The Lightroom HDR merge option has been around for a while, so how does it work and how does it compare to a dedicated HDR tool?
Tutorials
How to change Lightroom’s default processing
The default processing for camera RAW files in Lightroom is a reasonable start but quite often you find yourself making the same adjustments time and time again for specific cameras. I get that particularly with my Fujifilm X30. It’s a few years old now and has a pretty small sensor that’s prone to noise, but […]
The power of adjustment layers and masks
Adjustment layers started out in Photoshop as a way of altering the look of an image without actually changing its pixels. It was the start of non-destructive editing. Now, adjustment layers are everywhere, not just in Photoshop, and for me they are the key to successful image enhancements. There’s a second factor, though – layer […]
Can you really take proper pictures with a smartphone?
I can understand there’s a certain amount of smartphone snobbery, but I think that’s because we associate smartphones with a certain sort of selfie-loving snapshot mentality. Smartphone cameras are actually pretty good, provided youunderstand their limitations and work within them
and put the same thought into each picture that you would with a ‘proper’ camera
How to enhance a sunset with white balance and graduated filter adjustments
Sunsets don’t always come out the way you want them to, so here’s a quick way to enhance them with a white balance adjustment and a graduated filter effect. This picture was shot using the auto white balance on a Nikon Z6 and while the colours are a pretty reasonable representation of how the scene […]
How to get great black and white in DxO PhotoLab… but you’ll need FilmPack 5
DxO PhotoLab can create superb black and white imagery, both in terms of image quality and in creative control, but you need to get the DxO FilmPack 5 Elite add-on to do it. This does make things more expensive, and it does feel a bit like you’re paying for some things that other programs offer […]
Capture One 12 Fujifilm Film Simulations: how they work
Is Capture One now the best RAW converter of all for Fujifilm owners? Phase One has added support for the Fujifilm GFX, launched a new, free Capture One Express Fujifilm app, and Capture One 12 now adds Fujifilm Film Simulation modes.
ON1 Photo RAW 2018.5 profiles and how to use them
The ON1 Photo RAW 2018.5 update brings a number of new features, including support for Profiles in the Develop module – but ON1 Photo RAW 2019 is now out so be sure to read the review if you’re considering upgrading.
The ON1 Photo RAW 2018.5 LUTs filter and why I love it
LUTs are The Next Big Thing in photo editing. They’ve been used in cinematography and video editing for some time, but now they’re hitting mainstream photo editors too, and they are a really exciting innovation. That’s why it’s such great news that there’s now a LUTs filter in ON1 Photo RAW 2018.5. Update: On1 Photo […]
How to create a single image HDR in Aurora HDR 2018 1.2
The Aurora HDR 1.2 update announced today brings a number of new features to the Windows version and speed improvements on both Mac and PC. The new version offers RAW support for a number of new cameras and is reportedly much quicker when working with both bracketed shots and single images. In fact if you […]