Plug-In: Playing with Macphun Intensify Pro

[plugsnpixels]

Shot this bird (sorry I don't know my bird species!) who suddenly landed on top of a patio table umbrella next to the one where I was sitting. I used a Nikon L810 at 400mm zoom (35mm equivalent). I could have zoomed even closer but sometimes the zoom won't autofocus on the extreme end (and other times it will).

Post-processed for detail and tone with Macphun's Intensify Pro which I just started using. Bokeh is natural from the original shot (f/5.9). Cropped to remove distracting umbrella.

Original included for comparison.

[lkroll]

Re: Playing with Macphun Intensify Pro

Many ways to amplify local contrast; the problem usually lies with noticeable noise artifacts in homogeneous regions such as clear skies. Not sure how well Intensify Pro handles that and can't really tell by the small thumbnail images shown but I do have to admit I didn't explore the site you linked in detail Plugs.

[plugsnpixels]

Re: Playing with Macphun Intensify Pro

Hi Lyle, I did some quick tests with Topaz Detail and Macphun Intensify. Both reveal hidden detail while not adding fringing/haloing, though both of course emphasize image noise.

Sky1 is the original non-DSLR image (reduced in size but not otherwise processed); sky2 is the Topaz Detail version; sky3 is the Intensify version and sky4 is the Topaz version noise-reduced with Topaz DeNoise.

Of course both the Topaz and Macphun versions could look any way you want them to via slider adjustments; here I just got them within reach of each other effect-wise.

[plugsnpixels]

Re: Playing with Macphun Intensify Pro

I forgot to mention above that Macphun includes former Nik software engineers.

[lkroll]

Re: Playing with Macphun Intensify Pro

The very last one (far right) looks impressive Plugs, but yes, I've seen several implementations of localized contrast and each introduce not so pretty noise in void areas such as skies.