How to make Lightroom image look like what I'm getting from C1?

[Amin]

There are a couple things I like about Lightroom: highlight clipping seems more graceful and workflow is very familiar

But I always seem to get better results from C1. It's probably got a lot to do with my lack of expertise, so I'd appreciate if some of the LR users could provide some tips.

Here is the link to my RAW file, and the C1-processed JPEG: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B93HF6w-u-VXZU1LSzlvMWJIYTA/view?usp=sharing


My basic issue is illustrated by the following crops. First, here is a near-center crop, C1-process:

I can get the same level of detail in Lightroom, but the only way I can get it without ugly, textured noise, is to crank the luminance NR. Through a combination of sharpening and NR, I can get this part of the image how I want it in LR, but at that point, the detail is destroyed in this area near the right side of the frame (C1 version shown below):

So my question is this: Can someone process my RAW file in LR such that the center is as clean and detailed as my C1 version without causing that right-sided area to look all mushy? If so, please upload your full-res LR-processed JPEG and tell me the settings you used.

 

[Godfrey]

I created a catalog with just your supplied JPEG and raw files in it using LR 6.1.1. To my eye, the JPEG looked a bit over-sharpened. I adjusted the settings for the raw file until it produced a match that is more pleasing to my eye with similar sharpness and tonal visibility in the dark areas.

Full resolution JPEG: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/25268645/Test-LR_JPEG.jpg

LR 6.1.1 catalog for you to play with and see settings: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/25268645/Test.zip

1. Download and unpack .zip file.
2. Place C1 JPEG.jpg and RAW.arw into the "Images" subfolder.
3. Open Test.lrcat with LR 6.1.1 and let Lightroom generate the previews file.

Have fun,

G

 

[Amin]

Thanks for sharing that, Godfrey. You're using wider radius sharpening than I had tried. Also more masking.

My C1 JPEG was more sharpened than I usually do. I was actually trying to match the degree of sharpening from LR settings posted by Tim Ashley in another thread.

Here is another version processed by C1 with less sharpening: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B93HF6w-u-VXVWpoVmF3M3AzTjQ/view?usp=sharing

 

[Godfrey]

Thanks for sharing that, Godfrey. You're using wider radius sharpening than I had tried. Also more masking.

My C1 JPEG was more sharpened than I usually do. I was actually trying to match the degree of sharpening from LR settings posted by Tim Ashley in another thread.

Here is another version processed by C1 with less sharpening: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B93HF6w-u-VXVWpoVmF3M3AzTjQ/view?usp=sharing

You're welcome.

I wouldn't try to "match" things so much as just make pleasing, satisfying images that meet your intents without getting overly focused on one or another specific aspect of the image's quality.

Which tools to like for doing that is, to me, a toss up based on personal predilections and experiences as well as what the tools are capable of. I like using LR because I find it nicely designed, learnable, rememberable, and well supported. It is capable enough that it does what I need well most of the time, and I know it well enough that I get good results out of it most of the time. To me this is a great user experience. I've not had a similar great experience using other tools, so I stick with it.

G