Shadows & Highlights alternative? at DVinfo.net

Rafael Lopes · March 27th, 2012, 01:13 PM

I´ve tried a bunch of different alternatives and so far I´m yet to discover an effect that allows me to achieve a better latitude balance than Shadows & Highlights. I do stills 99,9% of the time but I´ve been shooting more video lately and I´d like to be able to use this effect on video, but when I boost the shadows and clip the highlights with it I get horrible horrible grain. Is there any other effect that will allow me the same flexibility? I´ve tried curves, gamma, layers, balance, etc and no luck.

P.S - I´ve tested footage from the hacked GH1 and the NEX-5N.

Bart Walczak · March 27th, 2012, 02:36 PM

There's only so much that you can do with 8-bit footage before the grain and posterization kick in. The best way would be to get the proper exposure in camera.

You can try duplicating the video layer, inverting the channels and setting it to overlay mode. It will have the effect of reducing contrast and bringing the shadows up and highlights down.

Lee Mullen · March 28th, 2012, 12:56 AM

[QUOTE=Bart Walczak;1723443
You can try duplicating the video layer, inverting the channels and setting it to overlay mode. It will have the effect of reducing contrast and bringing the shadows up and highlights down.[/QUOTE]

How do you duplicate and setting as an overlay?

Bart Walczak · March 28th, 2012, 03:34 AM

Copy the clip, paste it on another video layer on top, and in the effects window choose opacity->blending mode->overlay

Rafael Lopes · March 28th, 2012, 11:59 AM

Thanks, guys. I will give it a try.

Ann Bens · March 28th, 2012, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bart Walczak

There's only so much that you can do with 8-bit footage before the grain and posterization kick in. The best way would be to get the proper exposure in camera.

You can try duplicating the video layer, inverting the channels and setting it to overlay mode. It will have the effect of reducing contrast and bringing the shadows up and highlights down.

How do you invert the channels?

Bart Walczak · March 29th, 2012, 04:19 AM

Find "invert" in your effects bin?

Ann Bens · March 29th, 2012, 09:28 AM

Yes i know of the Invert effect but it gives all the wrong colours for every channel and in overlay.

Bart Walczak · March 30th, 2012, 02:04 AM

You can also try luma curve that looks like \ (backslash) instead of normal / - it will invert the luminance only.

March 27th, 2012, 01:13 PM	#1
Rafael Lopes Trustee Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rio de Janeiro Posts: 1,240	Shadows & Highlights alternative? I´ve tried a bunch of different alternatives and so far I´m yet to discover an effect that allows me to achieve a better latitude balance than Shadows & Highlights. I do stills 99,9% of the time but I´ve been shooting more video lately and I´d like to be able to use this effect on video, but when I boost the shadows and clip the highlights with it I get horrible horrible grain. Is there any other effect that will allow me the same flexibility? I´ve tried curves, gamma, layers, balance, etc and no luck. P.S - I´ve tested footage from the hacked GH1 and the NEX-5N. __________________ www.rafael-lopes.com

March 27th, 2012, 02:36 PM	#2
Bart Walczak Major Player Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Warsaw/Poland Posts: 716	Re: Shadows & Highlights alternative? There's only so much that you can do with 8-bit footage before the grain and posterization kick in. The best way would be to get the proper exposure in camera. You can try duplicating the video layer, inverting the channels and setting it to overlay mode. It will have the effect of reducing contrast and bringing the shadows up and highlights down. __________________ Creative Impatience - The Solace of Simple Solutions. A few useful plugins for Adobe users, and my remarks on the tools and the craft in general.

March 28th, 2012, 12:56 AM	#3
Lee Mullen Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Western Australia Posts: 576	Re: Shadows & Highlights alternative? [QUOTE=Bart Walczak;1723443 You can try duplicating the video layer, inverting the channels and setting it to overlay mode. It will have the effect of reducing contrast and bringing the shadows up and highlights down.[/QUOTE] How do you duplicate and setting as an overlay?

March 28th, 2012, 03:34 AM	#4
Bart Walczak Major Player Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Warsaw/Poland Posts: 716	Re: Shadows & Highlights alternative? Copy the clip, paste it on another video layer on top, and in the effects window choose opacity->blending mode->overlay __________________ Creative Impatience - The Solace of Simple Solutions. A few useful plugins for Adobe users, and my remarks on the tools and the craft in general.

March 28th, 2012, 11:59 AM	#5
Rafael Lopes Trustee Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rio de Janeiro Posts: 1,240	Re: Shadows & Highlights alternative? Thanks, guys. I will give it a try. __________________ www.rafael-lopes.com

March 29th, 2012, 04:19 AM	#7
Bart Walczak Major Player Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Warsaw/Poland Posts: 716	Re: Shadows & Highlights alternative? Find "invert" in your effects bin? __________________ Creative Impatience - The Solace of Simple Solutions. A few useful plugins for Adobe users, and my remarks on the tools and the craft in general.

March 29th, 2012, 09:28 AM	#8
Ann Bens Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 710	Re: Shadows & Highlights alternative? Yes i know of the Invert effect but it gives all the wrong colours for every channel and in overlay.

March 30th, 2012, 02:04 AM	#9
Bart Walczak Major Player Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Warsaw/Poland Posts: 716	Re: Shadows & Highlights alternative? You can also try luma curve that looks like \ (backslash) instead of normal / - it will invert the luminance only. __________________ Creative Impatience - The Solace of Simple Solutions. A few useful plugins for Adobe users, and my remarks on the tools and the craft in general.