Modifying the S-curve in-camera

bdery · 11-04-2020, 06:43 AM

Hi!

I realized something recently.

When processing PJEGs produced by my K-1 ii, I frequently end up boosting the shadows in my images. So my question is : if I don't want to change anything else (I like the colours, general exposure, etc), how would you go around tuning the S curve to boost only the shadows?

Thanks!

**UncleVanya** · 11-04-2020, 06:47 AM

I assume you want a more customized approach than turning on shadow recovery?

stevebrot · 11-04-2020, 08:33 AM

Originally posted by bdery

how would you go around tuning the S curve to boost only the shadows?

Dang! You are the third person in the last couple of days who has asked about this sort of thing. The solution is to adjust parameters for one of the custom image settings. The range of adjustment is rather limited and coarse, but I suspect that Shadow Adjustment and tweaks to High/Low Key and Contrast might do what you need. There is a small matter of the actual effect tending to vary by the contents of the frame, but it still might work.

Steve

peggers · 11-05-2020, 03:57 AM

Or do it is post of course, Lightroom is very good for doing just that

bdery · 11-05-2020, 06:29 AM

Originally posted by peggers

Or do it is post of course, Lightroom is very good for doing just that

I know but I'd rather have good results out of camera.

Originally posted by stevebrot

Dang! You are the third person in the last couple of days who has asked about this sort of thing. The solution is to adjust parameters for one of the custom image settings. The range of adjustment is rather limited and coarse, but I suspect that Shadow Adjustment and tweaks to High/Low Key and Contrast might do what you need. There is a small matter of the actual effect tending to vary by the contents of the frame, but it still might work.

Yep, that's what I come to realize. I would have hoped for a finer level of control but I think that's the way to go. I'll have to do controlled tests to adjust everything in the best way possible.

stevebrot · 11-05-2020, 08:09 AM

Originally posted by bdery

Yep, that's what I come to realize. I would have hoped for a finer level of control but I think that's the way to go. I'll have to do controlled tests to adjust everything in the best way possible.

Custom image and digital filters are both features that I have never used on my K-3. I tried them out when I was first learning the camera and decided they were sort of gimmicky and a pain to leverage.

Steve

**JensE** · 11-05-2020, 02:35 PM

Originally posted by stevebrot

Custom image and digital filters are both features that I have never used on my K-3. I tried them out when I was first learning the camera and decided they were sort of gimmicky and a pain to leverage.

I was positively surprised by the KP: The JPEG engine has definitely been improved over the K-5 and K-1 (1st version), to the point I'm actually sometimes exposing for best JPEGs rather than best, by my criteria, DNGs for post-processing. Tuning the parameters, which I also ignored before, makes a lot of
sense now. I still use DNG+JPEG, this way I can tweak them even in-camera and re-develop. I have some successful pictures using the high contrast B&W filter, but haven't really invested effort into any of the others. Is there a 'club' thread in the forum for those similar to the HDR ADV (sigh!) one?

bdery · 11-06-2020, 07:22 AM

Originally posted by stevebrot

Custom image and digital filters are both features that I have never used on my K-3. I tried them out when I was first learning the camera and decided they were sort of gimmicky and a pain to leverage.

I wouldn't want to use digital filters. Simply tune the JPEG output to a better balance than right now. I'll have to take a relevant image and test by boosting the shadows by one step at a time, taking the same image again and again, to see where my favourite balance lays.

11-04-2020, 06:43 AM	#1
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,362	Modifying the S-curve in-camera Hi! I realized something recently. When processing PJEGs produced by my K-1 ii, I frequently end up boosting the shadows in my images. So my question is : if I don't want to change anything else (I like the colours, general exposure, etc), how would you go around tuning the S curve to boost only the shadows? Thanks!

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11-04-2020, 06:47 AM	#2
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,452	I assume you want a more customized approach than turning on shadow recovery?

11-04-2020, 08:33 AM	#3
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by bdery how would you go around tuning the S curve to boost only the shadows? Dang! You are the third person in the last couple of days who has asked about this sort of thing. The solution is to adjust parameters for one of the custom image settings. The range of adjustment is rather limited and coarse, but I suspect that Shadow Adjustment and tweaks to High/Low Key and Contrast might do what you need. There is a small matter of the actual effect tending to vary by the contents of the frame, but it still might work. Steve

11-05-2020, 03:57 AM	#4
peggers Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Endeavour Hills, Victoria, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 210	Or do it is post of course, Lightroom is very good for doing just that

11-05-2020, 06:29 AM	#5
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,362 Original Poster	Originally posted by peggers Or do it is post of course, Lightroom is very good for doing just that I know but I'd rather have good results out of camera. Originally posted by stevebrot Dang! You are the third person in the last couple of days who has asked about this sort of thing. The solution is to adjust parameters for one of the custom image settings. The range of adjustment is rather limited and coarse, but I suspect that Shadow Adjustment and tweaks to High/Low Key and Contrast might do what you need. There is a small matter of the actual effect tending to vary by the contents of the frame, but it still might work. Yep, that's what I come to realize. I would have hoped for a finer level of control but I think that's the way to go. I'll have to do controlled tests to adjust everything in the best way possible.

11-05-2020, 08:09 AM	#6
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by bdery Yep, that's what I come to realize. I would have hoped for a finer level of control but I think that's the way to go. I'll have to do controlled tests to adjust everything in the best way possible. Custom image and digital filters are both features that I have never used on my K-3. I tried them out when I was first learning the camera and decided they were sort of gimmicky and a pain to leverage. Steve

11-05-2020, 02:35 PM	#7
JensE Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Leipzig Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,971	Originally posted by stevebrot Custom image and digital filters are both features that I have never used on my K-3. I tried them out when I was first learning the camera and decided they were sort of gimmicky and a pain to leverage. I was positively surprised by the KP: The JPEG engine has definitely been improved over the K-5 and K-1 (1st version), to the point I'm actually sometimes exposing for best JPEGs rather than best, by my criteria, DNGs for post-processing. Tuning the parameters, which I also ignored before, makes a lot of sense now. I still use DNG+JPEG, this way I can tweak them even in-camera and re-develop. I have some successful pictures using the high contrast B&W filter, but haven't really invested effort into any of the others. Is there a 'club' thread in the forum for those similar to the HDR ADV (sigh!) one?

11-06-2020, 07:22 AM	#8
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,362 Original Poster	Originally posted by stevebrot Custom image and digital filters are both features that I have never used on my K-3. I tried them out when I was first learning the camera and decided they were sort of gimmicky and a pain to leverage. I wouldn't want to use digital filters. Simply tune the JPEG output to a better balance than right now. I'll have to take a relevant image and test by boosting the shadows by one step at a time, taking the same image again and again, to see where my favourite balance lays.