An example of SP PRO & Dodge tool

[odklizec]

Some of you may probably remember the following photo from last years "European Dog Sled Race Championship"

Photo like this is a real nightmare to take without blown highlights or parts with deep shadows. Here is RAW processed in SP3, where I tried to extract as much details from sky as I could:

And here is the same RAW processed with SP4 and Dodge tool at 100%. The only other difference is a bit lower color noise reduction. Other parameters are exactly the same as in above SP3 output...

This example may be a bit extreme, however, it clearly shows how powerful is the Dodge tool! To view the difference between these two files is to download both photos, open them in an image viewer and switch between them.

 

[uKrris]

Hi Pavel,

This is an excellent example and thanks for posting it. But where do you find the " dodge process " or Dodge Tool :? . I am currently trying out the 30 day free version of SP PRO and since the manual is in Japanese have not made any progress in tracking down the Dodge Tool. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[odklizec]

Hi Chris,

You can find the Dodge tool in Exposure section. See the screenshot...

 

[socket]

What does the Dodge tool do, exactly? (As in how much of the difference between the photos is due to v4 alone?)

Here is a listing of the differences between v4 and PRO for those interested.

http://www.shortcutinc.com/cms/index.php?id=250

 

[odklizec]

Dodge tool, as I understand it, is some kind of fill light and highlight recovery tool. It makes the deep shadows lighter and recover details from highlights. Ideally, the Dodge tool works with selections or with some kind of paint brush. Unfortunately, the SP PRO way is fully automatic and applied over entire image. So all you can do is to control the strength of Dodge effect.

 

[uKrris]

Thanks Pavel. I am very . Seldom go to Exposure but rely on Gamma and other workarounds. This Dodge Tool looks like another excellent parameter and will allow for some creativity.