DXO Clearview technique vs. adjusting color and contrast in LAB space?

rrstuff · 11-26-2014, 04:52 PM

Hi,

I am looking through the DXO deals and I stumbled upon their Clearview feature. Does it work any differently than adjusting color in a,b channels in LAB space and perhaps adjusting unsharp mask? It seems similar, but I am wondering if they are doing anything more clever and if the results are visibly better.

I would appreciate if you could weigh in, if you happened to have used both techniques...

**Digitalis** · 11-26-2014, 05:25 PM

I frequently use luminosity layers to tweak tones and details in an image, the channel mixer is a useful tool for this.

rrstuff · 11-26-2014, 05:27 PM

Originally posted by Digitalis

I frequently use luminosity layers to tweak tones and details in an image, the channel mixer is a useful tool for this.

Thanks. Did you see the clearview technique from DXO?

They say it removes haze, but results look quite similar to what you would expect with tweakin LAB space:
ClearView | www.dxo.com

Or is it just me?

**Digitalis** · 11-26-2014, 05:30 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by rrstuff

They say it removes haze, but results look quite similar to what you would expect with tweakin LAB space:

yes, that is my impression from the sample images they have posted.

Na Horuk · 11-26-2014, 05:36 PM

Could you two go into a little more detail, please? I quite like the result, but dont know how to achieve it with LR and PS, at least not without painting in exposure compensation

rrstuff · 11-26-2014, 05:43 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Na Horuk

Could you two go into a little more detail, please? I quite like the result, but dont know how to achieve it with LR and PS, at least not without painting in exposure compensation

I think it will be easier to link this:
How to Use LAB Color in Photoshop to Add Punch to Your Images

It separates luminosity from color saturation. It is very easy to fix color casts and increase color saturation in a chosen part of a histogram.

**Mikesul** · 11-26-2014, 07:18 PM

The replies have been very interesting but has anyone been able to try The DxO product to see how well it works?

**GUB** · 11-27-2014, 12:20 AM

Originally posted by rrstuff

I think it will be easier to link this:
How to Use LAB Color in Photoshop to Add Punch to Your Images

It separates luminosity from color saturation. It is very easy to fix color casts and increase color saturation in a chosen part of a histogram.

Hey thanks for that link.
I have just been doing the colour curve thing up to now and having been looking for this technique.
I use Gimp and I think I have got it sorted on that now:.
Duplicate layer
Highlight Dup lyer
Colour/components/decompose/LAB
Do curve adjustments as per article
Click on base layer to see result
Layer opacity is there if you need it.

Gimp users out there have I got it right?

sTi · 11-27-2014, 07:47 AM

From what they write and the screenshots, Clearview looks like a selective local contrast adjustment process, i.e. they analyze the "haziness" of the image areas and increase the local contrast (similar to "clarity" slider) of the haziest parts while leaving alone the non-hazy parts (because increasing their local contrast would make the image look too fake-HDR like).
The simple LAB adjustment mentioned has nothing to do with this. It's used to adjust the global contrast of the image and would screw up the non-hazy image parts in this case (i.e. make them too contrasty).
I haven't tried this Clearview stuff from DxO, but I'd expect it to work great on some hand-picked pictures and not-so-great on a lot of others, depending how closely they resemble the idealized conditions for which this tool was created...

**Mikesul** · 11-27-2014, 08:36 AM

Originally posted by sTi

From what they write and the screenshots, Clearview looks like a selective local contrast adjustment process, i.e. they analyze the "haziness" of the image areas and increase the local contrast (similar to "clarity" slider) of the haziest parts while leaving alone the non-hazy parts (because increasing their local contrast would make the image look too fake-HDR like).
The simple LAB adjustment mentioned has nothing to do with this. It's used to adjust the global contrast of the image and would screw up the non-hazy image parts in this case (i.e. make them too contrasty).
I haven't tried this Clearview stuff from DxO, but I'd expect it to work great on some hand-picked pictures and not-so-great on a lot of others, depending how closely they resemble the idealized conditions for which this tool was created...

Thanks for your thoughts on this. It clarified a lot No pun intended!

MPrince · 11-29-2014, 06:57 AM

Originally posted by Mikesul

The replies have been very interesting but has anyone been able to try The DxO product to see how well it works?

Clearview works well, but does have one drawback. It darkens shadow areas, so you have to take an extra step after using Clearview and lighten the shadows.

11-26-2014, 04:52 PM	#1
rrstuff Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Pasadena, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,126	DXO Clearview technique vs. adjusting color and contrast in LAB space? Hi, I am looking through the DXO deals and I stumbled upon their Clearview feature. Does it work any differently than adjusting color in a,b channels in LAB space and perhaps adjusting unsharp mask? It seems similar, but I am wondering if they are doing anything more clever and if the results are visibly better. I would appreciate if you could weigh in, if you happened to have used both techniques...

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11-26-2014, 05:25 PM	#2
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	I frequently use luminosity layers to tweak tones and details in an image, the channel mixer is a useful tool for this.

11-26-2014, 05:27 PM	#3
rrstuff Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Pasadena, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,126 Original Poster	Originally posted by Digitalis I frequently use luminosity layers to tweak tones and details in an image, the channel mixer is a useful tool for this. Thanks. Did you see the clearview technique from DXO? They say it removes haze, but results look quite similar to what you would expect with tweakin LAB space: ClearView \| www.dxo.com Or is it just me?

11-26-2014, 05:30 PM - 1 Like	#4
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	Originally posted by rrstuff They say it removes haze, but results look quite similar to what you would expect with tweakin LAB space: yes, that is my impression from the sample images they have posted.

11-26-2014, 05:36 PM	#5
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	Could you two go into a little more detail, please? I quite like the result, but dont know how to achieve it with LR and PS, at least not without painting in exposure compensation

11-26-2014, 05:43 PM - 1 Like	#6
rrstuff Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Pasadena, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,126 Original Poster	Originally posted by Na Horuk Could you two go into a little more detail, please? I quite like the result, but dont know how to achieve it with LR and PS, at least not without painting in exposure compensation I think it will be easier to link this: How to Use LAB Color in Photoshop to Add Punch to Your Images It separates luminosity from color saturation. It is very easy to fix color casts and increase color saturation in a chosen part of a histogram.

11-26-2014, 07:18 PM	#7
Mikesul Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 7,594	The replies have been very interesting but has anyone been able to try The DxO product to see how well it works?

11-27-2014, 12:20 AM	#8
GUB Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Wanganui Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,760	Originally posted by rrstuff I think it will be easier to link this: How to Use LAB Color in Photoshop to Add Punch to Your Images It separates luminosity from color saturation. It is very easy to fix color casts and increase color saturation in a chosen part of a histogram. Hey thanks for that link. I have just been doing the colour curve thing up to now and having been looking for this technique. I use Gimp and I think I have got it sorted on that now:. Duplicate layer Highlight Dup lyer Colour/components/decompose/LAB Do curve adjustments as per article Click on base layer to see result Layer opacity is there if you need it. Gimp users out there have I got it right?

11-27-2014, 07:47 AM	#9
sTi Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 98	From what they write and the screenshots, Clearview looks like a selective local contrast adjustment process, i.e. they analyze the "haziness" of the image areas and increase the local contrast (similar to "clarity" slider) of the haziest parts while leaving alone the non-hazy parts (because increasing their local contrast would make the image look too fake-HDR like). The simple LAB adjustment mentioned has nothing to do with this. It's used to adjust the global contrast of the image and would screw up the non-hazy image parts in this case (i.e. make them too contrasty). I haven't tried this Clearview stuff from DxO, but I'd expect it to work great on some hand-picked pictures and not-so-great on a lot of others, depending how closely they resemble the idealized conditions for which this tool was created...

11-27-2014, 08:36 AM	#10
Mikesul Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 7,594	Originally posted by sTi From what they write and the screenshots, Clearview looks like a selective local contrast adjustment process, i.e. they analyze the "haziness" of the image areas and increase the local contrast (similar to "clarity" slider) of the haziest parts while leaving alone the non-hazy parts (because increasing their local contrast would make the image look too fake-HDR like). The simple LAB adjustment mentioned has nothing to do with this. It's used to adjust the global contrast of the image and would screw up the non-hazy image parts in this case (i.e. make them too contrasty). I haven't tried this Clearview stuff from DxO, but I'd expect it to work great on some hand-picked pictures and not-so-great on a lot of others, depending how closely they resemble the idealized conditions for which this tool was created... Thanks for your thoughts on this. It clarified a lot No pun intended!

11-29-2014, 06:57 AM	#11
MPrince Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: WV Posts: 1,495	Originally posted by Mikesul The replies have been very interesting but has anyone been able to try The DxO product to see how well it works? Clearview works well, but does have one drawback. It darkens shadow areas, so you have to take an extra step after using Clearview and lighten the shadows.