In a previous post I wrote about how to use a Magic Lantern Lua script (on the right) to create auto super resolution brackets. In this post, I offer some insight into why SR photography may be of interest to you, and a Photoshop action to automate PS-CC post processing: well at least for a four layer SR stack.
As usual my test image is a view in our house.
I first used the SR Lua script to create a four bracket SR set, using the jiggle and move option.
After ingesting into LR, I simply exported as layers into Photoshop.
I had previously created a script that took the four layers, scalled up by 200%, aligned the layers, reduced the opacity according the usual recipe for SR processing (100%, 50%, 33%, 25%), flattened the layers, and reduced the image scale back down, ie by 50%. For those interested here are the script commands:
Action: 4 Layer SR
Select back layer
Without Make Visible
3
Select front layer
Modification: Add Continuous
Without Make Visible
1, 3, 4, 5
Image Size
Width: 200%
With Scale Styles
With Constrain Proportions
Interpolation: nearest neighbor
Align current layer
Using: content
Apply: automatic
Without Vignetting Removal
Without Geometric Distortion Correction
Select back layer
Without Make Visible
6
Select forward layer
Without Make Visible
3
Set current layer
To: layer
Opacity: 50%
Select forward layer
Without Make Visible
4
Set current layer
To: layer
Opacity: 33%
Select forward layer
Without Make Visible
5
Set current layer
To: layer
Opacity: 25%
Flatten Image
Image Size
Width: 50%
With Scale Styles
With Constrain Proportions
Interpolation: nearest neighbor
As for a comparison, I made good use of the new LR-CC compare mode (in the Library module).
First, here is the base (RAW) image:
Here is the LR comparison after processing both the a single RAW .CR2 and the PS-CC processed SR image with the same settings, ie lens correction and detail sharpening.
I hope you agree, that if you are interested in getting the maximum image quality and detail out of an image, a simple 4-layer SR approach appears to have real benefits (accepting the subject shouldn't be moving).
The SR (on the left) clearly exhibits detail and the single RAW is softer and lacking the detail in the SR version.
As usual I welcome any feedback on this approach to SR photography, ie using an ML script and a PS-CC script (at least for a four image bracket set).
Great read, Garry!
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