First go at PP in Gimp

[SnowA]

First time venturing beyond Canon's DPP. Pretty steep learning curve with the concepts and the program!

Before (straight conversion from RAW to jpeg):
http://warmtinny.com/gallery2/d/114848-1/IMG_4582_orig.jpg

Only 2 changes - levels - simple change for the RH slider to the edge of the histogram, and USM - radius 7, amount 1.0, threshold 10.

After:
http://warmtinny.com/gallery2/d/114851-1/IMG_4582_gimped.jpg

Did I overdo it? The result looks a little grainy to me.

[pgbphotographytas]

Did I overdo it? The result looks a little grainy to me.

I don't think you have over done it at all. Your basic processing has worked well and really given it a lift.

[kiwi]

The issue here isnt levels, it's exposure, can you adjust that up by a stop ?

[SnowA]

Thanks for the suggestion Darren.

I tried it again, from scratch. This time, in UFRaw I adjusted the Ev using the auto function. It upped it considerably. In Gimp I looked at the levels, but the histogram had shifted to the right so there was no slider adjustment required. Same USM as before.

For personal taste I think it looks a touch bright to me now.
http://warmtinny.com/gallery2/d/114857-1/IMG_4582-gimp2.jpg

I then had another go - this time no Ev adjustment at all in UFRaw, but levels and (this time) colour curve in Gimp, USM as before. I think I like this last one more.

http://warmtinny.com/gallery2/d/114860-1/IMG_4582-gimp3.jpg

[kiwi]

I think your monitor might be too dark, your first adjustment to me looks closer to what I would expect

[SnowA]

haha.. could well be! That's another variable to chuck into the mix; will go have a hunt for calibration threads around here.

Thanks for looking again, much appreciated.