Exposure Slider

[Medavoym]

Hi!

Is using the Exposure Slider in post the very first step one usually takes when grading a RED shot? Especially when using the ETTR method.

I find myself altering this parameter first, only then going for fine tuning with the curves. The problem is that sometimes I lower the Exposure Slider to -1.45 or even -1.65 before going to the next step. The image look fine to me (brought back to normal, no noise etc), but is this too much? Is there any downsize to this? Should I use the Exposure Slider only for very very fine adjustments?

I'm curious if other people also rely heavily on this particular control.

Thanks!

 

[Matthew Rogers]

I believe you want to stay away from the exposure slider as it tends to blow out highlights easily (although, it sounds like you are darking instead of brighting.) If you are taking this down and then pulling up the mids, then you are probably making your image more noisy than it should be. Are you trying to bring down your highlights, or is the entire image too bright?

Matthew

 

[Medavoym]

Hi,

I'm using ETTR, so the image looks "overexposed" - although I'm always taking care not to clip anything - so generally no problems in that respect.

I'm using the Exposure Slider to bring the image back to "normal exposure". Only then do I use the curves to fine-tune the one-light correction, before exporting from REDCINE or REDAlert.

I'm just wondering if relying too much on the Exposure Slider has some hidden disadvantage. The image looks fine to the eye after I use it - no clipped highlights since I took care not to clip anything when exposing, and no noise since I use ETTR and bring back the image in post.

The thing is: I can barely touch the Exposure Slider and achieve the same effect with curves, relying heavily on them to bring the image back to normal - but it does take more time. Or I can slide down the Exposure Slider significantly (again, -1.40 or even -1.60 -- of course, it can be less or more, depending on the particular shot) and achieve more or less the same result instantly (using curves for the final polish, obviously). I just find the second option easier. However, since I'm new to this, I don't want to get started on the wrong path without realizing, and use a control heavily when it's really there for small corrections etc.

 

[Graeme Nattress]

Bringing exposure down is fine. Putting it up, unless you're very under-exposed is a bad thing as it will cause clipping. Sometimes, however, even though it clips, it's the most useful tool for basic exposure adjustment.

Graeme

 

[Joel Kaye]

Bringing exposure down is fine. Putting it up, unless you're very under-exposed is a bad thing as it will cause clipping. Sometimes, however, even though it clips, it's the most useful tool for basic exposure adjustment.

I think I've asked this a few times in other places and never really got the answer. Are ISO and Exposure functionally the same? Or does ISO act more like a midtone adjustment with less effect on shadows and highlights than the Exposure tool?

 

[Graeme Nattress]

Both ISO and exposure directly effect gain. Brightness is a more gamma-like control for raising brightness.

Graeme

 

[Joel Kaye]

Both ISO and exposure directly effect gain. Brightness is a more gamma-like control for raising brightness.

Thanks - now I get it. I usually use ISO and Exposure to quickly check highlight and shadow detail I know what's possible before I begin.

 

[coyne113]

When you take the exposure down are you essentially increasing your ISO and creating a cleaner picture? And when you mention brightness as being more like gamma are you suggesting that does more to effect the middle of the curve or does it shift the whole curve? If I am looking to open up another stop is it better to switch the brightness or exposure? Thanks