Replicating highlight reconstruction map in photo edits

Software darktable
1

I have a strange question, but has anyone ever tried to recreate the B&W effect of the highlight reconstruction map in the filmic rgb module?

When processing, I am working around the general filmic workflow (v7 2023). I have notice that sometimes displaying the highlight reconstruction map shows a rather pleasing result in portions of the photo such as a nice texture and contrast in the clouds/sky, on snow mountains, etc.

For example, I have the following raw:
20220821_766.ORF (13.4 MB)

I do the following:

  • Accept initial defaults on filmic workflow
  • Turn on denoise/lens correction/ haze removal module with defaults
  • exposure = +1.139EV
  • Filmic
    • White relative exposure = +1.63
    • Black relative exposure = -7.97
    • Click "display highlight reconstruction mask in reconstruct tab of filmic

The mask image looks like:

image
image2359×1779 548 KB

It would be interesting to start from the above image and work on the foreground a bit more.

Can any one dodge and burn a result that’s close to the display mask?

2

I just used a second instance of CC to make it bw and then contrast slider and perceptual brilliance in rgb CB

not sure if this is close to what you want…

image
image1920×1080 300 KB

tweaked the rgb cb masks…

image
image1920×1080 307 KB

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3

Yeah I think that looks like it! After seeing how you did it, it makes a lot of sense. Crank the contrast and push the highlights. I have other photos that are not so poorly lit where this style might make a cool end result.
Thanks!

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