examples of using the tone curve and the basic sliders.

Thanks Paige.. I have Martin's book and will review the details.

Are we referring to working with raw files?

I typically shoot RAW. Not good enough to shoot jpeg!! But my question would span the file types.

I think of it this way -- the tone curve works within the existing white and black point range. The white point and black point do not shift when using the tone curve, but you can adjust the brightness and contrast of tones within that range.

That makes perfect sense Mark, Thanks. Even more when I look at the action in the histogram when making changes.


So, how about Highlight Recovery versus Negative Exp Comp in the Basic Develop panel?

 

[dj_paige]

So, how about Highlight Recovery versus Negative Exp Comp in the Basic Develop panel?

Yes, how about it? Your question seems without context ... exactly what are you referring to? How about what?

 

[MMarz]

Yes, how about it? Your question seems without context ... exactly what are you referring to? How about what?

Maybe after I re-read your answer below, my question s addressed...

If your exposure is truly bad, then I would recommend you use the exposure slider. In my case, when there are highlights blown out, it isn't really because the exposure is bad, so in that case, the highlight recovery slider is a very effective way of uncovering detail in the highlights. And there's no reason why you can't use both.

Highlight recovery does exactly what the name says. It allows you to uncover detail in the highlights without having much effect on the overall exposure (I think it has a small effect on the overall exposure if you make a large adjustment to the highlight recovery slider).

You can't independently control the black and white points using the exposure slider. So if you want to control the black and white point independently, you need to use the exposure slider, the black slider (and the highlight slider).

If, the exposure is generally correct, but there are blown highlights (i'm thinking song bird perched on a tree with snow on it...properly exposed image, sacrificial blown highlights in the snow), just rely on the highlight recovery... is that correct?

 

[dj_paige]

If, the exposure is generally correct, but there are blown highlights (i'm thinking song bird perched on a tree with snow on it...properly exposed image, sacrificial blown highlights in the snow), just rely on the highlight recovery... is that correct?

If the overall exposure is correct, then moving the exposure slider isn't going to improve anything; most likely it will lower the appeal of the photo. So, in that case, I wouldn't touch the exposure slider. Highlight recovery seems to be the proper way to handle highlights.

 

[Mark Sirota]

Negative exposure shifts the entire histogram to the left. Highlight recovery compresses the upper end of the histogram without touching the rest of it. Play with both while watching the histogram, you'll see what I mean.