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Motivation

We find Raw converters (RCs) create often quite harsh highlights. This is no real surprise if you look at the tone curves used in many RCs. They compress the highlights and shadows to win more contrast in the midtones. The DOP Highlight Resolver helps to improve the tonality in the highlights. Best you study the samples below to find out and then use the demo version on your own images.

Note: If the original data are clipped in one or more channels (255 in 8-bit) nothing can be done. The only option would be to try whether the highlight recovery in your raw converter may help to recover data.

Smooth highlights are also very valuable for great B&W photos.

• 08/13/2011 V2
• 04/29/2009 New demonstration photo
• 04/07/2009 Sample after using Capture One 4.7
• 01/04/2009 Bird sample added
• 01/03/2009 Initial article

08/13/2011 Version 2

We just finished a new version 2 which we find V2 to be an improvement over V1. Both versions (version 1+2) are now part of the package.

Installing the script

The script needs to be copied to the Photoshop CS3/CS4/CS5 folder and here to Presets/Scripts (or to the equivalent locations for other languages). After restarting CS3/CS4/CS5 you should find the script under File->Scripts. If you do not find it there you did not put the script into the proper location.

Note: The free demo version can only handle images up to 2000 pixels wide. The commercial version does not have this restriction. You will get this warning message if you use larger images with the demo version:

Using the DOP Plus Highlight Resolver

Using the script

Using the script is simple. Best you have the top layer selected while working with the Highlight Resolver tool. Run the script from File->Scripts

• DOP_HighlightResolver_V2 (or the Demo version)

The Highlight Resolver does not have a user interface in the script. All control is performed in CS3/CS4/CS5 using the created layer:

The script creates a Photoshop Layer DOP_HighlightResolver_V2. The default opacity is set to 60%. You tune the result via the opacity setting. We nearly always use the DOP Highlight Resolver as a very early step in our image processing workflow.

Sample processed with V2

Below 100 pixel views of the cropped area

Before

You may think that these differences are subtle. But this is the point because subtle changes can improve your images. In the example above we would restrict the effect of the Highlight Recovery to the surf only. This photo would also later be converted to B&W.

As always get the demo version and check it out yourself.

4/29/2009 New demonstration photo

Just talked to a friend who is quite impressed by our Highlight Resolver. He mentioned how well it can resolve the colors in rocks that are lit by the sun. Here is a sample:

Mushrooms at the Zion Kolob section

at 50% strength: left before and right after

at 100% strength: left before and right after

We always struggle with these washed out highlights in rocks. The Highlight Resolver can recover some of the natural colors.

4/7/2009 New sample after using Capture One 4.7

We are recently experimenting with Capture One 4.7 as RAW converter. So far we like what we see.

Olympus E-30 photo converted with C1

The only issues we have that we find the highlights a bit agressive. Here our DOP Highlight Resolver works at its best (more detail below).

Without DOP Highlight Resolver

With DOP Highlight Resolver at 50% (default)

With DOP Highlight Resolver at 50%

Watch the sky color and the roof. Important to understand that C1 did not clip but produced some more harsh highlights (also quite a dynamic range to cover here. For situation like this we created the DOP Highlight Resolver. We really like what we get here. Read more below.

DOP Highlight Resolver

DOP Highlight Resolver is a Photoshop CS3/4/5 script that helps to improve the highlights in many digital images.

Installation

The DOP Highlight Resolver V1.0 comes as a Javascript file for Photoshop CS3/CS4 (we only support CS3/CS4).

• Full version is named: DOP_HighlightResolver_V1.jsx
• Demo version is named: DOP_HighlightResolver_V1_Demo.jsx

• Helper script: DOP_MergedLayers.jsx (see below)

Installing the script

The script needs to be copied to the Photoshop CS3/CS4 folder and here to Presets/Scripts (or to the equivalent locations for other languages). After restarting CS3/CS4 you should find the script under File->Scripts. If you do not find it there you did not put the script into the proper location.

Note: The free demo version can only handle images up to 2000 pixels wide. The commercial version does not have this restriction. You will get this warning message if you use larger images with the demo version:

Using the DOP Plus Highlight Resolver

Using the script

Using the script is simple. Best you have the top layer selected while working with the Highlight Resolver tool. Run the script from File->Scripts

• DOP_HighlightResolver_V1 (or the Demo version)

The Highlight Resolver does not have a user interface in the script. All control is performed in CS3/CS4 using the created layers:

The script creates a Photoshop Layer Group “SHR_HighlightGroup” with two layers:

• SHR_Highlight_Luminosity (Blending mode set to Luminosity: don’t change this blending mode)
• SHR_Highlight_Color (Blending mode set to Color: don’t change this blending mode)

Both layers are set to opacity of 50%. This way the effect can be made stronger and weaker.

1. The opacity of the SHR_Highlight_Luminosity layer controls the tonal strength of the Highlight correction (darkening).

2. The opacity of the SHR_Highlight_Color layer controls the color/saturation of the effected highlights.

The purpose of this tool is to create subtle yet very important changes in the highlights.

Helper script: DOP_MergedLayers.jsx

If you have found your preferred settings you may want to merge the Layer Group to save disk space. Because using “Merge Group” in CS3/CS4 can show a different result than what you are seeing using the Layer Group we provide a helper script that creates a new layer with the merged result.

• Make sure the Layer Group is the top layer

• Collapse the Layer Group

• Run the DOP_MergedLayers script and it creates a new merged layer with the same effect as the original Layer Group.

You still can lower the effect by tuning down the opacity of this layer.
Sample #1

This was actually the original image that got us looking for a solution.

We find these bright transitions quite disturbing and often hard to fix. From this sample one might think it is only a problem in pictures shot with high contrast light. A sample later will show that this is not always the case.

In the past the only tool that helped us to get into the right direction was Lightzone’s Relight. Now we use the Highlight Resolver to improve the highlights.

 
Original tonality

After DOP Highlight Resolver at default settings

The following crops show how both the Luminosity and Color layer’s opacities influence the result. The % numbers are the used opacities for these layers.

 
50% Luminosity / 0% Color                         50% Luminosity / 100% Color

 
100% Luminosity / 0% Color                         100% Luminosity / 100% Color

Only in the context of the entire image you can find out the proper settings and how they blend into the tonality of the entire image.

Sample #2

This sample shows how surfaces can get smoother and subtle colors

Original

After default DOP Highlight Resolver treatment

As mentioned before these changes are subtle (especially at this small size) but make a major difference for fine art prints.

Sample #3

The following shot shows the surf at the Pacific taken at long exposure.

Original

Smoother (creamy) thanks to the Highlight Resolver treatment

Sample #4

This shot was taken in the complete shade. Still some highlights show too aggressive to our eyes.

Full image

Original 

   
After Highlight Resolver

Again the small pictures make it hard to see the important yet subtle differences. Here again our eyes get less distracted by some bright elements.

Sample #5 (Glare)

For some time we worked on a new tool to minimize glare on reflective surfaces. Now we think most often the Highlight Resolver will do the job. Below you see a small crop from a 24MP image. The glare is quite a bit distracting.

Original

Less glare with Highlight Resolver at 100% opacities

Sample #6 (Birds)

Bird photos can be very critical in the highlights.

Original

treated with DOP Highlight Resolver

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