Post processing Monochrom files

[Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS]

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Guy's

Is there a special nack to post processing Leica Monochrom files say compaired to Leica M (240) files.

I am sure that Nik software SEP works great but what about curves in Lightroom or using camera raw.............just digging to see what everyone who has the MM uses

Thanks in advance

[Jay B]

I find that I use LR 95% of the time.

I personally am not generally after a "film" look, so SEP is of marginal use.

Every once in a while I'll need something in PS, stitching for example.

 

But I find if you are correct with your exposure, the files from the MM are easily and quickly dealt with in LR.

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[john neal]

Michael Toye has a blog (The Stormtroopers Are Coming!) where he explains some of his methods - look back to Sept 2013 or thereabouts.

 

I have been discussing "snap" in Monochrom shots with him as I feel that mine are lacking. Interesting that he uses Photoshop rather than LR - he feels ACR is a better place to start.

 

I'm still trying....

[250swb]

SEP has some film presets and a slider to add grain, that's it, otherwise it has nothing to do with emulating film.

 

A lot of adjustments can be done in Lightroom, but SEP is just a bit more sophisticated and B&W oriented than Lightroom, but if you don't need the control you don't need to use it.

 

I have been discussing "snap" in Monochrom shots with him as I feel that mine are lacking. Interesting that he uses Photoshop rather than LR - he feels ACR is a better place to start

If I understand you correctly that could be achieved with 'Structure' in SEP. You are able to adjust the micro contrast of Highlight, Mid, and Shadow separately, overcoming the intrinsically flat nature of MM files. 'Structure' is very similar to 'Clarity' in ACR except with more control.

 

 

Steve

Edited July 10, 2014 by 250swb

[Luke_Miller]

Michael Toye has a blog (The Stormtroopers Are Coming!) where he explains some of his methods - look back to Sept 2013 or thereabouts.

 

I have been discussing "snap" in Monochrom shots with him as I feel that mine are lacking. Interesting that he uses Photoshop rather than LR - he feels ACR is a better place to start.

 

I have always liked Michael's MM shots and have adopted some of his processing techniques. He uses layers extensively, hence Photoshop vice Lightroom. My impression is that he does as little as possible in ACR, starting in Photoshop with the DNG pretty much as it came from the camera.

 

Most of the time I am satisfied with what I can achieve with Lightroom and SEP. But some images call out for more and then I send them to Photoshop for my version of one of Michael's techniques.

[jaapv]

Guy's

Is there a special nack to post processing Leica Monochrom files say compaired to Leica M (240) files.

I am sure that Nik software SEP works great but what about curves in Lightroom or using camera raw.............just digging to see what everyone who has the MM uses

Thanks in advance

Whatever you do, stay away from the clarity and sharpening sliders....

[Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS]

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Whatever you do, stay away from the clarity and sharpening sliders....

Thanks mate.............I have used them for Birds but as a norm I dont use them, infact I am trying to get it done correctly in camera so that little post processing is done.

[250swb]

?.. I am trying to get it done correctly in camera so that little post processing is done.

 

I think doing it correctly is doing it in the right part of the workflow, just like developing the film before you attempt to print it is better than wondering how the film cassette fits into the enlarger. And the MM isn't much different, the files respond better to post processing than in-camera processing. When the camera was released many people were totally underwhelmed by the JPEGS and .dng's they saw from the MM,..... until they saw the power of the post processed .dng.

 

Steve

[Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS]

I think doing it correctly is doing it in the right part of the workflow, just like developing the film before you attempt to print it is better than wondering how the film cassette fits into the enlarger. And the MM isn't much different, the files respond better to post processing than in-camera processing. When the camera was released many people were totally underwhelmed by the JPEGS and .dng's they saw from the MM,..... until they saw the power of the post processed .dng.

 

Steve

Steve what I meant to say was getting the exposure correct that was there should be very little needed to make trhe files pop

[MichaelToye]

I am happy if a few people profit for my way of processing MM files, but I do recognise that my LR skills are less than impressive.

 

The ability to vary opacity on many layers is what works for me in PS for MM files. Example, higher structure in people works more effectively than in asphalt and concrete paving, so masking and layering is working well for me.

[250swb]

The ability to vary opacity on many layers is what works for me in PS for MM files. Example, higher structure in people works more effectively than in asphalt and concrete paving, so masking and layering is working well for me.

 

I know what you mean, selective use of structure can bring things forward into prominence without making the whole image too busy and harsh.

 

In SEP the 'control point' tool allows multiple selective manipulation of areas within the image, including structure/clarity. In fact the whole format of SEP works as Layers so Photoshop isn't necessarily needed, although I still use many Photoshop tools to finish the image off. It is certainly quicker than working with Photoshop Layers, and has tools that in themselves simplify quite complicated actions in PS.

 

So processing an MM file can be done in many ways, and I combine PS and SEP, but I think a lot of people miss the point about SEP and don't quite realise that the things it makes look easy are the things that would take a PS expert some time to achieve, so to have it running in Lightroom greatly enhances the power of the package.

 

Steve

[jaapv]

Thanks mate.............I have used them for Birds but as a norm I dont use them, infact I am trying to get it done correctly in camera so that little post processing is done.

So you like sharp Birds...

[platypus]

Neil, this is something you really have to work out for yourself, with quite a bit of trial and some error you will sooner or later discover the way you prefer your b&w images to look and how to get them that way.

Taste in post processing is quite a personal thing, if you look at the b&w pp results of a group of photographers you will see that each has their own preference and subtlely different look.

For instance (personally) I don't agree with Jaapv about use of the Clarity slider in LR as I find MM files quite flat straight out of the camera, even with a red filter attached to the lens.

Edited July 12, 2014 by platypus
no real reason

[Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS]

So you like sharp Birds...

Very much so:p

[jaapv]

Neil, this is something you really have to work out for yourself, with quite a bit of trial and some error you will sooner or later discover the way you prefer your b&w images to look and how to get them that way.

Taste in post processing is quite a personal thing, if you look at the b&w pp results of a group of photographers you will see that each has their own preference and subtlely different look.

For instance (personally) I don't agree with Jaapv about use of the Clarity slider in LR as I find MM files quite flat straight out of the camera, even with a red filter attached to the lens.

 

The problem with the clarity slider is that it will produce large diffused halos over contrast transitions unless used with extreme caution.

There are other, less destructive ways to enhance the presence of the image, which is indeed a bit flat straight out of the camera. (Like adjusting the curve or using Silver Efex Pro).

[250swb]

Yet in SEP you can adjust clarity locally, unlike in ACR, and can also globally adjust it each for Highlight, Mid Tone, and Shadows which gives far more control over halo's.

 

It is one of the key things that starts to give a film look without the grain, add a small to medium amount of + Mid Tone structure/clarity, slightly less + Shadow, and don't touch the Highlight slider, indeed it can go into the negative to further soften highlight's as they transition into mid tones. Then add some + Soft Contrast to take away the digital look. This way you get some nice punchy mid tones but with smooth transitions into highlight and shadow. Should any Highlight or shadow area need some more local structure/clarity a Control Point can be used to adjust only that tone or area, so if you have clouds that have turned too soft in getting the mid tones and shadows right you can bring them back to looking how you want them.

 

Steve

[Jeff S]

LR does indeed provide for local clarity adjustment (and about a dozen other parameters), using three tools...the adjustment brush, the graduated filter or the radial filter. Maybe not as precise or flexible as SEP, but some folks just don't know or care about all the many improvements to LR since early iterations.

 

Jeff

Edited July 12, 2014 by Jeff S