Post-processing challenge 16 April 2022

There are no rules as to how you apply your post-processing to this image; but, please let us know what you have done so we can all learn. If you would like to post a candidate image next week, please ensure it is of sufficiently high resolution for manipulation by the participants (3000px on the long side, 300dpi for example).

Most of all, let's have fun while we are learning or demonstrating how we use our post-processing software, imaginations and interpretations.

Scan of a print.

I started by using NIK Dfine noise reduction in Photoshop to reduce color noise, then NIK "Tonal Contrast" in Color Efex to increase mostly mid-tone contrast, then overlayed a high pass layer for sharpening.

This is a nice photo as taken, there is no need to try to improve the composition. I was trying to reduce the overall softness, lack of contrast in mostly the mid-tones, and color noise due to scanning.

Great photo for a PP challenge, @tom_r !

I started off by adjusting the levels and - like @Glenn McCreery - applied a HPF to sharpen edges. Boosted saturation and contrast. Finally applied dabs of 'warming/lightening' where the sun might have been if wasn't where it was :)

Just levels and a bit of color grading.

Thought I'd try a b/w version. I've had these photo prints for years and never post-processed any of them before.

My version:

1. Auto Tone (adjustable)

2. Vivid (adjustable)

3. Sharpen (adjustable)

I used RawTherapee and ART. ART is a derivative of RawTherapee, and some of the tools have different features.

With RawTherapee: I used log tone mapping to set the black and white points and to increase separation of the darker values, then soft light to increase the midtone contrast, and a little dehaze to increase local contrast. Then adjusted the mid-tones using the gray adjustment of the log tone mapping tool. Also cranked up the saturation to 30.

In ART: Added a vignette with the center positioned over the town, and removed some of the more distracting bright spots with its spot removal tool.

Back in RT: Darkened the edges with a vignette, darkened the sky with the grad filter, and brightened the image a little using exposure compensation. The sky turned out to be less than satisfying. I was trying to make it look more ominous to lend a sort of "big government vs. little town" vibe, but that would probably take some layer work with a pixel editor.

At the pixel level there are a lot of "worms" in the original image that look much like the artifacts produced by a "smart" sharpen tool that is adjusted too high. They might be (or might be contributing to) the noise that was referenced above.