Share your ACR default settings

[eric-holmes]

Here are mine:

Exposure: +1.00
Recovery: +20
Fill Light: +15
Blacks: +3
Brightnes: +10
Contrast: +20

Clarity: +50
Vibrance: +30
Saturation: 0

I find that my cera tends to underexpose, so I always need to add exposure and brightness. I have made these my default settings because it seems like I always have to make these adjustments to my pictures. Some pictures may vary in what they need.

 

[Robin Usagani]

I follow your work and I think you do a great job. But I think it is time for you to get LR3 man.

About your setting I think you should get exposure as close as possible. If you think your camera always underexpose, then you should change the way you meter. If you use automated setting, then you should add exposure compensation. I think default value for exposure should always be 0 and I try my best to never touch the recover slider.

 

[o hey tyler]

Yeah, Robin pretty much nailed it.

If your camera is "under exposing". Then you should take it upon yourself to expose the image properly and do your best not to fiddle with it in post. It's just a rule of thumb for better image making.

Getting it right in camera is always tight. If you catch my drift.

 

[FattyMcJ]

Here are mine:

Exposure: +1.00
Recovery: +20
Fill Light: +15
Blacks: +3
Brightnes: +10
Contrast: +20

Clarity: +50
Vibrance: +30
Saturation: 0

I find that my cera tends to underexpose, so I always need to add exposure and brightness. I have made these my default settings because it seems like I always have to make these adjustments to my pictures. Some pictures may vary in what they need.

Like Schwetty said, get it right in-camera. I guarantee your modern DSLR does NOT under expose by a full stop. 1/3, maybe. It could also be a matter of what YOU like, as the photographer. Just because the camera thinks it's right, may not be what YOU wanted, you're smarter than the camera so if you want brighter, and judging by your settings, flatter images, expose the shots that way. Having the clarity at 50 while the contrast is below the default of 25 is a bit counter productive. Having the fill light AND recovery above 0 means that you DON'T want contrast in your images (assuming they're properly exposed to begin with). About the only thing I do the same is the vibrance. I like the colors to "pop" but not over saturate the skin tones.

 

[KmH]

Share your ACR default settings

Here are mine:

Exposure: 0
Recovery: 0
Fill Light: 0
Blacks: 0
Brightnes: 0
Contrast: 0
Clarity: 0
Vibrance: 0
Saturation: 0

 

[eric-holmes]

The camera may not underexpose, but if I set my slider to 0 then the picture is always kind of dark. Now some of those sliders are subject to change. Sometime I will move the recovery all the way to 0 and adjust exposure down from there. Those are just a general starting point. For anyone interested to see what I am trying to describe, here is a downloadable raw file of a test picture. http://db.tt/zbEJGLo

I was always under the impression that CS5 would do just as much as LR3 and more. I didn't think LR would do me any good unless I batch processed hundreds of images.

 

[KmH]

I was always under the impression that CS5 would do just as much as LR3 and more. I didn't think LR would do me any good unless I batch processed hundreds of images.

I agree with that.

Most people buy LR3 just because it costs less than CS5. What many don't realize is they are paying for, but will rarely ever need or use as intended, Lightroom's primary function - DAM (digital asset management), and are really paying an awful lot for the main reason they got Lightroom, Lightroom's secondary function - the edit rendeing engine ACR 6.

At least with CS5 you get the same ACR 6 Lightroom has, Bridge (a feature packed image browser few seem to know how to use effectively), plus all the tools and functions of CS like layers, masking, text, vector paths, soft-proofing, the list goes on quite a ways...

 

[FattyMcJ]

I agree with that.

Most people buy LR3 just because it costs less than CS5. What many don't realize is they are paying for, but will rarely ever need or use as intended, Lightroom's primary function - DAM (digital asset management), and are really paying an awful lot for the main reason they got Lightroom, Lightroom's secondary function - the edit rendeing engine ACR 6.

At least with CS5 you get the same ACR 6 Lightroom has, Bridge (a feature packed image browser few seem to know how to use effectively), plus all the tools and functions of CS like layers, masking, text, vector paths, soft-proofing, the list goes on quite a ways...

Indeed.

LR3 is (for me) the most valuable tool because it combines the DAM and ACR in one app, then if I need to process the photo further than what ACR provides, I take it (from LR) into Photoshop. The two work seamlessly together and, again...for me, it's easier than using Bridge+CS5. I see the value of Bridge, I just never learned how to utilize it fully. I guess, in my mind, Bridge & LR3 are interchangeable and it boils down to personal preference. Though I could be wrong, I learn something new every day

But that's all off topic, apologies.

My default settings are:

Exposure: 0
Recovery: 0
Fill Light: 0
Blacks: 5
Brightnes: 0
Contrast: +25
Clarity: +10
Vibrance: +10
Saturation: 0

Like you said, Eric, the sliders invariably change with each photo, but the base I have above gives me a bit more "punch" as a starting point. It looks like you like your starting point to be a bit more flat and subdued...which is fine. Keith likes no starting point, again...a matter of preference.

Also, something to point out is the Camera Calibration tab at the very bottom...that effects the base photo rendering that you start with in ACR.

I have my default import develop set to Camera Standard, since it is set in my camera that way. I do this because I want the initial rendering of the photo I see in LR3 to be as close to what I see on the back of the camera, as possible. Shooting in RAW, as you probably know, allows for many different starting points from which to choose, i.e Camera Neutral, Portrait, Landscape, Standard, and "Adobe Standard", etc. I, personally, don't like the way Adobe Standard looks when rendering the initial preview...too flat...hence my choice of Camera Standard and the above base settings.

Whew...sorry for the long post lol

 

[eric-holmes]

No, don't be sorry at all. This was an extremely helpful post. I think you may have identified my problem. I had my camera profile set to Adobe Standard. When I switched it up to Camera Standard, the picture immediately popped more, the colors were more vibrant and less flat. I was able to set most of the sliders to 0 and they only required minor tweaking. Great. Now to re-evaluate everything!

 

[FattyMcJ]

No, don't be sorry at all. This was an extremely helpful post. I think you may have identified my problem. I had my camera profile set to Adobe Standard. When I switched it up to Camera Standard, the picture immediately popped more, the colors were more vibrant and less flat. I was able to set most of the sliders to 0 and they only required minor tweaking. Great. Now to re-evaluate everything!

Excellent! I'm glad you discovered something new! I love that feeling when the lightbulb goes off lol Happens to me daily lol

 

[eric-holmes]

Bad part is, I knew about that tab. I had it set to Adobe Standard because I watched a tutorial once and that is where that guy liked to do his starting point. Just goes to show that not everyone flows the same.