Photoshop Polarizer App?
Sep 18, 2018 12:27:48 #
The discussion of polarizers prompts me to ask if anyone's had experience with post-processing "polarizer" apps in Photoshop. Before it got foolishly deleted, I had such an app and it worked reasonably well. Now when I look for similar procedures I find enormously complex methods involving up to a dozen steps -- not worth the effort! Does anyone offer a "store-bought" PS polarizer? All too often, I'm either in too much of a hurry to mount a polarizer (I'm a news photographer) or I realize I carelessly left it home.
Sep 18, 2018 12:34:06 #
Sep 18, 2018 13:43:12 #
No polarizing software can truly eliminate reflections because the data is missing. I've seen polarizing software that can darken a blue sky quite naturally, but attempting to duplicate the effect of a CPL on water or glass cannot work without enormous labor investment. You can get rid of the reflections, but you can't recreate whatever was hidden behind them.
Andy
Andy
Sep 18, 2018 16:47:49 #
AndyH wrote:
No polarizing software can truly eliminate reflections because the data is missing. I've seen polarizing software that can darken a blue sky quite naturally, but attempting to duplicate the effect of a CPL on water or glass cannot work without enormous labor investment. You can get rid of the reflections, but you can't recreate whatever was hidden behind them.
Andy
Andy
Sep 18, 2018 23:15:06 #
Sep 18, 2018 23:18:47 #
AndyH wrote:
No polarizing software can truly eliminate reflections because the data is missing. I've seen polarizing software that can darken a blue sky quite naturally, but attempting to duplicate the effect of a CPL on water or glass cannot work without enormous labor investment. You can get rid of the reflections, but you can't recreate whatever was hidden behind them.
Andy
Andy
Spot on!
Sep 19, 2018 03:48:04 #
Pablo8
Loc: Nottingham UK.
There's an old saying..."You can't teach an old dog, new tricks" Perhaps this saying (Of mine) "A new dog won't /cannot comprehend old tricks", might catch-on?
Sep 19, 2018 08:01:49 #
--Bob
AndyH wrote:
No polarizing software can truly eliminate reflections because the data is missing. I've seen polarizing software that can darken a blue sky quite naturally, but attempting to duplicate the effect of a CPL on water or glass cannot work without enormous labor investment. You can get rid of the reflections, but you can't recreate whatever was hidden behind them.
Andy
Andy
Sep 19, 2018 09:16:00 #
Buy a polarizer if you need one and take a look at the video on polarizers by Steve Perry. It will open your eyes on how to use a polarizer filter.
Sep 19, 2018 10:08:05 #
Luminar has a "polarizing" filter included in its package. It's ok, but as everyone else has said, not substitute for the real thing.
Sep 19, 2018 10:43:21 #
scg3 wrote:
The discussion of polarizers prompts me to ask if ... (show quote)
My solution is: I polarize at the camera lens when capturing the image
Sep 19, 2018 12:44:27 #
In Photoshop, Camera Raw filter, HSL adjustments tab in the toolbar directly below the histogram, you can achieve a simple and respectable polarizing effect by clicking the "luminance" tab and moving the "blue" slider to the left. This basic method works pretty well for skies and such, but the reflections and other "dataless" items in the image are beyond this simple fix.
Sep 19, 2018 14:41:39 #
amfoto1
Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA
AndyH wrote:
No polarizing software can truly eliminate reflections because the data is missing. I've seen polarizing software that can darken a blue sky quite naturally, but attempting to duplicate the effect of a CPL on water or glass cannot work without enormous labor investment. You can get rid of the reflections, but you can't recreate whatever was hidden behind them.
Andy
Andy
I agree!
In fact, it's even more of an issue with Lightroom, than with some other software (Photoshop, for instance). LR just doesn't have all that great image editing tools.... most are "global" in nature and rather crude.
But even with "better" image editing software, it's difficult or impossible to emulate the effects of a polarizer very well in post-processing.
It's MUCH easier and better to simply use a quality CPL when you take the shot.
Sep 19, 2018 20:37:16 #
Attached are some shots through glass with a lot of reflections. I did not use a CPL but the Haze reduction filter in PSE 15 worked pretty well.
Sep 19, 2018 23:29:55 #
Next time you forget to remove the lens cap from your camera,
try the PhotoShop "remove lens cap" effect--it works wonders!
To belabor what was said by AndyH: the image sensor doesn't
detect polarization, so that information is gone. PhotoShop does
not yet support "clairvoyance mode".
(Sorry to sound so snarky, but the "fix it in PhotoSlop" mentality is
one of my pet peeves. Also, I can remember when news guys
had to haul around heavy Graflex press cameras, Nikon F2s, etc.
One little filter is nothing.)
Perhaps it would be easier if you carried your filters in a belt pouch?
Nice ones are available in various sizes for about $10:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Filter-Pouches-Cases/ci/238/N/4026728364?origSearch=filter+pouch
It would be great if there was a more convenient way to swap filters,
but there really isn't. Holders like Cokin and Lee don't really save
any time unless you are using mutliple filters. Flip-up filter holders
are available for microscopes and optical benches, but not for cameras,
so far as I know.
Some materials become polarizing only in an electric current, so
it might be possible to build a polarizer filter that could be switched
on and off--but it would probably be very expensive.
Some news photographers used to carry two cameras, often one
with a normal lens and one with wide angle lens. Some locations
are too dirty, dusty or wet to fool with changing lenes or filters.
In other cases there might not be time.
So I suppose you could carry two cameras: one with a polarizer filter
and one without. But that seems like a lot more trouble and expense
than a filter pouch!
try the PhotoShop "remove lens cap" effect--it works wonders!
To belabor what was said by AndyH: the image sensor doesn't
detect polarization, so that information is gone. PhotoShop does
not yet support "clairvoyance mode".
(Sorry to sound so snarky, but the "fix it in PhotoSlop" mentality is
one of my pet peeves. Also, I can remember when news guys
had to haul around heavy Graflex press cameras, Nikon F2s, etc.
One little filter is nothing.)
Perhaps it would be easier if you carried your filters in a belt pouch?
Nice ones are available in various sizes for about $10:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Filter-Pouches-Cases/ci/238/N/4026728364?origSearch=filter+pouch
It would be great if there was a more convenient way to swap filters,
but there really isn't. Holders like Cokin and Lee don't really save
any time unless you are using mutliple filters. Flip-up filter holders
are available for microscopes and optical benches, but not for cameras,
so far as I know.
Some materials become polarizing only in an electric current, so
it might be possible to build a polarizer filter that could be switched
on and off--but it would probably be very expensive.
Some news photographers used to carry two cameras, often one
with a normal lens and one with wide angle lens. Some locations
are too dirty, dusty or wet to fool with changing lenes or filters.
In other cases there might not be time.
So I suppose you could carry two cameras: one with a polarizer filter
and one without. But that seems like a lot more trouble and expense
than a filter pouch!
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