Workflow For HDR/Pixel Shift Photos on K-1

cesarfishman · 01-06-2017, 04:44 PM

Hi Everyone,

I'm wondering if I'm missing something. When I take an HDR or Pixel Shift photo on my K-1 and then upload to Lightroom, I just get the RAW file without the Pixel Shift or HDR effect.

How do you deal with this? Can I only take those pictures in JPG mode? Can I only manipulate those photos on the bundled Pentax software?

If I can only use the bundled software, what's the best way to quickly move the photo from that to Lightroom?

Thanks everyone! Happy weekend!

CF

**jlstrawman** · 01-06-2017, 04:52 PM

Originally posted by cesarfishman

If I can only use the bundled software, what's the best way to quickly move the photo from that to Lightroom?
CF

Import function?

**microlight** · 01-06-2017, 04:55 PM

I don't use Lightroom but I understand that currently it doesn't handle pixel shift images that well, and doesn't cope with motion correction. What I do with the K-3II is to develop pixel shift in the bundled DCU5 software with some other basic processing, and then export as a TIFF which you can then process further in your software of choice.

cesarfishman · 01-06-2017, 04:57 PM

Originally posted by microlight

I don't use Lightroom but I understand that currently it doesn't handle pixel shift images that well, and doesn't cope with motion correction. What I do with the K-3II is to develop pixel shift in the bundled DCU5 software with some other basic processing, and then export as a TIFF which you can then process further in your software of choice.

So develop it as is as a TIFF, and then move that over to Lightroom. Is there significant data loss between DNG > TIFF?

**lithedreamer** · 01-06-2017, 04:59 PM

Originally posted by cesarfishman

So develop it as is as a TIFF, and then move that over to Lightroom. Is there significant data loss between DNG > TIFF?

There isn't any at all, because both formats are lossless.

cesarfishman · 01-06-2017, 05:03 PM

Originally posted by lithedreamer

There isn't any at all, because both formats are lossless.

Awesome – sorry for the ignorance. It was just recently my first time using Pixel Shift and HDR on the K1 and you can imagine my surprise when the file looked regular on Lightroom.

**lithedreamer** · 01-06-2017, 05:04 PM

Originally posted by cesarfishman

Awesome – sorry for the ignorance. It was just recently my first time using Pixel Shift and HDR on the K1 and you can imagine my surprise when the file looked regular on Lightroom.

Ah, no worries. I had the same experience my first time around with Pixel Shift. I prefer to bracket in-camera and do the HDR in Lightroom, but the workflow for Pixel Shift is kinda awkward.

**lithedreamer** · 01-06-2017, 05:33 PM

Originally posted by dcshooter

That's not entirely true, since RAW gives the intensity readouts at each photosite in the Bayer array of the sensor. TIFF interpolate the values into display pixels, each assigned a discrete Red, Blue, and Green intensity, and bakes in development settings and corrections.
As compared to jpeg however, there will not be compression artifacting, and bit depth will be better.

Really? Does that mean anything when it comes to actually editing? If so, it could affect my Pakon workflow.

stevebrot · 01-06-2017, 09:01 PM

Originally posted by cesarfishman

I'm wondering if I'm missing something. When I take an HDR or Pixel Shift photo on my K-1 and then upload to Lightroom, I just get the RAW file without the Pixel Shift or HDR effect.

You must have LR v6.x or higher to support Pixel Shift, though most reports are that it does not work that well and has no support for motion correction.

As for HDR, there is no Adobe support for Pentax in-camera HDR from RAW. For that you need PDCU. That being said, the most common option used by users on this site is to simply do a series of bracketed exposures and do the HDR merge using the tool of your choice. Recent versions of LR offer this as a feature.

Steve

automorphism · 01-07-2017, 01:19 AM

Originally posted by lithedreamer

Really? Does that mean anything when it comes to actually editing? If so, it could affect my Pakon workflow.

I doubt it. You'll have to do demosaicing anyway as one of the first steps in the processing pipeline so whether you do everything in one software or two separate ones can't matter, modulo the quality of the software itself.

pinholecam · 01-07-2017, 01:34 AM - **1 Like**

Here is a very nice write up on using LR (compared to other RAW processors).
Do note that the context is Pixel Shift w/o motion correction only.

Pentax K-1 Review - Pixel Shift in the Studio - REDred Photo School | Photography Classes in Seattle | REDred Photo School | Photography Classes in Seattle

stevebrot · 01-07-2017, 02:17 PM

Originally posted by lithedreamer

Really? Does that mean anything when it comes to actually editing? If so, it could affect my Pakon workflow.

There are no particular implications regarding TIFF editing. TIFF lossless compression is not a complicating factor either. If you have your Pakon set to output TIFF, what is written to disk is what the scanner captured within the limits of bit-depth and colorspace. Ideally, a scan intended for additional editing should represent the full range of values on the negative with maximized data per pixel. Whether the Pakon provides that level of control with supplied software, I don't know.

Steve

**lithedreamer** · 01-07-2017, 02:31 PM

Originally posted by stevebrot

There are no particular implications regarding TIFF editing. TIFF lossless compression is not a complicating factor either. If you have your Pakon set to output TIFF, what is written to disk is what the scanner captured within the limits of bit-depth and colorspace. Ideally, a scan intended for additional editing should represent the full range of values on the negative with maximized data per pixel. Whether the Pakon provides that level of control with supplied software, I don't know.

Steve

My Pakon workflow actually outputs a .RAW (no kidding) file that I have to tell Photoshop how to read. If I'm losing fidelity by converting to TIFF, it'd be good to know, as I tend to get everything converted from .RAW to TIFF and into Lightroom ASAP.

stevebrot · 01-07-2017, 04:04 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by lithedreamer

If I'm losing fidelity by converting to TIFF, it'd be good to know, as I tend to get everything converted from .RAW to TIFF and into Lightroom ASAP.

Well, that does complicate things. Depending on how the conversion is done, there will be some "interpretation" of the data from the scanner. That is not the same as loss of fidelity since the RAW file is only a simple capture of the scan values and not particularly true to anything (all contrast and curve modifications are discarded in the RAW). The key is to have a RAW converter that allows linear output (straight dump) to TIFF or full-on support in ACR or Lightroom.

Steve

MJKoski · 01-08-2017, 08:40 AM - **1 Like**

Lightroom currently puts out most details from a PS file but not with standard sharpening settings. You have to crank up the amount-slider to 75-100 region. See the link @pinholecam posted.

There are however prerequisites for this

0) Up-to-date lightroom (6.x something in June 2016 introduced proper processing of PS files)
1) perfect exposure technique (to avoid any shake)
2) non-moving subject
3) good lens

What LR does not handle is PS with motion correction, it just falls apart. So if you want to use LR with PS then do not use motion correction when taking the shot.

01-06-2017, 04:44 PM	#1
cesarfishman Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: LA Posts: 79	Workflow For HDR/Pixel Shift Photos on K-1 Hi Everyone, I'm wondering if I'm missing something. When I take an HDR or Pixel Shift photo on my K-1 and then upload to Lightroom, I just get the RAW file without the Pixel Shift or HDR effect. How do you deal with this? Can I only take those pictures in JPG mode? Can I only manipulate those photos on the bundled Pentax software? If I can only use the bundled software, what's the best way to quickly move the photo from that to Lightroom? Thanks everyone! Happy weekend! CF

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01-06-2017, 04:52 PM	#2
jlstrawman Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Midwest US Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,058	Originally posted by cesarfishman If I can only use the bundled software, what's the best way to quickly move the photo from that to Lightroom? CF Import function?

01-06-2017, 04:55 PM	#3
microlight Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Hampshire, UK Posts: 2,129	I don't use Lightroom but I understand that currently it doesn't handle pixel shift images that well, and doesn't cope with motion correction. What I do with the K-3II is to develop pixel shift in the bundled DCU5 software with some other basic processing, and then export as a TIFF which you can then process further in your software of choice.

01-06-2017, 04:57 PM	#4
cesarfishman Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: LA Posts: 79 Original Poster	Originally posted by microlight I don't use Lightroom but I understand that currently it doesn't handle pixel shift images that well, and doesn't cope with motion correction. What I do with the K-3II is to develop pixel shift in the bundled DCU5 software with some other basic processing, and then export as a TIFF which you can then process further in your software of choice. So develop it as is as a TIFF, and then move that over to Lightroom. Is there significant data loss between DNG > TIFF?

01-06-2017, 04:59 PM	#5
lithedreamer Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2013 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,799	Originally posted by cesarfishman So develop it as is as a TIFF, and then move that over to Lightroom. Is there significant data loss between DNG > TIFF? There isn't any at all, because both formats are lossless.

01-06-2017, 05:03 PM	#6
cesarfishman Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: LA Posts: 79 Original Poster	Originally posted by lithedreamer There isn't any at all, because both formats are lossless. Awesome – sorry for the ignorance. It was just recently my first time using Pixel Shift and HDR on the K1 and you can imagine my surprise when the file looked regular on Lightroom.

01-06-2017, 05:04 PM	#7
lithedreamer Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2013 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,799	Originally posted by cesarfishman Awesome – sorry for the ignorance. It was just recently my first time using Pixel Shift and HDR on the K1 and you can imagine my surprise when the file looked regular on Lightroom. Ah, no worries. I had the same experience my first time around with Pixel Shift. I prefer to bracket in-camera and do the HDR in Lightroom, but the workflow for Pixel Shift is kinda awkward.

01-06-2017, 05:33 PM	#8
lithedreamer Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2013 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,799	Originally posted by dcshooter That's not entirely true, since RAW gives the intensity readouts at each photosite in the Bayer array of the sensor. TIFF interpolate the values into display pixels, each assigned a discrete Red, Blue, and Green intensity, and bakes in development settings and corrections. As compared to jpeg however, there will not be compression artifacting, and bit depth will be better. Really? Does that mean anything when it comes to actually editing? If so, it could affect my Pakon workflow.

01-06-2017, 09:01 PM	#9
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by cesarfishman I'm wondering if I'm missing something. When I take an HDR or Pixel Shift photo on my K-1 and then upload to Lightroom, I just get the RAW file without the Pixel Shift or HDR effect. You must have LR v6.x or higher to support Pixel Shift, though most reports are that it does not work that well and has no support for motion correction. As for HDR, there is no Adobe support for Pentax in-camera HDR from RAW. For that you need PDCU. That being said, the most common option used by users on this site is to simply do a series of bracketed exposures and do the HDR merge using the tool of your choice. Recent versions of LR offer this as a feature. Steve

01-07-2017, 01:19 AM	#10
automorphism Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Ontario, Canada Photos: Albums Posts: 791	Originally posted by lithedreamer Really? Does that mean anything when it comes to actually editing? If so, it could affect my Pakon workflow. I doubt it. You'll have to do demosaicing anyway as one of the first steps in the processing pipeline so whether you do everything in one software or two separate ones can't matter, modulo the quality of the software itself.

01-07-2017, 01:34 AM - 1 Like	#11
pinholecam Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: North Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,706	Here is a very nice write up on using LR (compared to other RAW processors). Do note that the context is Pixel Shift w/o motion correction only. Pentax K-1 Review - Pixel Shift in the Studio - REDred Photo School \| Photography Classes in Seattle \| REDred Photo School \| Photography Classes in Seattle

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01-07-2017, 02:17 PM	#12
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by lithedreamer Really? Does that mean anything when it comes to actually editing? If so, it could affect my Pakon workflow. There are no particular implications regarding TIFF editing. TIFF lossless compression is not a complicating factor either. If you have your Pakon set to output TIFF, what is written to disk is what the scanner captured within the limits of bit-depth and colorspace. Ideally, a scan intended for additional editing should represent the full range of values on the negative with maximized data per pixel. Whether the Pakon provides that level of control with supplied software, I don't know. Steve

01-07-2017, 02:31 PM	#13
lithedreamer Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2013 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,799	Originally posted by stevebrot There are no particular implications regarding TIFF editing. TIFF lossless compression is not a complicating factor either. If you have your Pakon set to output TIFF, what is written to disk is what the scanner captured within the limits of bit-depth and colorspace. Ideally, a scan intended for additional editing should represent the full range of values on the negative with maximized data per pixel. Whether the Pakon provides that level of control with supplied software, I don't know. Steve My Pakon workflow actually outputs a .RAW (no kidding) file that I have to tell Photoshop how to read. If I'm losing fidelity by converting to TIFF, it'd be good to know, as I tend to get everything converted from .RAW to TIFF and into Lightroom ASAP.

01-07-2017, 04:04 PM - 1 Like	#14
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by lithedreamer If I'm losing fidelity by converting to TIFF, it'd be good to know, as I tend to get everything converted from .RAW to TIFF and into Lightroom ASAP. Well, that does complicate things. Depending on how the conversion is done, there will be some "interpretation" of the data from the scanner. That is not the same as loss of fidelity since the RAW file is only a simple capture of the scan values and not particularly true to anything (all contrast and curve modifications are discarded in the RAW). The key is to have a RAW converter that allows linear output (straight dump) to TIFF or full-on support in ACR or Lightroom. Steve

01-08-2017, 08:40 AM - 1 Like	#15
MJKoski Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 1,784	Lightroom currently puts out most details from a PS file but not with standard sharpening settings. You have to crank up the amount-slider to 75-100 region. See the link @pinholecam posted. There are however prerequisites for this 0) Up-to-date lightroom (6.x something in June 2016 introduced proper processing of PS files) 1) perfect exposure technique (to avoid any shake) 2) non-moving subject 3) good lens What LR does not handle is PS with motion correction, it just falls apart. So if you want to use LR with PS then do not use motion correction when taking the shot.