Migrate Capture NX2 (nef) to Lightroom2 (dng)

[Eric Dufresne]

Hello,

I try to migrate from Capture NX2 + NEF to Lightroom2 + DNG, but I have two problems that really keeps me from jumping. The first is the sharpness. I can not have as good result in lightroom with NX2 (normally the setting is 40%, 4%, 5%) My second problem is the rendering of darker colors. I have a photo of a model with black hair and black background. Under NX2, hair, though dark, are whell defining. But under Lightroom2... I have red color appears as if it would be the JPEG compression. I will like to know your tips or site so that I can finally jump with DNG?

Eric

[johnbeardy]

A couple of thoughts. Make sure you compare prints, not on screen appearance, as LR's print sharpening isn't shown on screen. As for rendering, I've seen a couple of extreme examples of magenta appearing in very dark grey gradients, but what you describe isn't usual. Have you tried switching the profile in Develop's Calibration tab?

John

[Eric Dufresne]

Hi,

I remake some tests. Same picture, Capture NX2 vs Lightroom2. As I am French Canadian, the fields are a free translation:)

Under Capture NX2
White Balance: As Is (manual with grey card on Nikon D90)
Optimization: Standard
Quick Fix, Exposure, 0.3
Mask blur: 50%-5%-4%
Convert to sRGB and save at full resolution at 100% quality



Under Lightroom
White Balance: As Is (manual with grey card on Nikon D90)
Exposure: +0.30
Recovery: 0
Light-up: 0
Black: 5
Brightness: 50
Contrast: 25

Details
Sharpness
Gain: 80
Radius: 1.5
Detail: 50
Masking: 0

Noise Reduction
Luminance: 0
Color: 0

Calibration of the camera: Camera Standard

On jpeg export, no sharpness, save at full resolution at 100% quality and sRGB

And the third, same parameter with Lightroom except I change the profile from Camera standard to Adobe Standard

I upload this three picture on my picassa album.  Each file is 6-7mb

http://picasaweb.google.com/clarkii.clownfish/SitesDePhotos?authkey=Gv1sRgCNXIvbbNmpHzJA&feat=directlink

Eric

[Eric Dufresne]

I can not compare printed, I can not print bigger than 8x11. I compare two full resolution jpg at 100% quality on Snow Leopard.

Eric

[johnbeardy]

Looking at those images, I'd be tempted to bump the red saturation and luminance in the HSL panel. Activate the little adjustment scrubber (top left of panel) and drag upwards on the area you want to adjust. You wouldn't expect LR to replicate the NX look straight out of the box though.

As for the sharpness, you can only compare the two products' printed output. On screen comparison is only of on screen appearance, and LR never shows the final output sharpening on screen.

John