| Author | Thread |
|
|
04/29/2006 11:15:05 PM · #1 |
Okay, I read somewhere that Canon recommends using the unsharp mask at 300% for the 30D. What should I set my radius and threshold at?
No, I don't have it yet. I went in to make a payment and brought a memory card with me. Then I went outside and snapped a few pictures without any thought to composition or anything. I really liked the feel of the camera, and how close it let me get to a flower I wanted to take a picture of when I put it on flower mode. How does the kit lens do in low light? |
|
|
|
04/29/2006 11:52:51 PM · #2 |
The radius setting is dependent on the final size of the image -- you use a smaller value for a 640x480 DPC entry than for an 11"x14" print ...
The threshold setting is dependent on the degree of detail in the image and the presence of areas of smooth, gradient color, which need a higher TH setting to avoid banding.
Try searching for terms such as "radius" and "threshold" as there have been several recent threads relating to use of USM, including these:
//dpchallenge.com/forum.php?action=read&FORUM_THREAD_ID=314574&highlight=radius
//dpchallenge.com/forum.php?action=read&FORUM_THREAD_ID=339208&highlight=radius
//dpchallenge.com/forum.php?action=read&FORUM_THREAD_ID=348609&highlight=radius
//dpchallenge.com/forum.php?action=read&FORUM_THREAD_ID=360575&highlight=radius
//dpchallenge.com/forum.php?action=read&FORUM_THREAD_ID=383829&highlight=radius
Message edited by author 2006-04-29 23:59:44. |
|
|
|
04/29/2006 11:54:18 PM · #3 |
|
|
|
04/30/2006 12:05:35 AM · #4 |
| I use the unsharp mask with a very large radius of 250 and strength of 25 (adjust to suit) for enhancing lackluster images. The effect is to subtly boost the contrast and saturation. Care must be observed to not blow out the highlights! |
|
|
|
04/30/2006 12:32:46 AM · #5 |
| The 300% is recommended by Canon as 300/0.3/0 to sharpen RAW files. If you shoot JPG, the amount is no longer valid. |
|
|
|
04/30/2006 12:41:41 AM · #6 |
Originally posted by DrAchoo:
The 300% is recommended by Canon as 300/0.3/0 to sharpen RAW files. If you shoot JPG, the amount is no longer valid. |
What he said :-)
300% .3 radius, 0 threshold. Although it is suggest to use about a 2 or 3 for threshold to avoid noise.
|
|
|
|
04/30/2006 12:44:17 AM · #7 |
|
|
|
04/30/2006 09:59:17 AM · #8 |
| Okay, I almost never shoot RAW just because of how huge the files are. I'm still shooting JPEG. Anything I need to know about using the 30D in JPEG? |
|
|
|
04/30/2006 10:16:07 AM · #9 |
just a side note, sometimes I take the usm and go the opposite direction from the norm to improve shadows, and saturation.
no more than 13% but usually 11% amount
between 150 and 250 radius
0 threshold.
just sharing.
|
|
|
|
04/30/2006 11:09:15 AM · #10 |
I use the same settings as Fotomann 300%, 0.3, 0 although I do adjust the percentage and threshold depending on the image and how that affects them on an individual basis, but most of the time it works.
|
|
|
|
04/30/2006 11:21:30 AM · #11 |
There is a pretty cool video tutorial by a very talented member of DPC right here. //www.konador.com/pp/index.htm Scroll down to the bottom to see the video.
I'd suggest a look at it.
MattO
|
|
|
|
04/30/2006 01:23:16 PM · #12 |
A few thoughts...
Fun to hear Konador, he sorta sounds like Paul McCartney to some of us less sophisticated western cowboy americans. LOL!
The video is excellent in everything it covers. The thing I find most interesing about it, however, is he never once mentions CS2's "Smart Sharpen" right next it on the menu. "Smart Sharpen" is a next generation sharpening tool that is much better than USM.
If you don't have "Smart Sharpen" here is another USM technique of interest...
USM "sharpens" through contrast changes. It adds white pixels on one side of a border and black on the other to increase contrast and that makes the image appear sharper.
This USM technique (only good for DPC advanced rules) allows you to control the amount of white and black pixels added independent of each other giving you finer sharpening control than USM alone allows.
The technique, invented by PS gurus, would be done last after you've flattened your post processing master file and prepared it for output. It goes like this:
1-Duplicate background layer
2-Apply USM to duplicate layer. Oversharpen it to the point of being just noticeable.
3-Duplicate USM layer
Now you have two layers with exactly the same USM applied to each. You want to separate them into one with the black pixels and the other with the white pixels. You do that like this:
4-Change the mode of one USM layer to "Darken"
5-Change the mode of the other USM layer to "Lighten"
So far, nothing looks different. But what you have successfully accomplished is separating the USM's black and white pixels into two different layers. Last Step:
6-Adjust opacity of each USM layer separately to fine tune sharpening
The reason you oversharpen in the first place is because you reduce opacity, where necessary, in each USM layer separately for fine tuning.
In my experience with my imagery, USM seems to add a lot more white pixels which causes the most oversharpening effects in an image. I rarely reduce opacity in the "Darken" mode layer. Normally, I back way off on the "Lighten" mode USM layer to around 15-40% to reduce the number of white pixels added and therefore reduce the source of greatest oversharpening effects.
The net effect of all that is that you can sharpen more than USM normally allows without looking oversharpened.
Side Note:
Though this USM technique is not allowed in DPC basic editing you can do the same thing more easily with "Smart Sharpen" in CS2 and that is allowed.
Message edited by author 2006-04-30 13:26:16.
|
|
|
|
04/30/2006 01:45:07 PM · #13 |
Thanks for sharing that technique Steve, I'll have to give it a try!
The reason I never mentioned smart sharpen, is that I don't have a clue what it does yet. I've never really looked at it since I've got so used to using USM in previous versions of Photoshop. I'll have to play around with that as well! :)
And thanks for posting the link Matt, hopefully it catches on because the videos are fun to make, and can benefit everyone! Occasionally I may get something wrong in them but if people correct me, that helps me learn too :)
|
|
Home -
Challenges -
Community -
League -
Photos -
Cameras -
Lenses -
Learn -
Help -
Terms of Use -
Privacy -
Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 08/30/2025 12:27:41 AM EDT.
