Amateur Photographer – 20 July 2019

subscribe 0330 333 1113 I http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk I 20 July 2019 37

Flat-fi eld correction explained

Different combinations of cameras and lenses can

sometimes result in unnatural shifts in tone and colour.

These can manifest in different ways. For instance,

there may be a slight colour cast across the image, or

colour drift – where a colour cast becomes stronger

towards the edges of the frame. Vignetting and shading

(coloured vignettes) can also occur. These issues

typically arise with mirrorless cameras or digital

medium-format backs, especially when third-party

wideangle lenses are used. Lightroom already features

lens-correction tools that can fi x some of these issues

by applying lens profi les, as well as a manual vignette

correction tool. However, these corrections are

standardised and will not be tailored for your specifi c

lens/camera combination at a specifi c focal length,

aperture and focus point. This is where fl at-fi eld

correction comes in. By shooting and then referencing

a calibration frame, you can use this new feature to

make a precise correction and eradicate these

unwanted colour drifts.

By shooting and

referencing a

calibration frame

you can eradicate

colour drifts

Once you hit OK

Lightroom applies

flat-field correction

before converting

files to DNGs

The new help

command (left)

offers suggestions

on how to edit your

current images

Helpful in-app

learning

Lightroom CC has a new

contextual help command that

offers access to tutorials and

advice. Found by clicking the

question mark icon at the top right

of the app, the help command

gives you suggestions on how to

edit your current image, as well

as offering other images with

step-by-step guidance on how

they can be edited. In an intuitive

design, blue tips and highlights

will appear over your Lightroom

interface, guiding you to the

relevant tools. If you’re unfamiliar

with Lightroom CC, this can be a

useful way to fi nd your way around

the controls, and it gives you an

idea not just of the tools used to

enhance an image, but also of

typical amounts and setting

strengths that experienced

image editors might use.