Volume anamorphosis correction alterantive to DXO?

[LongLensPhotography]

Some of my shots with wideangle need a bit of volume anamorphosis correction, like here (note the balloons on the edges):


Bristol Balloon Fiesta 2011

I've downloaded I trial of DxO. It does fix the shape of the balloons, just leaves them slightly angled, which is not a big deal, but not ideal either.

However I just can't justify the full whack of DxO when lightroom does everything else so much better. Suggestions would be welcome.
I am using OSX by the way.

I still can't sort anything this either (distorted tower horizontals):

Vilnius cathedral

I couldn't get it right even with DxO.

Help will be appreciated.

 

[jon ryan]

I've never heard of DxO (or anamorwotsit, come to that ),

but a few seconds in Elements 9 gives:

(FILTER>CORRECT CAMERA DISTORTION)

and:

(IMAGE>TRANSFORM>DISTORT)

Both need more, obviously, but that could be the way to go.

Distortion tends to be greater near the edges, so getting further away can help (or framing with the elements away from the edge and cropping in PP). Try altering the horizon line of the lens, or, if you've won the pools recently, get a tilt/shift lens.

 

[LongLensPhotography]

Thanks, but to be honest that did nothing to correct the problems I mentioned, like the balloons which are squashed to a weird irregular shape.

I've never heard of DxO (or anamorwotsit, come to that ),

but a few seconds in Elements 9 gives:

(FILTER>CORRECT CAMERA DISTORTION)

and:

(IMAGE>TRANSFORM>DISTORT)

Both need more, obviously, but that could be the way to go.

Distortion tends to be greater near the edges, so getting further away can help (or framing with the elements away from the edge and cropping in PP). Try altering the horizon line of the lens, or, if you've won the pools recently, get a tilt/shift lens.

 

[jon ryan]

Thanks, but to be honest that did nothing to correct the problems I mentioned, like the balloons which are squashed to a weird irregular shape.

Partially the distortion is because you are trying to convert a circular lens image into a rectangular final result. Some distortion is, I'm afraid, inevitable - think of Great Circle routes on a globe. A longer lens from further away will help.

 

[Chappers]

You could try using the Liquify tool in Photoshop to try and correct the distortion at the edges. It does take a bit of time to get to grips with it though. I think there are some tutorials on the web for it

 

[LongLensPhotography]

I had a play with trial dxo. It seems very slow and buggy. Eventually I loaded TIFFs from lightroom and did spherical anamorphosis correction. The balloons got fixed pretty nicely, but some images including this example received some other distortions. It can handle vertical format photos for some weird reason. I had no luck with architecture.

It seems I will be taking sections of DxO fixed images and cloning them back in to the originals.

I can't see myself getting DxO for what it does and what it costs.

I might try liquify but hoped for something simpler