Issue: LightRoom Classic Brushes for LrC: Objective: Clear and Clean Wildlife and Landscape Photos I am curious to hear the PROS and CONS of the numerous commercial LR presets pushed...

RedBaron4730

Objective: Clear and Clean Wildlife and Landscape Photos

I am curious to hear the PROS and CONS of the numerous commercial LR presets pushed on FB and other social media platforms. Example: PhotoSerge, NUCLY, Clever Photographer, etc...

Are any of these products worth the value and if so, which ones?

If none of the products worth the value, what are your suggestions to obtain a sharp photo?

Thanks in advance for your comments and suggestions.
Red.

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

I just bit the bullet and bought Topaz sharpen AI and Denoise AI. They are amazing! Pain in the xxx to install on my MacBook Pro but worth it.

Just Fred Loc: Darwin's Waiting Room

It's not just Adobe. ON1 and Skylum (Luminar) have libraries full of presets. I've been toying with a few. I don't think any of them get me completely from "here" to "there," but some of them are quite a head start to the result I want.

RedBaron4730

Thank you for your comments

Strodav Loc: Houston, Tx

I have purchased some presets, but don't use them all that often. If you are still learning image enhancement in post, they can be very helpful. If you are experienced and have your own preferences, they are not as helpful.

As others have posted, Topaz Sharpen AI is very good, but you might want to watch a youtube video or two on LrC sharpening as most don't know how to properly use it. If your image is sharp to begin with, then LrC sharpening is all you need. If not, then the Topaz apps can be very helpful.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

If I had a consistent problem I would generate a preset that took care of it.

Have never been interested in canned presets because every photo is different and a preset assumes that a consistent change is needed.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

RedBaron4730 wrote:

Objective: Clear and Clean Wildlife and Landscape Photos

I am curious to hear the PROS and CONS of the numerous commercial LR presets pushed on FB and other social media platforms. Example: PhotoSerge, NUCLY, Clever Photographer, etc...

Are any of these products worth the value and if so, which ones?

If none of the products worth the value, what are your suggestions to obtain a sharp photo?

Thanks in advance for your comments and suggestions.
Red.

You asked about brushes and presets and sharp photos. There are all very different topics.

LR presets are just editing 'movements' of the sliders for a relatively consistent look, specific to each preset. They're not worth the money, even if given away free. You can do that work yourself and create your own preset if really needed.

Brushes are more of a PhotoShop concept, unless the current subscription LR is really, really different than my old LR6. Of course, LR had a brush tool to apply settings to specific areas, but not the larger PS concept of 'painting' on new data to the image.

To obtain a sharp photo, the process begins in your camera and your lens and exposure choices. This post discusses several actionable ideas:

How to obtain sharp images in digital photography

Then, editing in LR depends on how you work with the LR Noise Reduction and Sharpening sliders. You can purchase Topaz products to automate the process, many times automating away the details as much as they sharpen what remains. Try your hand at your LR software first with a sharply focused image direct from the camera:

Basics of noise processing

Basics of Lightroom Sharpening

DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area

RedBaron4730 wrote:

Objective: Clear and Clean Wildlife and Landscape Photos

I am curious to hear the PROS and CONS of the numerous commercial LR presets pushed on FB and other social media platforms. Example: PhotoSerge, NUCLY, Clever Photographer, etc...

Are any of these products worth the value and if so, which ones?

If none of the products worth the value, what are your suggestions to obtain a sharp photo?

Thanks in advance for your comments and suggestions.
Red.

When I began using LR, I installed a lot of presets and tried them out. I decided they only do what I can do as easily. So, they remain installed but unused. Mind you, I think LR (Classic) is great. Presets - meh. Now, plugins - that's another story. I have and use several - NIK collection, Topaz, ON1, Helicon Focus, Photomatix - recommended.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

DWU2 wrote:

When I began using LR, I installed a lot of presets and tried them out. I decided they only do what I can do as easily. So, they remain installed but unused. Mind you, I think LR (Classic) is great. Presets - meh. Now, plugins - that's another story. I have and use several - NIK collection, Topaz, ON1, Helicon Focus, Photomatix - recommended.

+1

Hereford Loc: Palm Coast, FL

CHG-Canon
Your tutorials are wonderfully explained so all can understand these concepts. Thank You For sharing your expertise.

Dickwood33 Loc: Alberta, Canada

My comments pertain only to your paragraph three about brushes. I have used LR for a number of years and now LRc since the inception of the subscription era. I do not use Photoshop. I tried to use the brushes at times in LR6 and LRc without success until the arrival of the "new" masking capabilities last fall which have allowed me to do much more work on my photos (and given me a lot more fun and feeling of accomplishment). The latest upgrade is AI preset capability. Presets can now adapt their changes to the individual photo i.e. it intuitively determines if an horizon is flat like a seascape or ragged as a mountaintop to find the sky.
You might consider trying the latest, also in ACR. If you do I would value your opinion on their usefulness.

Dickwood33 Loc: Alberta, Canada

My comments were for CHG_CANON's post. Sorry I did not make this clear.

RedBaron4730

Thanks CHG_CANON for your suggestions and will follow thru with your advise.

PhotosBySteve

LRC and PS are all I have ever needed that past 15 plus years. Even though LRC used to be Lightroom. All the more power to people pushing presets to make money and third party plug-ins. I personally have no use for other peoples presets or third party plug-ins.
Others have different opinions.
Each to their own beyond LRC and PS.

Hip Coyote

Chg Canon is correct on all accounts. My only 2 cents is that nowadays, I simply press the auto button and it gets me in the area I want to be (generally) and then I move the sliders from there.