Some simple feedback required...

Hi everyone,

The following are some very early images from our recent Lake District vacation. All taken with an a99i and, most likely, a Sigma 24-70/2.8 EX DG HSM lens.

The question is fairly straightforward I hope - do you see white 'fringing' on the B&W (especially on the hill tops) and on the colour versions as well? I suspect I have overcooked the Clarity slider in LR but other views would be useful. That's about the only difference I have made in processing these compared to other files from other (non holiday) locations, so I'm assuming that's where the 'fault' (if there is one) lies?

Basic processing is performed in LR initially and a 'TIFF' file saved; this is then further refined (very minor adjustments and sharpening for end use - Sharpening is very, very slight in terms of settings applied) performed in PS Classic (CC version on-line). I've never been aware of this before and I am looking at these on my works monitor which is clearly not the one I do my work on, so perhaps this is where this is arising from.

Files for the forum are also stored on Flickr - I have sen that this can also introduce some artifact elements as well?

Feedback/suggestions/commiseration all thankfully received....









Thanks for the attention and best regards, Neil.

Hi Peter,

This is exactly how the RAW file starts out:



The RAW files are quite 'thin' and do need some management to bring out the depth seen on the day - suspect I've overcooked it.... Still - that;s the beauty of RAW files!

Thanks and best regards, Neil.

Hi Neil, even in that unprocessed raw one I see a little white fringe and blowing it up (600%) confirms it:



It seems the sharpening (increase of acutance) of the edge is quite strong and as soon as that's happening my idea would be that any further "cooking" will just enhance it to the point you find it a bit disturbing.

So maybe the way to avoid it is dial down the (default) sharpening that's happening to the file early on in the process and in that way avoid exaggerating the fringe as you process the file further.

Hope this helps.

Thanks, folks - I think this really helps me go back and rejudge what to do to get the most from these.

Rather irritatingly, the 'look' in the first B&W image is exactly what I was looking for for the final file so the fringing has rather 'upset the apple cart' in that respect. Paul - there are a few more like this to come once I master this issue!

Interestingly, I do not see this level of 'fringing', even on the final file, on my MacBook with Retina display - it seems to be further exaggerated once it get's out into the big bad world.

However, one other aspect that, perhaps, disturbs me more than this, and it's that I have recently had some major bouts of laser eye treatment ('Non-proliferative peripheral Diabetic retinopathy') and, whilst it has been very successful, I am currently more aware of small issues with my sight and, perhaps, I need to think more about what screen etc. I do this processing on so I can perhaps judge these types of effects more clearly.

Too much to think about perhaps but the advice has, indeed, been very useful and positive and thanks for all your advice and thoughts - it's what makes this such a special place.

Best regards, Neil.

Neil, You asked for
      "Feedback/suggestions/commiseration all thankfully received...."
Sorry, but the best I can offer is commiserations...

I went through a mountain of grief with basically the same problem. I eventually concluded that a version upgrade had made my sharpening defaults problematic. (However I use DxO so I wouldn't expect that your problem is identical.) The infuriating thing was that it only became obvious towards the end of my workflow when some Nik Colour FX tools (microcontrast?) made it much, much worse.

In summary, commiserations & best of luck.

Here's a good tutorial about getting rid of halos and fringing like this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Slkj-Xz4nHM&t=210s

Hi, I like your pictures!
If you plan to print them larger as 100cm poster you should worry about this 'problem' of fringe. If used digital or for smaller print, I think it is not a worry at all!