PP for Clouds in Lightroom: Hello Hogs, What are some good ways to highlight cloud textures and three-dimensionality in Lightroom? Any particular sliders or tools that are recommended?

globetrekker Loc: Bend, OR

Hello Hogs,

What are some good ways to highlight cloud textures and three-dimensionality in Lightroom? Any particular sliders or tools that are recommended? Thanks for any tips.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

The best place to start is knowing your camera's limits, shooting in RAW, using manual mode, and exposing properly.

Then in processing, the correct application of adjustments, and good old burning and dodging.
--Bob

globetrekker wrote:

Hello Hogs,

What are some good ways to highlight cloud textures and three-dimensionality in Lightroom? Any particular sliders or tools that are recommended? Thanks for any tips.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Try them independently to see the unique effects: reduce highlights in the range -10 to -60, say in increments of -10. Reset highlights to 0 and add clarity from 1 to 10, in single steps. Try them both in modest amounts and see what you get. Other subtle / supporting changes: increase white within a range of 0 to 10. Reduce contrast 0 to 15. All these depending on the original image, but these are changes I typically see making to pull texture in color images.

globetrekker Loc: Bend, OR

rmalarz wrote:

The best place to start is knowing your camera's limits, shooting in RAW, using manual mode, and exposing properly.

Then in processing, the correct application of adjustments, and good old burning and dodging.
--Bob

Thanks, Bob. I do shot raw. Sometimes in manual, but typically in Av or Tv. Don't really know my camera's limits. Anything specific tips re adjustments? I haven't done burning and dodging. I'm a man of modes PP skills, so far anyway, lol. Thanks for replying.

globetrekker Loc: Bend, OR

CHG_CANON wrote:

Try them independently to see the unique effects: reduce highlights in the range -10 to -60, say in increments of -10. Reset highlights to 0 and add clarity from 1 to 10, in single steps. Try them both in modest amounts and see what you get. Other subtle / supporting changes: increase white within a range of 0 to 10. Reduce contrast 0 to 15. All these depending on the original image, but these are changes I typically see making to pull texture in color images.

Ahh, interesting approach. I'll play around with this concept. Thanks.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

Start with the image. best way to highlight clouds against the sky is with a CPL. Once you have the image then you can tweak it in post

tdekany Loc: Oregon

The haze removal slider can do wonders for clouds.

globetrekker Loc: Bend, OR

tdekany wrote:

The haze removal slider can do wonders for clouds.

Have not seen that. Must be a LR 6 feature.

tdekany Loc: Oregon

globetrekker wrote:

Have not seen that. Must be a LR 6 feature.

I have the monthly deal and has been added to LR for awhile

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

globetrekker wrote:

Hello Hogs,

What are some good ways to highlight cloud textures and three-dimensionality in Lightroom? Any particular sliders or tools that are recommended? Thanks for any tips.

Moving the Highlights slider to the left works wonders with clouds.

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

Dehaze slider in Lightroom CC. Viberance Slider will enhance blues and greens. You can hit the J key to toggle black and white clipping points and use that sliders for Blacks, Whites, Shadows and Highlights to adjust your Dynamic Range. If you really want to optimize your colors I highly recommend you invest $100 in a ColorChecker Passport. Probably the best $100 I have spent on digital photography.

Best,
Todd Ferguson

markinvictoria Loc: Victoria TX

tdekany wrote:

The haze removal slider can do wonders for clouds.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

I utilize the Adjustment Brush and experiment with various settings

KenBlackwell Loc: Killeen, Texas

In addition to the above mentioned adjustments you could try applying a graduated filter and use the erase brush to remove it from any areas the you do not want to be affected. This give you the ability to make more localized adjustments in Lightroom. All of these adjustments can be applied in various combinations and are non destructive. Any or all of them can be removed or adjusted further if desired.

KenBlackwell Loc: Killeen, Texas

In addition to the above mentioned adjustments you could try applying a graduated filter and use the erase brush to remove it from any areas the you do not want to be affected. This give you the ability to make more localized adjustments in Lightroom. All of these adjustments can be applied in various combinations and are non destructive. Any or all of them can be removed or adjusted further if desired.