Using the new Enhance feature in LR Classic - my new workflow

[Richard Stern]

Now that LR Classic has incorporated the Enhance module from PS 2021, I have found a new workflow that seems to work really well for images that need to be heavily cropped. This feature uses AI to "enhance" the size of the file, so that, theoretically, one can crop twice as hard to achieve a good result. I don't know how it compares to, say, Topaz gigapixel. Here's what I now do to make bird images I take with a 300+1.4x look like they have been taken with a much longer lens -

1). Import the raw (.nef) file into LR.
2). In the develop module, Enhance and save as an Enhanced.dng. Make any necessary color adjustments, but no sharpening or noise reduction.
3). Process in Topaz AI as a LR plug-in - usually 1 click, occasionally 2 if more noise reduction needed.
4). Look at the image at 100% and sharpen gently in Topaz AI till it looks right, then save back in LR. (I find Topaz sharpening looks better than LR).
5). Crop to taste, in LR, and save as a jpeg.

Not perfect, and no doubt an extra $5000 or so on a better lens would do a better job, but for a retired hobbyist on a fixed income, it works for me., and takes about 2-5 minutes on my 2015 Macbook Pro. Here's a before and after recent example. (an Olive-sided flycatcher , Nova Scotia) .

Richard

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[pochito]

Is there a reason for enhancing before denoising?

 

[Grumpy]

Second one is not bad, not bad at all.

 

[Richard Stern]

Is there a reason for enhancing before denoising?

I think denoising works better on the raw file, so I convert that to dng first. Basically the order I do things in is more trial and error then anything else.