Natural Photoshop Plug-in v3.0
Natural v3.0 introduces a wide selection of new
features and a completely new user interface to organize the setting
options. The options are divided into 4 sections, Presets, Exposure,
Detail and Color, which is also the recommended work flow direction so that
by the time you finished adjusting the color options your done.
Presets
Presets are a completely new set of tools that
enables the saving of setting values. By default Natural comes with 26
Presets and after the first time using it, Natural will also create a
"Default" preset so that users can restore the settings back
to the starting point.
For new users this should be the starting point
cause it makes learning how the different settings affect the final
image very easy. There are 2 main types of presets LDR and HDR, this
doesn't refer to the output of the image but rather what the source
image is. So if you created an HDR image in Photoshop you would use the
HDR preset, while if you are applying Natural on a JPG or RAW file you
would use the LDR presets. This does not mean that the HDR or LDR
presets cannot work with both JPG and HDR images.
The other types of presets explain the type of
result that will be produced, these are Natural, Soft, Sharp, High
Contrast, and BW (black and white).
Create Custom Preset
To create your own preset simply enter a name
into the text box and click the Save button. Your newly created preset
will be added to your list. You can also over write an existing preset
by selecting it from the list, adjusting the settings, and then clicking
the Save button. It is not recommend you change any of the built in
presets.
To delete an unwanted preset, you simply select
it from the list which updates the text box and then click the Delete
button.
The Load button enables using presets not
displayed in the list, which makes sharing presets very easy.
Details
Natural Strength: This option controls the
amount of Dynamic Range Compression which is
applied.
Soften Detail: This option controls how sharp/soft the Micro Contrast
in your image is. It is important to note that this option directly
influences how fast Natural is more than all other options combined.
Micro Detail: This option controls how much Micro Contrast is enhanced
in your image.
DeNoise: This option reduces the amount of
noise in the image.
Exposure
Gamma - This option is the standard way of
adjusting contrast in both displays and cameras but in a non linear
method.
Brightness: This option controls the overall brightness of the
image and works similarly to a simple brightness color correction
tool.
Highlights: This option determines the
white point of the image. This option is like a more powerful version of
Brightness and most of the time, Brightness can be left untouched.
Highlight can only brighten an image while Brightness can also darken an
image.
Shadows: This option gives the
stylistic effect of darkening images, it is very useful option to use when
Brightness and Gamma options don't seem to achieve the desired result.
Shadow Clipping: Although Natural is
suppose to expose under exposed areas and increase detail, it can have a
very negative impact on dark areas which have a lot of noise. This option suppresses
how much exposing occurs in the dark areas. The higher the value the less
impact the filter has on the dark areas.
Color
Temperature - This option enables users to adjust the overall
look of an image by changing the perceived temperature of a scene or
correcting the white balance of your image. Usually blue is considered
cool and red hot, but in nature the opposite is true.
Saturation - Controls the brightness of
colors in a photo, with -1 being a black and white image, 0 being
unchanged color level and 1 being colors boosted.
RGB Adjustments - Similar to the Temp
and Hue options, these 3 options enable users to correct color shifts
and white balance but on a individual color basis since color shifts
don't always affect each color equally.
