Hey folks,
Been playing around with some of my images that have noticeable dust donuts where I sometimes do not have corresponding flats. I have seen a few different suggestions on how to work to remove donuts, some using the GAME script, but I think I have hit on, what for me, seems a novel solution (although its probably been mentioned in various posts a dozen times that I have simply missed).
Assuming others would find this helpful, here is my solution.
1. Open the offending image and then open the GAME script.
2. Assuming the image is still linear, click on "STF" in the upper right hand corner of GAME to view the image.
3. Zoom in the image in the GAME window to the maximum extent possible.
4. Draw a new circle, closely matching the outside of the donut and check the gradientedge option.
5. Generate the image and rename DonutMask_1.
6. Reopen GAME and repeat the process, but this time draw the circle so that it covers the inside of the donut.
7. Again, using gradientedge, generate the image and rename it DonutMask_2.
8. Open PixelMath and simply subtract DonutMask_2 from DonutMask_1 and rename the end image DonutMaster.
9. Save the mask until you complete your delinear stretch, then apply the mask to the stretched image.
10. Do a mild Histogram midtone stretch until the donut disappears (it may take a bit of trial and error).
I have attached below a screen shot showing the before and after results, along with my DonutMaster mask.
Hope it helps,
Best,
Jim
