Pine Creek Cabin Processing

IR Processing Workflow for Pine Creek Cabin

1. In Lightroom apply Lens Profile Correction for Canon EF-S 10-22 mm
2. Transfer to Photoshop
3. Run image through Nik RAW Presharpener
4. Use Nik Dfine 2 for noise reduction.  At this point I remove the two previous layers and this layer becomes the new background upon which all future processing will be based.
5. Execute Custom “IR Prep” action stack.  Performs the following operations:
   
   1. Create a new layer group named “IR Prep” and adds the following adjustment layers to it:
   2. Add a Levels adjustment layer
   3. Add a Curves adjustment layer
   4. Add a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer with Master saturation set to -100
   5. Add a Channel Mixer adjustment layer Red/Blue channels swapped.
6. At this point I toggle all the adjustment layers except the Channel Mixer layer.  I do this to determine how much blue response I have in the sky.  Since my camera is converted with an 830nm it doesn’t always get as good of a response as say a 720nm conversion would.  In this case there was some promise so I continued editing.  Also I should add that I ran these actions on this RAW file before selecting it for the contest for just this reason.  I wanted everyone to have a sky they could do a Red/Blue channel swap at their option.
7. Adjust levels per channel.  Some would advise just setting a black and white point using the entire RGB spectrum, but I’ve come across cases where the camera will have wildly different bright and dark points on a per channel bases even with a 830nm conversion.  You’re mileage may vary.  In this case I used the following values (maximum no clip):
   
   • R: 13, 246
   • G: 13, 245
   • B: 13, 245
8. Set Curves to preset “Linear Contrast”.  This is just to taste.  I bounce between many of the presets for the Curves adjustment layer.  In this case I was torn between “Linear Contrast” and “Medium Contrast”.  I liked the tone of “Medium Contrast” but knowing I would be using Nik Color Efex later combined with how dark some of the darks were I went with “Linear Contrast” instead.
9. While leaving the Channel Mixer and Hue/Saturation adjustment layers hidden I merge all visible layers to a new layer (Ctrl+Shift+E).
10. Fire up Color Efex Pro using the newly merged layer.  I apply Color Efex adjustments in separate layers.  Some people may combine them all at once in Color Efex and then have them returned as a new layer in Photoshop.  I prefer to keep them separate.  Started with a Tonal Contrast adjustment.
11. Color Efex Pro Detail Extractor layer to bring out details in the deepest shadows.  Utilized a luminosity mask for the deepest darks.
12. Another merge visible layer into new layer (Ctrl+Shift+E).
13. Another Color Efex Pro Detail Extractor layer.  Effect greatly reduced to serve more as a sharpening layer than anything.  Side effect is it REALLY brightens clouds.  I used the Quick Selection Tool to select the sky, feather the selection by 2px, invert, and create a new layer mask.   This mask will prove useful later.
14. Move my Channel Mixer and Hue/Saturation layers to top layers.
15. While holding Ctrl+Alt+Shift drag the previous Detail Extractor layer mask to the Channel Mixer layer and make channel visible.  This makes the channel swap apply to ONLY the sky.  I check the areas along the edge for obvious trouble spots and correct as needed.
16. Again, while holding Ctrl+Alt+Shift drag the previous Channel Mixer layer mask to the Hue/Saturation layer and make channel visible.  This desaturates everything EXCEPT the sky.  I check the areas along the edge for obvious trouble spots and correct as needed.
17. Now I’m not happy with the sky.  There is some response there but not quite enough.  Time to boost it.  I really pushed it to get to this level.  Added a Vibrance adjustment layer and copied the layer mask (Drag while holding Ctrl+Alt) from the Channel Mixer adjustment layer with the following settings:
    
    • Vibrance: +100
    • Saturation: +30
18. Getting closer.  Sky looks too green.  Added a Color Balance adjustment layer, applied the sky only mask, and used the following settings:
    
    • Tone: Shadows, Blue +5
    • Tone: Midtones, Blue +10
    • Tone: Highlights, Blue +10
19. Finally a sky I’m happy with.  Another merge visible layer into new layer (Ctrl+Shift+E).
20. Final trip to Color Efex to apply Darken/Lighten Center for a vignette.
21. Apply custom “Sharpen” action.  Duplicate layer, Filter -> Other -> High Pass, radius 1.8 px, Overlay blend mode.
22. Merge visible and save.  Returning to Lightroom.
23. Minor Clarity and Vibrance adjustment.
24. Export for your viewing pleasure!

That about sums up the process I took to develop this image.  Of course if you have any questions you're welcome to either drop a comment below or send me a note!  Happy editing!

Of course you can see the final HERE.