TechUserFriendly.com » Cameras

Repair Oily or Shiny Skin on a Person’s Face in a Photo

Friendly User — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 09:15:12 +0000

Sometimes after taking a photo of a person or a group of people, you may find that the photo would look much better with some slight editing or retouching. One potential problem with the picture may be if someone in the shot has obviously oily skin or shiny skin, which may have been made worse by your camera flash or by the surrounding lighting.

One reason to remove, repair, or reduce the unflattering appearance of oily or shiny skin on someone’s face, would be to prevent embarrassing that person in a picture that must be shared, as it may be a one-of-a-kind moment or meeting between friends, for example.

At any rate, the following is a quick and simple method to fix or improve the shine on a person’s face in a photo, whether it involves someone’s forehead, cheeks, nose, or other area of their face. Photoshop is used for the method below to reduce the appearance of oily or shiny skin.

Reduce a Person’s Oily or Shiny Skin in a Picture

Open your image in Photoshop.
From the Toolbox in Photoshop, click to select the "Healing Brush Tool" (or press the "J" key).
From the Options Bar in Photoshop:
a. For "Mode" choose "Darken".

b. For "Source" choose "Sampled".
c. For "Sample" choose "All Layers".
From the Options Bar, click on "Brush".
a. For "Diameter" (brush size), choose "30 px".

b. For "Hardness" choose "0%".

c. For other settings shown under "Brush" match the values in the screenshot, but settings for Diameter and Hardness are more important here.
Create a new layer, and name it as the "Repair Layer"
On the person’s face with the oily/shiny skin, find an area of skin that you think looks "good", which is the target skin tone that you would like in the final photo. On this "good" area of skin, hold "Alt" and click on this area. (In some cases, it may be helpful to look for a "good" area that is as close to the problem area as possible. For example, if the problem area is the forehead, then try to choose a "good" skin area on the forehead. This is not necessary in general, but may help some to achieve improved results.)
Make sure the Repair Layer is still the active layer, then while still using the Healing Brush Tool, click on the problem areas to paint over these oily/shiny spots.
Apply a slight Gaussian Blur to the Repair Layer.
For the Repair Layer, lower the opacity to get a more natural result. A value of about 60% should give good results. You may find a different value fits your photo better.
Save your Photoshop file in case you would like to make further changes later.
Save your final edited image file.

You should now see a noticeable improvement in the edited photo, so that the oily or shiny skin of the person in the photo has been reduced and is no longer an issue.

References

"Oily/Shiny Skin" – planetphotoshop.com

Download Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Sample AVCHD Lite Video Featuring 12x Zoom

Friendly User — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 15:40:00 +0000

Here is another AVCHD Lite video sample for free download, from the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3. This sample video, available as an unedited MTS file, features the 12x zoom capability of the camera; the Panasonic ZS3 can zoom while recording video. The video begins at the widest angle, at 1x zoom, then zooms in at its top speed until it reaches the maximum 12x zoom. This should give a good idea of the high picture quality that is maintained throughout the zooming up through the maximum 12x zoom, as well as the speed and smoothness of the zoom function. The video is recorded handheld, without a tripod.

The purpose is to allow you to download and sample the original MTS files, in an uncompressed form to view and edit on your computer. These videos are taken straight out of the camera, with no post-processing of any kind. This can be useful if you do not have access to the Panasonic ZS3, and want to inspect the video quality, the audio quality, the zoom, the quality of video playback on a computer, and the ease of video editing on a computer for MTS video files made by the Panasonic ZS3. Videos made by the Panasonic TZ7 will be identical in quality to Panasonic ZS3 videos, but with a different limit on recording time.

Panasonic ZS3 AVCHD Lite Video Sample (MTS File)

Note: To download, click “Download Now” at the bottom of the download page linked below.

Sample Video – 1280 x 720 resolution, 720p HD video
http://www.filefactory.com/file/a1e2320/n/zs3-unedited-avchd-lite-hd-sample-05.MTS
Format: AVCHD Lite, MTS file
Video Length: 50 sec
File Size: 92.7 MB

More sample unedited AVCHD Lite HD video from the Panasonic ZS3, as MTS files, are available here.

Related Information

Download Sample MTS Files of AVCHD Lite HD Video for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
Convert and Edit DMC-ZS3 AVCHD Lite Video for Free
Sample AVCHD Lite HD Videos: Is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 A Camcorder Replacement?
HD Video Record Time Limit: Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 vs DMC-TZ7 (AVCHD Lite)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3/DMC-TZ7 10MP Camera – Wide Angle with 12x Zoom

Free Download Links for MTS Video Players

Media Player Classic – Free Video Player
VLC Player – Free Video Player

Download Sample MTS Files of AVCHD Lite HD Video for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3

Friendly User — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:00:46 +0000

Here are two sample HD videos in the AVCHD Lite format, presented for free download as original and unedited MTS files. They were filmed using the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 digital camera. The purpose is to allow you to download and sample the original MTS files, in an uncompressed form to view and edit on your computer. These videos are taken straight out of the camera, with no post-processing of any kind. This can be useful if you do not have access to the Panasonic ZS3, and want to inspect the video quality, the audio quality, the zoom, the quality of video playback on a computer, and the ease of video editing on a computer for MTS video files made by the Panasonic ZS3. G2VB4TCHREX9 EXXBMPYGYUK6

Please note, these videos were not originally made for use as video samples, thus they were not filmed under controlled conditions (i.e. please excuse the bit of shakiness and imprecise zooming in these samples). But this may give you a representation of real-world use and conditions, where people get in your view to throw off the camera’s focus, or you may zoom in a little too much only to zoom out a bit which makes the camera work harder to focus. Overall, the Panasonic ZS3 does well under these conditions and is easy to handle. The emphasis in these samples is on the zoom power, and the picture quality or sharpness.

Scene for Filming AVCHD Lite Sample HD Videos

Here is a un-zoomed photo of the scene used in the sample videos, to give some perspective on the zoom power used in the Panasonic ZS3 video samples below. This photo is also unprocessed, and is only reduced in size.

Panasonic ZS3 AVCHD Lite Video Samples (MTS Files)

These MTS video files from the Panasonic ZS3 are available for free download from the links provided below. Videos made by the Panasonic TZ7 will be identical in quality to these Panasonic ZS3 videos, but with a different limit on recording time. Again, please excuse the bit of shakiness and imprecise zooming in these samples as they were not taken in controlled conditions.

Note: To download, click “Download Now” at the bottom of each download page linked below.

Sample A – 1280 x 720 resolution, 720p HD video
http://www.filefactory.com/file/a1d6780/n/zs3-unedited-avchd-lite-hd-sample-02.MTS
Format: AVCHD Lite, MTS file
Video Length: 28 sec
File Size: 51.9 MB

Sample B – 1280 x 720 resolution, 720p HD video
http://www.filefactory.com/file/a1d68ge/n/zs3-unedited-avchd-lite-hd-sample-04.MTS
Format: AVCHD Lite, MTS file
Video Length: 31 sec
File Size: 58 MB

More sample unedited AVCHD Lite HD video from the Panasonic ZS3, featuring its 12x zoom while recording, are available here as MTS files.

Related Information

Convert and Edit DMC-ZS3 AVCHD Lite Video for Free
Download Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Sample AVCHD Lite Video Featuring 12x Zoom
Sample AVCHD Lite HD Videos: Is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 A Camcorder Replacement?
HD Video Record Time Limit: Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 vs DMC-TZ7 (AVCHD Lite)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3/DMC-TZ7 10MP Camera – Wide Angle with 12x Zoom

Free Download Links for MTS Video Players

Media Player Classic – Free Video Player
VLC Player – Free Video Player

Reduce Noise in Panasonic DMC-ZS3 Photos For Free

Friendly User — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:55:41 +0000

Under less-than-perfect conditions, or low light conditions, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 may take photos that have too much noise in them, or at least more than you would like. Noise basically refers to imperfections in the photo that give the photo a grainy appearance, that is not as sharp or as smooth as would be ideal. Noise can affect all types and models of digital cameras, so the noise problem and noise reduction solution described here can be applied to photos taken by any camera, though the level of success may vary depending on the original photo quality.

Some basic photo post-processing can make your photographs look better. Using the free demo version of Neat Image noise reduction software, JPEG photos taken with the Panasonic ZS3 (or any other camera) can be improved or cleaned-up by following a simple process.

Before Processing Photos from the Panasonic ZS3

Note: Download links can be found at the end of this article.

There are a few free software programs that you will need before you can carry on with the noise reduction of your Panasonic ZS3 JPEG photos.

Neat Image, noise reduction software, free demo edition.
(optional) FastStone Image Viewer, a free image viewer, or any other software to compare images side-by-side.
(optional) PhotoME, a free EXIF data viewer/editor, restores the original photo’s EXIF data to the processed photo. The demo version of Neat Image does not save EXIF data.

Reduce Noise in Panasonic ZS3 JPEG Photos

Note: Make sure to always keep an unaltered backup copy of the original photo JPEG file.

In Neat Image:

Click "Open input image" and select the image you wish to apply noise reduction to. If you have multiple copies at different resolutions for the same photo, please use the largest resolution photo you can.
Click the "Device Noise Profile" tab, then click "Auto Profile".
Click the "Noise Filter Settings" tab, then choose a "Filter Preset" from the drop-down menu.

Under the "Advanced" menu of the "Filter Preset" drop-down menu, choose a setting that matches what needs to be fixed in your photo. For photos that need only noise reduction, without having any other issues, the filter settings that will work well are "Remove only half of stronger noise (keep fewer details)" and "Remove only half of weaker noise (keep more details)". Of course, other settings may work best for your particular photo, depending at the degree and type of noise in your photo.
Click "Preview" and adjust the zoom to preview the changes. Click the left mouse button and drag the white square outline to choose which area you want to preview the changes for. Release the left mouse button to preview the changes. If you are not satisfied with the changes, or just want to see what effect other filter presets would have on your photo, then go back to step 3 above to choose and preview another filter preset.
When you are satisfied with the chosen filter preset, click the "Output Image" tab, then click "Apply" to apply the changes to the image. Then click "Save output image" to save the changes.
The first time you save an image after opening Neat Image, you will see this pop-up describing the limits of the demo version of Neat Image. For most users these limits will not be an issue, since the image file is saved at a high quality, and the EXIF data can be copied from the original image to the processed image using a tool such as PhotoME.

After Processing Panasonic ZS3 Photos with Neat Image

Once you have finished processing your photo with Neat Image, then you may want to compare the processed photo to the original photo. You may want to use the free software program FastStone Image Viewer, or else any other software of your choice that can compare photos side-by-side.

In the free FastStone Image Viewer, make sure the "Smooth" checkbox in the toolbar is unchecked. Select the two photos you wish to compare, then in the file menu go to "Tools" and select "Compare Images" (or use the keyboard shortcut "P" key). Inspect the photos side-by-side and at different zoom levels to see if the results are an improvement.

Save Photo EXIF Information

The demo edition of Neat Image does not save or transfer the original photo EXIF information to your processed photo. But you can still transfer the original photo EXIF information to your processed photo with free software, such as the free software program PhotoME.

In PhotoME, open the original photo. Use "Open file" from the file menu, or use the PhotoME file browser by clicking the icon next to the words "File Menu". It is faster to use the PhotoME file browser if working with many files.

Then select "Export Exif data" from the file menu and save the EXIF data for the original photo. Open the processed photo, then select "Import Exif data" from the file menu. Click "Save file" to save your processed photo with the photo’s original EXIF information.

Related Information

Convert and Edit DMC-ZS3 AVCHD Lite Video for Free
How To: Fix Yellow Spots or Blotches in Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3/DMC-TZ7 Photos
Download Sample MTS Files of HD Video for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
Sample AVCHD Lite HD Videos: Is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 A Camcorder Replacement?
HD Video Record Time Limit: Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 vs DMC-TZ7 (AVCHD Lite)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3/DMC-TZ7 10MP Camera – Wide Angle with 12x Zoom

Free Download Links

Neat Image – Noise Reduction Software (Free Demo Edition)
FastStone Image Viewer – Free Image Viewer
PhotoME – Free Digital Photo Metadata Editor

Panasonic GF1: Collected Sample HD Video for Outdoor, Daytime Recording Conditions

Friendly User — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:10:09 +0000

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 is a micro four-thirds type (4/3 type) digital camera, with interchangeable lenses, that is capable of recording 720p HD video in the AVCHD Lite video format (MTS file, 1280 x 720 resolution), as well as in the Motion JPEG video format. Some sample unedited HD video is shown below, for outdoor and daytime recording conditions, as a resource for new or potential owners looking to compare video quality for this camera with others. Unedited here refers to video that not has any video effects applied to it to change the video’s appearance.

The Panasonic GF1 HD video samples below cover a wide range of conditions, but are focused on outdoor videos shot in the daytime:

a lot of movement in the video and very little movement in the video
sunny and cloudy conditions
focusing and auto-focus

Keep in mind that although the original videos may be at 720p HD quality video (1280 x 720), uploading to online video sharing sites (YouTube, Vimeo) causes the video to be resized and quality downgraded compared to the original file.

Note: Videos were not created by TechUserFriendly.com. Credit for individual videos belong to individual video uploaders.

Panasonic DMC-GF1 HD Video Samples: Outdoor, Daytime

Video Features Highlighted: Unedited video (straight from GF1), outdoors, day time, sun light, low light, natural light, motion, close-ups, focus.

Video Features Highlighted: Unedited video (straight from GF1), outdoors, face-detection, auto-focus, day time, natural light, people.

Video Features Highlighted: Unedited video (straight from GF1), outdoors, strong wind, cloudy, low light, day time.

Video Features Highlighted: Unedited video (straight from GF1), outdoors, auto-focus, natural light, day time.

Video Features Highlighted: Unedited video (straight from GF1), outdoors, natural light, sound quality, day time, cloudy.

Converting AVCHD Lite Video

The Panasonic GF1 records AVCHD Lite video, which can be difficult to view on some computers, and to edit without paid software programs. A method is described here to convert and edit AVCHD Lite video files using free software tools.

More Information

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 – HD Video Recording Length

Sample AVCHD Lite HD Videos: Is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 A Camcorder Replacement?

Friendly User — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:00:10 +0000

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 is capable of recording 720p HD video (1280 x 720 resolution) in the AVCHD Lite video format (MTS files), as well as in the Motion JPEG video format.

The Panasonic ZS3 can, in many ways, act as a camcorder replacement, because of its unlimited recording time, ability to zoom while recording, 720p HD quality video, dedicated video record button, 16:9 aspect ratio option, and stereo sound microphone. Of course, a video camcorder specializes in capturing video, while the Panasonic ZS3 does not, though it features the AVCHD Lite video format.

But in the AVCHD Lite HD video samples below, you can judge for yourself if the video quality is at least closely-comparable to a video camcorder. Does the video quality plus the Panasonic ZS3’s features (size, portability, convenience, photos) make it a suitable camcorder replacement in your daily life? Or at least could the Panasonic ZS3 be a camcorder replacement for those days where it would be easier to carry a pocket-sized camera around, instead of a camcorder?

(The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 and European version Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7 are identical cameras except for the video restrictions on the TZ7.)

The Panasonic ZS3 HD video samples below cover a wide range of different types of video shooting conditions:

indoors and outdoors
daytime and night time
a lot of movement in the video and very little movement in the video
low light conditions and bright conditions
sunny and cloudy conditions
up to 12x zoom capability
focusing and auto-focus on zoom
macro close-up ability

For videos on Vimeo.com, log in to download a copy of the video file and to see how it will playback on your computer. If you want to experiment, then some videos are available for download as MTS files, and you can then try the method described here to convert and edit the MTS file shot by the Panasonic ZS3.

Sample HD Videos for the Panasonic ZS3

Note: The below videos were not created by TechUserFriendly.com. Credit for individual videos belong to individual video uploaders. Click here for additional HD videos (AVCHD Lite, MTS files), created by TechUserFriendly.com, that are available as free downloads.

The videos below can be played on this page. To open a video in a new window, click on the video title link below each video. Some videos are indicated below to have original MTS files available for download. For those, you will need to open the video in a new window, to login and download the file.

“FirstTakes Panasonic TZ7/ZS3″ on Vimeo.
Video Features Highlighted: Daytime, indoor, outdoor, focus.

“Panasonic Lumix ZS3 Movie Sample (Night)” on Vimeo.
Video Features Highlighted: Night time, outdoor, powerful zoom, auto-focus, MTS file.

“Hard Rock Cafe, Live karaoke” on Vimeo.
Video Features Highlighted: Low light, indoor, dark, stereo sound, people.

“Panasonic Lumix ZS3 Movie Sample (Compare #1)” on Vimeo.
Video Features Highlighted: Daytime, outdoor, bright, zoom, macro close-up, MTS file.

“Quick Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7 HD Test” on Vimeo.
Video Features Highlighted: Day time, indoor, outdoor, bright, macro close-up, zoom.

“Dance Rehearsal Spectrum (Low Light Test Lumix TZ7 / ZS3)” on Vimeo.
Video Features Highlighted: Low light, indoor, dark, zoom, stereo sound, people.

More HD Samples for the Panasonic ZS3

"TZ7 zoom test" on Vimeo.
Video Features Highlighted: Daytime, powerful zoom, with action/movement.

"Lumix DMC-ZS3 Test – Atlanta Morning" on Vimeo.
Video Features Highlighted: Indoor, outdoor, macro close-up, zoom, bright.

"Essai Panasonic TZ7 (ZS3)" on Vimeo.
Video Features Highlighted: Daytime, outdoor, bright, zoom.

"Panasonic ZS3 Movie test" on Vimeo.
Video Features Highlighted: Daytime, outdoor, cloudy, zoom.

"Basketball TZ7 ZOOM Night" on Vimeo.
Video Features Highlighted: Night, powerful zoom, dark, outdoor, people, with action/movement.

"Panasonic TZ7 / ZS3: first test: Berlin, Hallen Am Borsigturm" on Vimeo.
Video Features Highlighted: Daytime, outdoor, bright, shadows, people.

"ZS3 test" on Vimeo.
Video Features Highlighted: Daytime, outdoor, bright, zoom, macro close-up.

Related Information

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 10MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle
Download Sample MTS Files of HD Video for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
Download Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Sample AVCHD Lite Video Featuring 12x Zoom
Convert and Edit DMC-ZS3 AVCHD Lite Video for Free
HD Video Record Time Limit: Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 vs DMC-TZ7 (AVCHD Lite)
How To: Fix Yellow Spots or Blotches in Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3/DMC-TZ7 Photos
Reduce Noise in Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3/DMC-TZ7 Photos For Free

Fix Yellow Spots or Blotches in Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Photos

Friendly User — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:55:13 +0000

Depending on how you use the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 camera, in certain lighting conditions, you may notice that yellow spots (or yellow blotches) can appear on your photos. Perhaps not many ZS3 owners notice though, or at least it seems that this yellow spot issue does not bother or impact most Panasonic ZS3 owners, since there is not much discussion about the issue online.

To those owners that do notice, it can be a fairly significant annoyance. But these yellow spots can be largely fixed by using some freely available software. This issue has also been seen in other cameras, so the solution described here can apply to photos taken with many other cameras as well.

Seeing Yellow Spots May Need a Closer Look

In cases where there are yellow spots or blotches on your photos, you may not notice the yellow spots unless you zoom in to inspect your photos.

This may be especially true if owners use it as a true point-and-shoot camera, and do not do much post-processing or inspection, in which case the yellow spots or blotches are likely not noticed by them. Also if most photos are quickly uploaded online at smaller sizes (to Facebook, Flickr, Picasa, etc.), then this issue would likely not be noticeable to these Panasonic ZS3 owners.

These yellow spots can be removed for the most part, though of course, it is preferable to prevent them from appearing in the first place. In the section of a zoomed-in photo shown below, which was taken indoors in the daytime, the yellow spots or blotches are visible throughout the photo.

When Do Yellow Spots or Blotches Appear in ZS3 Photos?

Typically, these yellow spots (or yellow blotches) do not always appear, but when they do it is usually in photos taken indoors (day or night) with less than ideal light, in the shadow areas of otherwise well-lit photos, or in photos taken under low light or dark conditions.

These are not likely visible on the LCD screen display of the Panasonic ZS3, and will be easier to see on a desktop or laptop monitor. The yellow spots will not likely be noticeable unless you zoom in on the photo.

To avoid or reduce these yellow spots or blotches from appearing in the first place, you can try to use a higher ISO setting or use the flash. When using the flash, these yellow spots are not likely to appear at all. Of course, taking photos in a more well-lit area with natural light is the best way to prevent these yellow spots or blotches.

Yellow spots or blotches typically do not appear under more "perfect" shooting conditions, such as in photos taken outdoors (day or night, sunny or cloudy), and in photos taken in well-lit areas.

Software Needed to Fix Yellow Spots or Blotches

Note: Download links can be found at the end of this article.

Some free software programs are needed to achieve the most effective yellow spot or blotch removal.

Neat Image (free demo version), a photo noise reduction software program.
PhotoShop, or any other photo editing software that can adjust Hue and Saturation on a photo, such as Paint.NET.
(optional) PhotoME, a free EXIF data viewer/editor, restores the original photo’s EXIF data to the processed photo. The demo version of Neat Image does not save EXIF data.

How to Fix Yellow Spots or Blotches

Note: A comparison of before and after photos, processed using this method, is shown at the end of this article.

In Neat Image:

Click "Open input image" and select the image you wish to fix. If you have multiple copies at different resolutions for the same photo, please use the largest resolution photo you can.
Click the "Device Noise Profile" tab, then click "Auto Profile".
Click the "Noise Filter Settings" tab, then change the Noise Filter Settings to match the image below. Or, if you have a preset for the Noise Filter Settings, load the preset then skip ahead to step 5.
Save the Noise Filter Settings as a preset. For example, name the preset "Yellow Spot Removal" or similar for use on future photos.
In the "Noise Filter Settings" tab, click "Preview" and adjust the zoom to preview the changes. Click the left mouse button and drag the white square outline to choose which area you want to preview the changes for. Release the left mouse button to preview the changes.
Click the "Output Image" tab, then click "Apply" to apply the changes to the image. Then click "Save output image" to save the changes.
The first time you save an image after opening Neat Image, you will see this pop-up describing the limits of the demo version of Neat Image. For most users these limits will not be an issue, since the image file is saved at a high quality, and the EXIF data can be copied from the original image to the processed image using a tool such as PhotoME.
The yellow spots or blotches in the processed image may reduced enough to meet your needs. You can stop here if you are happy with the results, but for better yellow spot removal, proceed to work with PhotoShop as described below (or use any other photo editing software that allows you to change the hue and saturation values such as Paint.NET).

In PhotoShop:

Open the image in PhotoShop.
Open the Hue/Saturation settings by selecting from the file menu, Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation.
Adjust the Hue/Saturation settings, and adjust the Global/Master Saturation setting to "+10".

Select "Yellows", next to "Edit", and adjust the Lightness setting to "+42".

Select "Blues", next to "Edit", and adjust the Saturation setting to "-21" and the Lightness setting to "-31", then click "OK".

Depending on the photo, you may want to experiment with different values here to get a better result. Otherwise, using the settings as described should produce good results.
Save the file.

The yellow spots or blotches should now be greatly or completely reduced in the processed photo. As another further step to improve how the finished photo looks, you may choose to reduce the resolution or size of the photo, especially if you intend to upload or share the photo.

Additional Notes on Removing Yellow Spots from Photos

Some further comments:

Save the original: It is recommended that you always keep your original photo files, as a backup.
Sharpness trade-off: Processed photos using this method will be slightly less sharp or detailed as the original, but that is the trade off for removing the yellow spots.
Sharpness improvement: While the sharpness is decreased using this method, you may still be able to improve the sharpness of the processed image, by using additional filters and software.
Copy EXIF data: The demo version of neat image will not save the original image’s EXIF data (photo shooting settings, time, camera model, etc.). Use another program, such as PhotoME, to copy the EXIF data to the processed photo. In PhotoME, export the EXIF data from the original file, import it to the processed file, and save.

Helpful Forum Discussion Thread

Topic: FZ18-Yellow Spots at High ISO settings?
Full Forum Thread

Thread Summary: This thread has Panasonic FZ18 users discussing the yellow spot, or yellow blotch, issue. The issue is exactly the same as that experienced with the Panasonic Lumix ZS3, often occurring in lowlight situations. Some more photo examples are shown. Since the thread topic involves the Panasonic FZ18, some of the features and fixes (such as shooting in RAW) do not apply. Other software discussed includes Noise Ninja and Capture One beta, however the free versions of these either have too many restrictions or else they do not produce results as good as Neat Image does. The actual solution described above was suggested by user "DD70".

Comparison of Before and After Photos – No Flash

Unprocessed photo with yellow spots or blotches:

Full size, zoom at 100% – unprocessed photo with yellow spots or blotches:

Processed photo with greatly reduced yellow spots or blotches:

Full size, zoom at 100% – processed photo with greatly reduced yellow spots or blotches:

Side-by-side comparison (unprocessed photo on the left, processed photo on the right):

Comparison of Before and After Photos – Flash

Unprocessed photo (using flash) with yellow spots or blotches:

Full size, zoom at 100% – unprocessed photo (using flash) with yellow spots or blotches:

Processed photo with greatly reduced yellow spots or blotches:

Full size, zoom at 100% – processed photo with greatly reduced yellow spots or blotches:

Side-by-side comparison (unprocessed photo on the left, processed photo on the right):

Related Information

Reduce Noise in Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3/DMC-TZ7 Photos For Free
Repair Oily or Shiny Skin on a Person’s Face in a Photo
Convert and Edit DMC-ZS3 AVCHD Lite Video for Free
Download Sample MTS Files of HD Video for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
Sample AVCHD Lite HD Videos: Is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 A Camcorder Replacement?
HD Video Record Time Limit: Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 vs DMC-TZ7 (AVCHD Lite)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Digital Camera
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18K Digital Camera

Free Download Links

Neat Image – Free Demo Edition
PhotoME – Free Digital Photo Metadata Editor
Paint.NET – Free Image Editing Software

HD Video Record Time Limit: Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 vs DMC-TZ7 (AVCHD Lite)

Friendly User — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:30:24 +0000

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 is a compact digital camera that is also known as the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7 in Europe. These two models, the ZS3 and the TZ7, both can record HD video in the AVCHD Lite video format and the Motion JPEG video format. The ZS3 and TZ7 are identical except when it comes to their HD video recording time limits. The main difference is that the Panasonic ZS3 can record continuous video of unlimited length for HD video (no time limit, maximum video length depends on memory card), while the TZ7 has time limits on the length of continuous HD video it can record.

To find out if the Lumix ZS3 or TZ7 that you are considering has a HD video recording time limit, the only factor to consider is the model number. No, the ZS3 does not have any time limits for recording HD video. Yes, the European model TZ7 does have time limits for recording HD video.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 – No Video Time Limit

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 is capable of recording 720p HD video (1280×720) in the AVCHD Lite video format.

There is no video time limit, or maximum video length, for the video while recording in the AVCHD Lite video format. The video length is only limited by the size of the SD memory card.

On the ZS3, the Motion JPEG video format has a 2 GB size limit, but no specific time limit or maximum length. The video length will only depending on the SD memory card capacity and the ZS3 video quality setting (HD, WVGA, QVGA, VGA) that is used.

From the DMC-ZS3 manual (p. 61):

A maximum of approx. 2 GB of continuous motion pictures can be recorded in MOTION JPEG format. (Even if there is more that 2 GB of available space on the card, the available recording time will be calculated for a maximum of 2 GB.) To record more than 2 GB, press the motion picture button again. In AVCHD Lite format, recording may be continued until the card is full.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7 – Video Has Time Limit

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 is known as the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7 in Europe. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7 has the same HD video capabilities of the ZS3 when it comes to video quality, but the video lengths of HD video are restricted by certain time limits.

The TZ7 model has a 15 minute video time limit for AVCHD Lite HD Video:

Individual video clip is limited to 15 minutes.

This time limit is also referred to in the original press release for the ZS3/TZ7:

*Motion pictures can be recorded continuously for up to 15 minutes in some countries.

There is also a time limit for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7, when recording in the Motion JPEG video format:

For Europe, motion pictures can be recorded continuously for up to 29 minutes 59 seconds. The maximum continuous recording time (up to 29 minutes 59 seconds) is displayed on the screen.

Approximate Lengths of Panasonic Lumix ZS3 Videos

For the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3, the approximate maximum video lengths are shown at the official ZS3 product page for different size memory cards and different video quality settings:

	AVCHD Lite Video			Motion JPEG Video
	L (9 Mbps)	H (13 Mbps)	SH ( 17 Mbps)	Motion JPEG Video
2 GB	29 min	20 min	15 min	8 min 20 sec
4 GB	1 h	40 min	30 min	16 min 20 sec
8 GB	1 h 54 min	1 h 20 min	1 h	33 min 30 sec
16 GB	4 h	2 h 40 min	2 h	1 h 7 min
32 GB	8 h	5 h 20 min	4 h	2 h 15 min

Related Information

Download Sample MTS Files of HD Video for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
Download Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Sample AVCHD Lite Video Featuring 12x Zoom
Convert and Edit DMC-ZS3/DMC-TZ7 AVCHD Lite Video for Free
Sample AVCHD Lite HD Videos: Is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 A Camcorder Replacement?
Reduce Noise in Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3/DMC-TZ7 Photos For Free

Convert and Edit DMC-ZS3 AVCHD Lite Video for Free

Friendly User — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:50:58 +0000

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 (also known as DMC-TZ7) can record 720p HD video in the AVCHD Lite video format (1280 x 720), with the ".mts" file extension, which has no time limit on video length and which has file sizes much smaller than the alternative Motion JPEG format.

To edit AVCHD Lite video (.mts), it is easier to first convert a copy of the video to an AVI file (.avi). This is easier because there are not a lot of software options available to edit ".mts" files, and some computers may not be able to play back ".mts" files very smoothly.

For some computers, converting AVCHD Lite video from an MTS file to an AVI file can give smoother and sharper video playback, even if you do not intend to edit the video.

Before Converting AVCHD Lite Video (MTS to AVI)

Note: Download links can be found at the end of this article.

There are a few free software programs that you will need before you can convert and edit your AVCHD Lite video.

Format Factory, a free audio and video file format converter.
VirtualDub, a free video editor.

Also, transfer your AVCHD Lite ".mts" video file to your computer, if you haven’t already.

Convert Panasonic Lumix ZS3 AVCHD Lite Video

Open Format Factory.
Click "All to AVI" on the left side, under "Video".
In the new window that opens, click "Add File", then select your file.
After selecting the AVCHD Lite file you wish to convert, click on "Output Setting".
Under "Profile", select "High quality and size". Set "FPS" to "25". Set "Video Encode" to whichever codec you prefer. "AVC(H264)", "MPEG(Xvid)", or "MPEG(DivX)" will all work fine, for example. Although it is not necessary, you may get better results if you also set the Video Stream Bitrate to match the Video Bitrate of the original MTS file, though file conversion may take longer.
Return to the main Format Factory window by clicking "OK" to exit the settings window, then clicking "OK" to exit the "All to AVI" windows.
In the main Format Factory window, click "Start" to begin the file format conversion.
When the conversion is completed, test out the AVI video in any media player. You do not need the original MTS file anymore, but it is recommended that you keep it as a backup.

You can convert to any other file format you like with Format Factory, other than AVI, but just make sure to keep the FPS setting at "25". For easier editing in the next section, it is recommended to convert to AVI as described above.

Edit Panasonic Lumix ZS3 Video

Open VirtualDub.
Open your video file by going to the "File" menu, then "Open video file".
In the "Video" menu, click "Direct stream copy". This will ensure that your video file will not be re-encoded or compressed to a lower quality.
Use the commands in the "Go" menu to move back and forth through the video’s timeline.

Use the commands in the "Edit" menu to delete and re-position sections of the video.

For a section of video that you want to delete, move along the timeline to the beginning of the unwanted section, and press the "Home" key on your keyboard to "Set selection start", as in the "Edit" menu. Then move to the end of the unwanted section, and press the "End" key on your keyboard to "Set selection end", as in the "Edit" menu. Press the "Delete" key on your keyboard to delete this selection.

For a section of video that you want to re-position, use the "Home" and "End" keys to mark a selection of the video, as above. Press CTRL+X to cut the selection of video. Move along the timeline to where you want to insert the selection of video. Press CTRL+V to past the selection of video.
When you have finished editing the video, then in the "File" menu, click "Save as AVI" to name and save your video.

Alternatively Use VirtualDubMOD

If you have any issues with audio or video in VirtualDub, you may want to try VirtualDubMOD instead. All of the controls and instructions are the same, so you can use it the same way that you would use VirtualDub.

Related Information

Download Sample MTS Files of HD Video for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
Reduce Noise in Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3/DMC-TZ7 Photos For Free
How To: Fix Yellow Spots or Blotches in Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3/DMC-TZ7 Photos
Sample AVCHD Lite HD Videos: Is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 A Camcorder Replacement?
HD Video Record Time Limit: Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 vs DMC-TZ7 (AVCHD Lite)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3/DMC-TZ7 – Official Site

Free Download Links

Format Factory – Free Audio/Video File Converter
VirtualDub – Free Video Editor
VirtualDubMOD – Free Video Editor (an alternative to VirtualDub)