Confused on setting black point in Camera Raw 7

Hi,
I just upgraded to CS6. I was wondering how the new Blacks slider in Camera Raw 7 correlates to the same in the older version. The slider in CS5 went left to right from 0 to 100. The new slider defaults in the center and goes from -100 to +100. I never seemed to have a problem setting the black clipping point in the old version. In the new version I'm not sure if I'm getting it right.  Any advice would be appreciated.
Kindest regards

Once you have some contrast added (if it's an underly contrasty shot), or some contrast removed (if it's an overly contrasty shot), then simply move the blacks slider left until you have the desired amount of black clipping.  You can also move the blacks slider right if you need more light in the pic, and PV2012 will keep the blacks fairly-well seated (if its a full dynamic range shot), or it will let the black point slide up more (if original tonal distribution was not occupying whole histogram). But consider, before +blacks, whether +exposure (and maybe +shadows/-highlights) wouldn't do ya better. Note: +blacks will reduce contrast, so sometimes if you opt for +blacks you need +contrast (and/or +clarity) to go with it. Likewise, -blacks increases contrast, so you may need some -contrast to go with it (and you may find you need less clarity if you have blacks plenty-well seated).
Legend:
'+' = positive (right)
'-' = negative (left)
"plenty-well seated" = clipped enough but not too much .
"fairly-well seated" = not unclipped too much .
Clear as mud? ,
Rob

Similar Messages

  • Setting White, Mid and Black Points in Camera Raw 7

    I am using Camera Raw 7 and can not seem to locate where can you set the white, mid, and black points in Camera Raw with the eyedropper tool. It seems you have to create a new psd file in Photoshop to do this, which does not make much sense since it is a basic levels adjustment. I am batch editing a bunch of CR2 files, and I just need to select the black, mid and white points on a grayscale that I've shot in the images - is there a way to do this in Camera Raw 7? Thanks!!

    ACR doesn’t work that way.  There is an eyedropper for the overall white-balance that you can set by clicking on a relatively bright, neutral area, but there aren’t black and white-point eyedroppers.  But, what is clipped black or white is determined by the output colorspace you have set at the bottom and you can get some idea of what will be clipped black and white by turning on the clipping indicators and watching for the areas you’d be eye-droppering on (the black and white patches in your grayscale) to start showing the clipping color overlay for black and white, but any further toning adjustments will move data in and out of what is darker than black and lighter than white so what is clipped for output will change as you fiddle with the various toning sliders.
    The reason things are different:  In PS, when you set a black-point and white-point in Levels and click Ok, the data below and above those is thrown away and that is the starting point for the next adjustment.  In ACR, things are non-destructive and all the adjustments occur simultaneously, rather than sequentially as in PS, and no clipping occurs until you create the output file.  This means that the pixels that are darker than your black-point and lighter than your white-point are still there, and can be moved into the black-to-white range if you do further toning adjustments.  Having more headroom of the pixels that are outside the black-to-white range is good because you won’t get the posterization or banding that occurs when colors and levels are clipped after each adjustment in PS.
    Can you describe what you intend your overall workflow to be on an image:  how much adjusting will occur in ACR and how much, if any, might happen in PS, after the image is opened into PS from ACR, or opened from a file saved from ACR?  There might be other ways to approach what you’re trying to accomplish.

  • Setting White Points in Camera Raw

    When setting white points in Adobe Camera Raw, while holding down Alt (on a PC), are the red marks what I should look for? Because white marks also appear? Which ones are relevant for the white point?

    ACR doesn’t work that way.  There is an eyedropper for the overall white-balance that you can set by clicking on a relatively bright, neutral area, but there aren’t black and white-point eyedroppers.  But, what is clipped black or white is determined by the output colorspace you have set at the bottom and you can get some idea of what will be clipped black and white by turning on the clipping indicators and watching for the areas you’d be eye-droppering on (the black and white patches in your grayscale) to start showing the clipping color overlay for black and white, but any further toning adjustments will move data in and out of what is darker than black and lighter than white so what is clipped for output will change as you fiddle with the various toning sliders.
    The reason things are different:  In PS, when you set a black-point and white-point in Levels and click Ok, the data below and above those is thrown away and that is the starting point for the next adjustment.  In ACR, things are non-destructive and all the adjustments occur simultaneously, rather than sequentially as in PS, and no clipping occurs until you create the output file.  This means that the pixels that are darker than your black-point and lighter than your white-point are still there, and can be moved into the black-to-white range if you do further toning adjustments.  Having more headroom of the pixels that are outside the black-to-white range is good because you won’t get the posterization or banding that occurs when colors and levels are clipped after each adjustment in PS.
    Can you describe what you intend your overall workflow to be on an image:  how much adjusting will occur in ACR and how much, if any, might happen in PS, after the image is opened into PS from ACR, or opened from a file saved from ACR?  There might be other ways to approach what you’re trying to accomplish.

  • When I set black point on windows, the image switches between blank and full image, why?

    when I set black point using windows, the image switches between blank and full image, why?

    I set black point with alt button down while I move sllider. When black
    dots show, I stop and back off a bit.  That's the normal result. Normally a
    white screen appears until I release the alt key. In my case, sometimes the
    screen goes from white to full image. It's not all the time. I view my
    power and ram use as I work and it doesn't spike when this happens.  It's
    as if the alt key command is not holding.  I've used both alt keys with
    same results.
    Thanks for responding.  I hope you have some ideas.

  • Change preferences for Auto black/white point in Camera RAW

    Hey guys,
    By hold shift and clicking on the slider for whites Camera RAW automatically sets the white point, same goes for the black. However, it always gets pushed to 255 (white).
    Is there some way that you can edit this preference?

    I don't know, but somebody may know for sure over in the camera raw forum:
    https://forums.adobe.com/community/cameraraw

  • Setting White Balance in Camera RAW

    I have heard and read (what apppears to be) contrary information about using the White Balance Tool in Camera RAW.
    I have sometimes heard that I need to select a naturally white point (as opposed to a specular / highlight point); but I have also heard that I need to select a neutral gray point.
    I am wondering if it's either / or and that it all amounts to the same thing.
    Can anyone assist and explain the differences?

    You can use any area that has no colour contend regardless of its tonal value.  For instance you can use full black to se WB.  Note this is not the same as setting black and white points in ACR

  • Can you set the curves in Camera RAW 3.6?

    HI.
    I'm trying to do some color correction up front in Camera RAW 3.6 so that I don't have to do it directly in Photoshop. Say if I set color samplers for my white, grey, and black points. I'd like to correct/neutralize them within the Curves tab of Camera RAW 3.6. Is that possible? If so, how?

    > ... what is a good workflow for RAW? I thought I could do it all in Camera RAW.
    Even with CS2, you can accomplish 90% of your workflow with ACR. For example, for ~70% of your images ACR can be 100% of your workflow, and for 20% be 95% of your workflow ... leaving as little for PS as possible. YMMV of course, but ACR 3 can accomplish a lot, but it wasn't intended to replace some of the tools in PS.
    Altho I haven't yet upgraded, ACR4 is a considerable upgrade and offers many more of the tools available in PS (e.g., red eye removal). Tonal adjustments you need may be accomplished with whitepoint, exposure, blackpoint, brightness, contrast; however, they are predictable algorithms that cannot be manipulated with a curve ... altho a curve is provided for the RGB output but not as easy to use as PS's. The "Real World ACR" texts will fill you in with much of the power offered by a workflow using ACR and Bridge. A definite good read!

  • Set Black Point to 0 by default in Aperture 2.x?

    Hello
    (First post - have lurked a little on here for a while, but have not had a question of my own until now)
    Has anyone found a way to set the Black Point slider on the Exposure brick (or any other slider for that matter) to zero as a default? Otherwise, with the Exposure control is off a Black Point of 3 is applied, which clips my images.
    (by a happy miracle, my camera gets the black point right most of the time, provided I set it right)
    So far I've had to create an image with my preferred 'flat' settings to Lift & Stamp across to new imports, or create a preset for the Exposure brick that then has to be manually applied, and both of these methods seem rather clunky for a Pro app. I'm not averse to hacking text files, if that is what it takes...
    Thanks,
    Matt

    I'd like to know as well, is there a way to set the default black point to zero instead of the 3.00?

  • Confused by a Bridge Preference in camera raw

    Hello,
    I am setting up preferences in Bridge to open up JPEG's in camera raw, as well as raw images.
    There are 2 sets of preferences in Bridge-regular preferences and camera raw preferences.
    I understand the camera raw preferences, where I can have it disable Tiffs, but open all jpegs or jpegs that have been processed in camera raw.
    However, in the regular Bridge Preferences-there is an option to : "Double Click edits Camera Raw Settings in Bridge"  - can someone explain to me what this preferences does?
    thanks!
    babs

    I am setting up preferences in Bridge to open up JPEG's in camera raw, as well as raw images.
    Maybe you should post in the Bridge Forum.
    Bridge Macintosh

  • Is it possible to set the performance in Camera Raw, like in PS? I have problems with the performance of the adjustment brush. It is a very bad workflow.

    I have problems with the performance of the adjustment brush. It is a very bad workflow.

    Had you specified you're on Windows, I wouldn't even have replied. I don't do windows.
    Yes, it has been a waste of time for both you and me.
    You don't even know how to ask a question properly and you want me to read the FAQs?  Hah! 
    No one will take your word for "ACR latest version", and "PS CC latest VersionVersion [sic]", as many users believe they are fully updated when they are not. Exact version numbers are needed.
    8 GB is considered the realistic minimum to run Photoshop CC, but it's far from optimal—on any platform.  There are other factors that can be at play and which you don't specify, such as the space available on each of your hard drives, whether you have a physically separate, dedicated hard drive for Photoshop's scratch drive, what video card you have and how much VRAM does it have, what your graphics settings are in Photoshop's Preferences > Performance, etc.
    That's why I had indicated a link for you to read:
    Please read this FAQ for advice on how to ask your questions correctly for quicker and better answers: 
    http://forums.adobe.com/thread/419981?tstart=0
    If you read that link in its entirety and provide the pertinent information, maybe some of the Windows experts will be able to help you out.
    Now I'm out of here.

  • Setting black and white points

    Dear friends,
    I am shooting some pics with a "Whibal like" target card which has a white, black and 18% neutral grey shades.
    In Camera Raw I I can easily correct the white balance with the provided eyedropper on the top row by clicking on the grey target.
    I cannot find any way to set the black and the white points though and have to resort doing that for EACH picture in Photoshop via a levels or a curves adjustment layers.
    It would be great to be able to set those in Bridge/Camera Raw so that I can then copy those settings to other similar shots.
    Any ideas ? Thank you
    Marco

    I am having the same problem, although its now Camera Raw 7 - where can you set the white, mid, and black points in Camera Raw with the eyedropper tool. It seems you have to create a new psd file in Photoshop to do this, which does not make much sense since it is a basic levels adjustment. I am batch editing a bunch of CR2 files, and I just need to select the black, mid and white points on a grayscale that I've shot in the images - is there a way to do this in Camera Raw 7? Thanks!!

  • CS4 Camera RAW White Point

    Setting White Point in Camera RAW 5.7 CS4
    I am trying to make pictures out of scanned old slides/negatives which often have colour casts.
    Some pictures do not have a suitable white spot for setting the point.
    I often find that the "As Shot" or any of the default settings do not look right.
    Please what is the best way to set the white point for these ?

    Photoshop, or even Elements, would have more options than Lightroom for fixing colors or a color-cast in images that have not been added by the scanner, but is already in the images, themselves, a color cast usually caused by different rates of deterioration of the various pigments in the photo paper or film.
    Trying the different Options in the Photoshop Levels command can be helpful. 
    You can tweak the RGB channels differently in Photoshop Curves.
    Elements has a Remove Color Cast command that works for simple cases and is similar to the Auto WB in LR or ACR.
    Sometimes you need to duplicate one of the color channels and substitute it for one of the other color channels.  For example if the red is entirely faded, then duplicate the blue channel and paste it into the red channel and see how things look, or perhaps use the green channel, instead, depending on the mix of colors in the original.  There are techniques for adjusting skintones at the expense of other colors in the image.
    There are tutorials for fixing underwater images that would be somewhat applicable to photos heavily faded by prolonged exposure to sunlight or indoor UV sources.
    Tweaking the HSL sliders in LR or ACR can be helpful if the image is mostly fixed by prior adjustments.

  • Lightroom 2.1 / Camera Raw 5.1 Confusion

    Hello,
    I installed Lightroom 2.1 and when I go to the About menu it shows me correctly, that I have 2.1 but it still says: Camera Raw 4.6.
    I have Photoshop CS3 and when I tried its automatic update option it did not find the newest Camera Raw 5.1.
    I installed it manually.
    But Lightroom still says: Camera Raw 4.6.
    Do I have it or do I not??
    Any suggestions?
    Thanks.
    Tomasz

    "You are going to send JAO into cardiac arrest. Could you just this once; TRUST what he is saying. It is a simple concept, maybe to simple for you to under stand."
    It's a pity that asking a fairly reasonable question here prompts such a patronising reply!
    "Maybe we should try this tack.
    THERE is no ACR in LR:::: None, never was, never will be.
    LR uses the pipeline that was developed for ACR and THATS all.
    That curent pipeline version is 4.6"
    Never said there was, simply asked about the confusion that is the statement in LR and how it relates to PS ACR, i.e. in 'About PS LR' it says 'Camera Raw 4.6'. Now, if you can't see how that causes confusion for users of the 'other' Camera Raw 4.6, then I think it's me who's going to have a cardiac arrest. I think most people would find that totally confusing.
    "NO ACR in LR. Repeat there is no ACR in LR."
    No, but there are statements about Camera Raw versions and there is a cameraraw.dll in the LR folder.
    "Users of PS 3 cannot not use version 5.1"
    There is no confusion about that.
    "PS CS 4 uses versions 5.0 and above. Always will."
    No, it probably won't use version 6.0.
    Many people have posted on various forums about the confusion over Camera Raw in LR, so it isn't obvious. The fact is that although LR doesn't actually use an ACR plugin, there has been an assumption by many users that it does use the same engine as ACR, and the fact that it states a Camera Raw version number within the software adds to that reasonable assumption.
    Up to CS4 the Camera Raw version in LR has been consistent with the latest CS3 ACR version which also adds to the confusion.
    I think one of the main concerns that some users have is that LR will not continue to support newer cameras. I mean for example, when the 5D MkII is incorporated into ACR version 5.x, will LR Camera Raw version be shown as 4.7 or will it revert to consistency and call it 5.x?

  • Setting Preferences in Camera RAW?

    Can you tell me where to set this preference in Camera RAW, please?  This note is from the Lightroom 4 ReadMe.  Sory for being stupid, but I can't seem to fine prefs for "Camera RAW."
    Viewing Lightroom settings in Camera Raw
    Before working in conjunction with Lightroom and Camera Raw please set the Camera Raw preference to: Save image settings in: Sidecar ".xmp" files. By default Camera Raw will display the image adjustments exactly as performed in Lightroom‟s develop module.
    Thanks,
    ken

    I have the same workflow, but I don't do anything! I don't use xmp sidecars, and LR simply transfers the raw file with whatever develop settings it has in its catalog to CS5, CS6 or Elements11. I just use whatever default settings the programs have for this, and my develop settings get transferred just fine.
    Bob Frost

  • I have Photoshop CS2 vsn 9.0 with the Camera Raw 3.7 update and the Digital Negative Converter.  I cannot open any RAW files. Does the fact that I've opened them in Lightroom 5.0 before make a difference?

    When I try to open the RAW file (CR2) from the Photoshop application or from the Bridge (even while holding down the shift key) I get a message saying it's not the right kind of file. When I try to convert using the converter, it won't recognize the files.

    Which operating system are you using?
    Which camera are the camera raw files from?
    Did you convert the files to dng using lightroom or the standalone dng converter?
    If using the standalone dng converter, which version?
    In the dng converter did you try setting the Compatibility for Camera Raw 2.4 and later
    (Preferences>Compatibility)
    You should also be able to send the files from lightroom to cs2 without converting to dng, either by using Photo>Edit In>Photoshop or setting cs2 as an external editor in the lightroom preferences

Maybe you are looking for

  • VM Server Hang

    After installation completed VM Server Hang on APCI : Assume root Bridge. It was also hanging before installation but i use command linux all-generic-ide pci=nommconf.

  • Spry:state and dynamic accordion

    When I use a dynamic accordion (i.e. populated by a dataSet), the accordion functionality disappears. Here is my code. Am I doing something wrong, or is this just a bug? Thanks Andy <div spry:region="dsOrders"> <div spry:state="loading">Data is loadi

  • Why does pdf become smaller file after opening in illustrator?

    A client sent me a 12-page pdf with type changes that had to be done in Illustrator to almost half the pages. I openeded them in Illustrator, fixed the type, resaved as pdfs and replaced those pages in the pdf with the revised ones. After the first r

  • Exporting Specific Metadata

    Hi. I know how to export metadata, but I can't seem to limit which metadata I want exported. In many cases I'd just like to export the captions for a group of photos to send to a publisher without pulling just that info out of the messy text file. An

  • HELP: Trouble with partial filled arrays

    For HW, I have to write a deleteRepeats static method for an array of characters that deletes any character previously listed and returns the new array size. The example the problem gives is: char a[10]; a[0]='a'; a[1]='b'; a[2]='a'; a[3]='c'; int si