Please help! Fixing CA in Lightroom and/or Photoshop Elements 10

[Kairi]

I am new to this whole thing, but I love it, and I feel like the pictures I've been taking are okay so far. My problem is in post processing. The Tamron lens, or Macro settings on it- I'm not sure, seems to have a lot of chromatic aberration. In this post, look at the bee's antenna. I have tried the lens corrections and de-fringe commands, any suggestions?





Camera Nikon D3100
Exposure 0.001 sec (1/2000)
Aperture f/4.5
Focal Length 185 mm
ISO Speed 800
Lens Tamron AF 70.0-300.0 mm f/4.0-5.6 Di

[dlambert]

To me, the antennae seem more out-of-focus than anything. Macro shots are notoriously difficult in part because they tend to have a very narrow DOF, so that's not unusual. The photo also seems pretty saturated, and I know you mentioned some other PP steps, too. It might be worth looking back at the original to see if you're introducing any artifacts while you're processing the photo.

[Kairi]

Thanks, David. Took your advice. I did have some of the flower over saturated, but the antenna still looks purple instead of black. Is that becasue the antenna is out of the focal field?

[ravncat]

Zoom in so that it's easy to see the CA.

Use the ALT key while you adjust the CA sliders - it will help you see just the colors
you are adjusting

Start with the Cyan Magenta - Adjust it until you "reverse" the CA (cyan and magenta switch place) then draw it back and you should be able to find the corrective point

Next do the Yellow Blue - again use the alt key while you adjust the slider.

You usually wont have to, but sometimes, you'll want to adjust thee cyan magenta again after the yellow blue adjustment.

The reduce highlights and all edges, helps get rid of purple fringing - which is a bit different than CA. Usually highlights only, if you have purple fringing against the highlights or in the highlight details, if its really bad all edges. If you don't need it, don't use it.

[Kairi]

Thanks ravncat. That was awesome! With that and some other techniques, here is what I have now.



Again, any suggestion taken gratefully and thanks to all that helped!