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04/13/2007 12:07:43 PM · #1 |
Hi all, I want to adquire a good sharpening tool. I prefer a plug in for photoshop.
Which one do you use and recommend?
Thanks in advance.
Ãlex.
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04/13/2007 12:18:42 PM · #2 |
I use Noise Ninja which does some sharpening and takes out grain. I am still learning it but it seems to do okay. Oh, I also use USM that is already part of photoshop that you can tweak to get the sharpening affect that you like. Hope this helps.
Message edited by author 2007-04-13 12:20:21. |
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04/13/2007 12:21:56 PM · #3 |
Originally posted by alexgarcia:
Hi all, I want to adquire a good sharpening tool. I prefer a plug in for photoshop.
Which one do you use and recommend? |
Sharpening is a skill. To my knowledge there isn't a 'cure all' plugin that will generate perfect sharpening for every image.
If you have Photoshop CS2 there isn't a better sharpening tool than Smart Sharpen. If you have an older PS, like CS7, there is a technique I can tell you that will give you more sharpening flexibility.
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04/13/2007 12:23:13 PM · #4 |
I've never used third party sharpening tools however have seen the following recommended (even in books on Photoshop CS2).
//photokit-sharpener.pixel-genius-llc.qarchive.org/ |
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04/13/2007 12:55:13 PM · #5 |
| Photoshop's Unsharp Mask and CS2's Smart Sharpen are the best there is. Other packages may have a few different bells and whistles, but you won't do any better than Adobe's experience and technology in this area. |
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04/13/2007 01:18:13 PM · #6 |
Hi again and thanks for your recommendations. I have CS2 and my way of sharpening is:
* if it is for dpc basic, smart sharpen.
* if it is not for basic, I use a technique I learned in a book: first create a new file duplicating the image, convert to B&W via lab, detect borders (not sure of the names, because I use it in Spanish), invert image, gaussian unsharp, levels and then back in the photo to sharpen, apply selection and USM.
Just was thinking for something better, but I see the general opinion is "keep it within PS".
Thanks again.
Ãlex.
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04/13/2007 01:48:50 PM · #7 |
| focus magic is sort of a sharpening tool. It's not magic, and won't help if you totally missed the shot, but it does a bit more than unsharp mask. |
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04/13/2007 01:57:36 PM · #8 |
The most effective sharpening method I have seen is as follows:
Layer>duplicate layer
Filters>Other>High Pass; adjust filter for radius of 5 or less depending on image size. The image will look perfectly awful until you change the combining mode on the Layers Palette.
On Layers Palette select the 'overlay' mode and adjust opacity as desired.
Much reduced tendency to produce edge artifacts and the adjust layer can be further enhanced by using 'Threshold' to reduce noise sharpening.
When satisfied don't forget to 'flatten' the layers! |
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04/13/2007 02:24:57 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by alexgarcia:
Hi again and thanks for your recommendations. I have CS2 and my way of sharpening is... |
Proper sharpening is perhaps the most fundamental adjustment you make to an image. Done well and it adds greatly to the image but done poorly it destroys it. You'll notice that most ribbon winners have perfect sharpness. I reviewed some of your images and sharpening does not appear to be a major problem for you with the possible exception that, like me, you tend to push the limits and sometimes go over.
Perhaps you are very familiar with these concepts in sharpening with PS but it does not hurt to repeat them:
1-With the exception of minor pre-processing do not sharpen an image until producing an output file from your post processed master. That is because different outputs require different levels of sharpening and that cannot be determined until output files (print, web, etc...) are generated.
2-Sharpening is individual to the image. There are many, many techniques and some work better in some circumstances than in others.
3-The main digital effects to avoid in sharpening are haloing and the 'jaggies' where lines and curves appear to have hash marks in them.
4-Images often need more (or less) sharpening in some areas of the image than in others.
5-Sharpening is achieved by adding white pixels on one side of a border and black ones on the other. It is usually better to adjust them separately (Smart Sharpen does this). Images generally tolerate more black pixels than white.
6-A reasonable workflow might be like this:
A-Flatten post processed image
B-Duplicate flattened layer
C-Apply sharpening technique to the duplicate layer, usually going a little over.
D-Reduce the opacity of the sharpened layer as necessary for a 'high level' first sharpening adjustment.
E-Use masking to reduce sharpening in localized areas of the image that remain 'to sharp'
F-Use sharpen tool to further sharpen localized areas of the image for additional sharpening as needed.
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04/14/2007 05:14:32 AM · #10 |
Thanks again to all.
I agree with you, stdavidson, in that sharpening is a constant strengthness in ribbon winners, and that's a reason I want to learn to do it better. Thanks for taking the time of looking at my images, very kind from you. And yes, sometimes I cross the limits, but it's sooo difficult to know where the limit is.
Thanks also to ElGordo, I'll try your method.
Ãlex.
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