Post Processing Preference

[THXGEEK]

(Gawd, I love alliteration! But I digress...)

I am trying to decide which methodology I prefer. Please let me know your thoughts...

This recent pic was shot RAW, cropped & denoised with DxO 9 (DeepPrime XD/XD2s), denoised again with Topaz AI (background only), and then massaged with Radiant Photo 2 (default Core settings).

• ILCE-1M2
• FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3
• 1/1600 sec
• ISO 12800

This next one was cropped & denoised with DxO 9 (DeepPrime XD/XD2s) and then passed to NIK8 (HDR module) default module:

• ILCE-1M2
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3
• 1/1600 sec
• ISO 12800

Which is 'better'? I like the warmth of the 2nd. And the seed to the right of the squirrel is much clearer. But does that make it 'better'??

Lemme what you think!

Cheers!

 

[lodbrok]

Shot nr 2 looks more naturel and much more pleasant to the eyes.

 

[iamdlewis]

2 has a warmer tint to it

 

[AlphaWorld]

I like the first one. It looks just a little crisper.

That said, I have never run an image through more than one de-noise processor, and I usually don't even use one I have DxO and Photoshop, so I could, but I never have.

 

[Richard A]

I only use DxO PhotoLab for denoising. But I much prefer DeepPrime 3 than DeepPRIME XD/XD2s. You did know that in PhotoLab 9 you can use different amounts of sharpening on the subject and back ground? I really don't know why you would need to use two different apps to denoise.

As far as the two images go, the second one looks a bit too warm and a bit flat to me.

 

[Paul stuart]

no1 has more greenblue no2 has more magenta/red

 

[THXGEEK]

But I much prefer DeepPrime 3 than DeepPRIME XD/XD2s. You did know that in PhotoLab 9 you can use different amounts of sharpening on the subject and back ground?

Interesting. Why do you prefer DP3 vs DP XD2? I've always felt that the DP3 produces a cleaner output.

As for DxO subject vs background sharpening, are you referring to masking and local adjustments?

I am gradually learning more and more about DxO9 and am enjoying every newly discovered feature. LOVE NIK Collection 8! (I just discovered the 'pre-sharpener' Wow!)

 

[Richard A]

I used to used the Pre-Sharpener back in the day on my old DSLR files but it is old technology and I don't use it anymore. I sometimes use it on scanned film. I have been re-editing some old photos recently and find that the Lens Sharpness Optimisation and just the better demosaicing in PL9 does a better job.

I'll link a couple of videos with info on noise reduction in DxO Photolab. And yes, you can use masking and local adjustments with noise reduction in PhotoLab 9.

This video is on PhotoLab 8.5 but regarding DeepPRIME 3 and Chromatic Aberation. This guy is a bit of an odd bod but he knows what he's talking about and does thorough testing. He is also very independent. Start at 2:07.

DxO Photolab 8.5 - InDepth Review - Best Gets Better?

This one start at 15:20 Localised Denoise and Lens Sharpness. But it's worth watching the whole video.

DXO Photolab 9 for Mac is Here - Is this the end-game for Lightroom?

This video is also worth a look.

DXO Photolab 9 Bootcamp for Lightroom and Capture One Switchers

 

[Uncle Kevriano]

Personal preference is for shot 2, the warmer, more saturated look is something I always try to achieve. I make all of my adjustments in Camera Raw.