For comparison purposes, I converted a RAW file using both ACR and Olympus Master. Except for Exposure Compensation which was set at +0.9 for both software because the original pic was slightly underexposed, all other parameters were set to zero.
Converted this way, it could be seen that ACR produced a duller image whereas Olympus Master's was more punchy. However, the ACR converted image is slightly more detailed.
The duller colours produced by ACR is not a very serious problem but it would mean more post-processing have to be carried out to get the kind of results we like.
However, it is possible to improve the colour rendition by calibrating ACR to our respective cameras and produce a profile that is specific to that particular camera. The procedure is discussed in detail in this article:
http://www.creativepro.com/story/feature/21351-1.html by Bruce Fraser who has also written a very useful book on ACR called 'Real World Camera Raw with Adobe Photoshop CS'.
Following the procedure, I calibrated the ACR to my E-300 and converted the same RAW file using the customised calibration settings and the converted image is as shown in the middle image above. It is still not perfect but it looked better than the one produced by the uncalibrated ACR to my eyes. The calibration settings could probably still be improved further if necessary I suppose.
Using the customised settings to reconvert some of my other E-300 RAW files also produced images with nicer colours than if the default profile was used. So calibrating ACR do work ! And I would certainly be calibrating it to my other cameras as well when I have more time.
Converted this way, it could be seen that ACR produced a duller image whereas Olympus Master's was more punchy. However, the ACR converted image is slightly more detailed.
The duller colours produced by ACR is not a very serious problem but it would mean more post-processing have to be carried out to get the kind of results we like.
However, it is possible to improve the colour rendition by calibrating ACR to our respective cameras and produce a profile that is specific to that particular camera. The procedure is discussed in detail in this article:
http://www.creativepro.com/story/feature/21351-1.html by Bruce Fraser who has also written a very useful book on ACR called 'Real World Camera Raw with Adobe Photoshop CS'.
Following the procedure, I calibrated the ACR to my E-300 and converted the same RAW file using the customised calibration settings and the converted image is as shown in the middle image above. It is still not perfect but it looked better than the one produced by the uncalibrated ACR to my eyes. The calibration settings could probably still be improved further if necessary I suppose.
Using the customised settings to reconvert some of my other E-300 RAW files also produced images with nicer colours than if the default profile was used. So calibrating ACR do work ! And I would certainly be calibrating it to my other cameras as well when I have more time.
