Amazing Highlight Recovery with Capture One Pro 7

November 29, 2012 by 3 Comments

In Capture One Pro 7, we have introduced a new processing engine improving the image quality on a number of different parameters such as the way the software now deals with extreme highlights and data close to being clipped.

These aspects have been dramatically improved and now have:

  • Larger range for how much overexposure that can be recovered
  • Color precision is greatly improved in recovered areas
  • Much smoother transition to clipped data
  • More detail in the highlight areas

JPG                                                                Capture One Pro 6                                Capture One Pro 7

The image above shows three different versions of the same shot. The left side image is the JPG that was generated in the camera. The center image is the result of recovering highlights in the raw file using Capture One Pro 6. The image to the right is the same raw file but now processed in Capture One Pro 7.

Using Capture One Pro 7 it was possible to recover almost all the detail and color tones in the overexposed areas of the swan by using only the Highlight slider in the High Dynamic Range tool.

Visit the blog to see more examples of the improved ability to recover highlights

Below is another example of the new and improved processing engine’s ability to recover color and detail by using Capture One Pro 7 on a raw landscape image.

JPG                                                                Capture One Pro 6                                 Capture One Pro 7

With the JPG file, it is not possible to recover any color and detail in the sky. By processing the raw file in Capture One Pro 6, you can recover most of the sky, but the color information is wrong and the missing color information will show with hard transitions. With Capture One Pro 7 however, it is possible to recover both the detail in the clouds and the color of the blue sky in a natural and pleasing way.

For both raw files, the High Dynamic Range tool was used to recover the highlight detail. Some global saturation was also added.

When shooting landscape images using natural light, it can sometimes be quite challenging to control the highlights as you cannot control the light source. And even when you can control the light, you may still need the ability to recover highlights.

Many of us have tried shooting a portrait in the studio only to misadjust the flash just as the expression was just perfect, like in the example below.

Raw file – way overexposed                                                     Capture One Pro 6 recovery

This image is totally overexposed due to a human error with the flash and even though Capture One Pro 6 can recover a majority of the image, it will still require many hours of retouching to save it.

However, with Capture One Pro 7 it is possible to recover all the highlight detail.  The image above has only been adjusted by using the Exposure tool globally as well as the Exposure tool in a Local Adjustments mask in Capture One Pro 7.

All the best,

Niels

Filed under Capture One Tips & Tricks, Capture One Workflow Tagged with , , , , , , , ,

New processing engine for a huge step up in image quality

November 8, 2012 by 10 Comments

Capture One Pro 7 comes with a whole new processing engine that will improve the image quality of your captures compared to using Capture One 6 on a number of parameters:

  • More precise definition of fine detail
  • Highly improved recovery of detail and color near data clipping in the highlights
  • Much stronger ability to recover both deep shadow detail and highlight detail within the same image
  • Highly improved noise reduction especially for high ISO images
  • New Clarity tool for boosting landscape images or enhancing skin tones in portraits
  • More precise and flexible Local Adjustments tool.

Capture One Pro 7 has the ability to render all those images you have already worked on in Capture One 6 exactly as they were processed in Capture One 6 but you can also have them upgraded and rendered using the new processing engine.

Left image is the raw file without any adjustments. Center image has been optimized in Capture One 6.  Right image has been optimized in Capture One Pro 7 with the new optimized High Dynamic Range tool and the Clarity tool.  Notice how much more detail Capture One Pro 7 has pulled out of the dark foreground and the more dramatic sky.
 

When working in a Session, you can simply browse to any folder with images.  If the images have already been rendered in Capture One 6, then Capture One Pro 7 will render them exactly like version 6. In the Color Tool Tab in the Base Characteristics Tool we have added the version number of the processing engine.

The Base Characteristics tool.  Here you can see the current processing engine being used for the selected image. You will also see an upgrade button that will upgrade the processing engine to version 7 and convert all settings to Capture One Pro 7 settings.
 

If you work in a Catalog, you need to import your images.  If you have already worked on the images in Capture One 6 and you want to import them to Capture One Pro 7 with all the existing adjustments then choose “Use Existing Adjustments” in the Importer tool as shown below.

The Importer tool.  Choose “Include Existing Adjustments” to ensure that the images will be rendered exactly like as when they were adjusted in version 6.
 

All new images will be rendered using the Capture One 7 engine by default.  This is also the case if you create a new variant of an image using the version 6 engine.  A new variant can be created by right clicking on the thumbnail of the image and selecting “New Variant”

Upgrading an image from version 6 to version 7:

If you work on images with adjustments from Capture One 6, you can upgrade the processing engine to Capture One Pro 7. In the base characteristics tool, you will also find the “Upgrade” button that will upgrade all your selected images.

Not all image adjustments can be 100% transformed to the new version 7 engine.  When you upgrade an image the different settings will be converted to create an image that comes as close as possible to the look you had created using the version 6 engine. However, as some of the tools have been improved from version 6 to version 7, it may not be possible to create a 100% match.

Please note that you cannot “undo” an upgrade so if you want to make sure not to lose a special look created with the Capture One 6 engine you can:

  1. Clone the variant. This will give you a virtual copy with exact the same settings and including the processing engine version.
  2. Then upgrade the new variant leaving you with two variants of the image based on the two different processing engines.

You can then compare the quality of the version 6 processing engine with the version 7 processing engine side by side and fine-tune the upgraded version if needed. It won’t take long until you’ll notice the great improvements in the new processing engine.

As mentioned, not all adjustments from version 6 can be converted to a 100% match in version 7 as many tools have been improved. The improved adjustment tools are:

  • Contrast from the Exposure tool
  • Highlight and shadow from the High Dynamic Range tool
  • Clarity settings
  • The noise reduction parameters in the Noise and Advanced Noise tool.

All the best,

Niels,

You can download the free 60 days trial of Capture One Pro 7 here

You can learn more about Capture One Pro 7 here

Filed under Capture One Tips & Tricks, Capture One Workflow Tagged with , , ,

Introducing Capture One Pro 7 – The Professional Choice in Imaging Software

October 25, 2012 by 9 Comments

Capture One Pro 7

We’re proud to introduce Capture One Pro 7 – your new digital assistant with the power to bring about an image quality revolution.

Based on a new groundbreaking image processing engine, Capture One Pro 7 renders precise colors and incredible detail. It contains support for leading high-end cameras, flexible photo management, all the essential adjustment tools and performance in one customizable solution.

Capture One Pro 7 supports you with infinite possibilities to organize, adjust, and showcase your work. Go with the professional solution to help you and your photography excel.

Stay tuned for new and inspiring Capture One Pro 7 tips & tricks here on the Image Quality Professor’s blog

Learn more about Capture One Pro 7

Download the free 60 days trial

Filed under Capture One Tips & Tricks Tagged with , ,

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