just an idea for an ETTR plugin

[nyukuri]

I posted this also in the wishlist and suggestion section, but now here, hoping that a plugin author reads this and wants to implement it...

Many users use the "expose to the right" (ETTR) technique for better N/S ratio and generally better image quality.
RAW images are lightly overexposed (+0.3 to +1.3 EV) but without clipping the highlights. In the raw converter this overexposure s then corrected with the "exposure" tool and, if necessary, with highlight recovery. The histogram is then finally spread out to fill the whole possible tonal range. The result are much better images than if the photo was exposed "correctly" in the camera.

Until today, no manufacturer has implemented a simple automatic procedure, applying exactly these steps!

THIS IS WHERE ASP COULD STEP IN AND BE THE FIRST SOFTWARE SOLUTION FOR AUTOMATICALLY HANDLING "ETTR"!!!

1. an overexposed image is imported
2. ASP reads the EXIF information (exposure bias +1 EV) and corrects it AUTOMATICALLY with the "exposure tool" (decrease exposure to -1.00 EV)
3. the histogram is then spread out AUTOMATICALLY so that the image data takes advantage of the full available range (similar to AutoLevels), just avoiding clipping
DONE!

This could be implemented as a single checkbox "ETTR" inthe exposure tool.

a) if the checkbox is left UNCHECKED the image is not altered by the described procedure and left overexposed, assuming that this is what the photographer intended
b) BUT IF the checkbox "ETTR" (Expose to the right) is ENABLED, ASP would follow and apply the steps described above!!!

[afx]

Using the exposure comp in the camera is useless. It is already used to correct the meter in the cam for the actual scene, so it is not a true indicator of the amount of exposure shift for ETTR.

cheers
afx

[nyukuri]

maybe not a "true indicator" but still a function for correcting the EV Bias automatically is helpful - at least for a starting point!

[andrewj]

This is now implemented in CAQuest 2.2.1 - see http://support.bibblelabs.com/forums/vi ... 98&t=19806
Andrew