[TarMoo]

I have just acquired a copy of Nikon Capture NX2 from Amazon as I have heard that you need NX2 to get the best image from a Nikon Raw file.

I will be NX2 as the first step in a set of photo editing tools (Bibble Labs, Photoshop etc). I am interested to know what types of edit users do with NX2 and which edits they leave to other tools later in the editing process.

As there some default corrections that users apply to most images?

Which features do people find most useful?

Peter

[johnaalex]

Peter

I first load my photos from the camera using PSE6 to organise them and then I work on the NEF files with NX2 (BTW - current version is 2.2.2). The most useful option for me is the D-Lighting control. I usually use the "Better Quality (HQ) setting but wind back on the adjustment slider which defaults to 50 which I find a bit bright in most cases. I think my most used values would be between 25 & 35. The next most popular option for me is to use the Black Control Point which basically allows you to select a black referrence point in the shot from which all the other colours are then calculated against. As with all PP controls this can bring about some weird effects if the Control Point is placed on a colour other than black . The plus and minus brushes are useful ways to add or remove adjustments such as you would do with selective colouring. I then safe the shot has a top quality jpg and for other work such as cloning I use PSE 6 on the jpg.

There is a flickr group (no surprise there ) for NX - Capture NX Users.

This is another useful starting point NX101

[steadyeddy]

Hi peter - I'll second what John has said.

If you do not want to spend too much time pp'ing NX2 is great. Firstly it preserves your in camera settings as the starting point when you load a shot and a couple of strokes later you have made all the difference by for example, adding B&W control points ( can add contrast and make a flat pic really stand out) and using (as John said) Dlighting or exposure adjustments.

V easy to adjust saturation and sharpen if you need to. It also has some very powerful tools if you need to spend a bit more time.

My workflow is:- Download from card using Nikon transfer then into either NX2 or ViewNX (for quick tweaks)

Mark

[shotokan101]

Thanks John - that NX101 link is very useful even for non-Nikoners

Jim