Joanna27 Loc: Lakewood Ca

In a different thread I'm working on a black and white image of a dead tree. Image looks better than it sounds, honestly. I'm trying to increase the tonal range of the image, so I am playing with exposure, brightness, highlights, shadows, white, and black levels. I shoot raw so my adjustments are done in Adobe Camera Raw (ACR). I then move into Photoshop and use the Nik filters. It seems to me (with my limited understanding) that many of the controls in ACR do the same thing in the Nik filter environment (Sliver Efects Pro).

Is exposure adjustment in Adobe camera raw the same as brightness in Photoshop/Nik filter?
Does it matter where or when I make the various adjustments?
If so, what is the best order in which to make changes?

Thanks for the help, I'm working by trial and error and can't always see the differences.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

You may also want to post this in -
Post-Processing Digital Images http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-116-1.html

Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

Not sure what controls you have, but in the program I use I would use the histogram adjustment and curve tools.

Mike

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Though similar they are not exactly the same, different algorithms. And the answer is: It depends... For instance, I use a mirrorless camera with a smaller sensor. My image degrades faster than one from a full frame camera. So I try not to do more in LR/PS than I have to before going into the plugin, and I may decide to run a noise reduction program before going into the plugin. Every camera and workflow may be different and to some extent image to image. Over time you learn what you can do to which images and when it will work best.

So, your best bet is likely to try it both ways, then blow both images up to 200% and look at them carefully to compare. In general NIK recommends a certain order. I think it is, if I remember correctly: Dfine, Raw Presharpening, Viveza if a color photo, Silver or Color Efex, then post sharpening. Of course some of these steps might be done in other programs. I definitely think you're doing the right thing to call up Silver Efex from PS so you have options to do other things on layers and blend or mask to get the total effect you want and control any problems that result from various processing steps. Everything we do to an image has some cost, so we have to monitor it and leverage as best we can.

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

The workflow I was taught and always use is do as much work as possible in Camera Raw. Its probably the finest processing tool for Raw files that's available. Move the image into Photoshop and make selective changes etc. Photoshop is very very clever so a simple trick is to duplicate the layer go Image>Auto tone and adjust opacity of top layer before yo do anything else. Sometimes it produces a dog but other times works really well.
Plug ins and filters are last step in the workflow and always bring it back to Photoshop for fine tuning.
I think the answer to your question is Exposure affects the whole spectrum and brightness tends to just affect the bright areas.
If you have a dropbox account put your raw file in there and post a link to it. We have some good landscapers who I am sure will make a great job of your shot

Joanna27 Loc: Lakewood Ca

Thank you all for this information. I started working on figuring it out this morning. I'm a bit slow and this is taking me awhile. Again thanks for the info.