Tools for Photoshop Elements

[kdobson]

For those of you who use Photoshop Elements (and full PS users), I've created a couple of tool that you may find useful...

SmarterSharpen: Automatically sharpen the edges, with the amount of sharpening automatically chosen based on the image resolution. Since layer-masks are not really available in PS-E, this is about the only way to get the edge-sharpen technique. For PS users, this is a great way of getting great sharpening without fretting over it. Try it on a real print -- you will be amazed.

SmarterResize-Print: Resize an image to a given final-print size without needing to specify orientation. Also choose either "at least" a given size (to fill a given frame size), or "at most" a given size.

SmarterResize-Web: Resize an image to be inside a given size.

http://knm.homeip.net/Public/Photoshop%20Tools

Together, these tools have made my workflow really simple.

- Convert from RAW
- Adjust Levels (actually often just AutoContrast)
- SmarterSharpen
- SmarterResize
- print


Also, if you have a particular thing you can't do in Elements that Photoshop can do, let me know. If there is enough interest, I can make a new plug-in. (BTW, Elements can do almost everything that PS can do, just some of the functionality is hidden so you can only get at it by programming).

[DWard]

Would like to try these PE sharpening plug-ins

Tried to access the site via the link and got a no page found.

Could you either email me the link or repost it here

Thanks,

David

david.m.ward@attbi.com

[Mike K]

Suggestions for consideration:
On workflow, it is suggested by every photo professional (and is good mathmatical sense) to sharpen after resizing, not before. This way you won't be rounding off your sharpened edges (enhnaced edge contrast) by interpolation.

PS Elements will support a more sophisticated sharpening action using the alpha channel; its called ultrasharpen.
http://www.ultrasharpen.com/
It works quite well in preserving low noise to skys and other smooth textures, while allowing aggresive unsharp mask of the rest of the image. A demo is available for download. It comes with a CD which includes an instructional video.
Ultrasharpen is very similar to the Fred Miranda sharpening tool, but that one will not work on PS LE nor Elements.
Mike K

[kdobson]

DWard:

If you're still around: I lurk here regularly, but didn't see your post. The email notification dissappeared into my vast qty of spam mails.

The link is:

http://knm.webhop.org/Public/Photoshop%20Tools

or

http://knm.homeip.net:8081/Public/Photoshop%20Tools


Mike K is entirely right. My workflow is:

- Convert from RAW
- Adjust Levels (actually often just AutoContrast)
- SmarterResize
- SmarterSharpen
- print

It definitely won't work the other way, since SmarterSharpen relies on the image resolution (dpi) to tailor the sharpening.

BTW, I'm just about ready to release an advanced version that gives you amazing control over sharpening. It is also an edgesharpening technique, but (IMHO) much better than any other.

[kdobson]

OK, I did release it...

http://knm.webhop.org/Public/SmarterSharpenX

[DWard]

Thanks for suggestions on workflow. I have been doing all cropping, image adjustment and then resizing and finally sharpening. I did come across the ultrasharpen tool and plan to try the others suggested here.

DMW

[sarahelements]

Hey everyone! If you are an Elements user there is a great website just for you. At www.photoshopelementsuser.com you can take online classes, and check out detailed step-by-step tutorials all dealing with Elements. On this website you can subscribe to receive the Photoshop Elements Techniques magazine. This is a magazine filled with how to do everything from color correcting to sharpening your photographs in the Elements program. When you subscribe you also gain access to the subscribers only section of the website. There are also Elements summits that go from town to town covering all sorts of neat techniques. So check out the website and see if one is coming to a city near you!