sharpening

[ghosh]

Does every picture that you take needs sharpening? I dont know with my 400D kit lens it looks like every picture that I have taken or i will take must have sharpening post process :rolleyes:. Right now my unsharp mask settings are 40,5.6,0

Ghosh

[goatee]

You could also try settings like 250,0.3,0 - that will sharpen fine details a lot more. If you have Photoshop CS3, then you can use a layer mask with USM, otherwise, search for "high pass sharpening" that's also a really good way of sharpening, as you can easily adjust what areas are sharpened.

[MaDProFF]

funny I have been using PS CS2 USM on most of pictures of late

?% depends on photo
10
10

and then ?%
1
1

[howzitboy]

yeah i agree, everyshot u edit needs sharpening. they come out to flat and ewww.

[liza]

I use a Photoshop sharpening action by Panos that works very well for me. I don't have a direct link handy, but if you Google it, you'll find it.

And, yes, you do have to sharpen DSLR images. They're different than point and shoots.

[Damo77]

I've never seen a photo that didn't benefit from some sharpening. I use USM.

A couple of things to note:
1. Turn off all in-camera sharpening. It's not real sharpening, it's just artificial, and Photoshop can do a much MUCH better job than the little tiny computer in your camera.
2. Only sharpen your files after you've resized them for printing. Sharpening is very specific to size. I don't recommend sharpening your original files at all.
3. No artificial sharpening can ever truly rescue a poorly-focused photo.

[Familiaphoto]

I would recommend layer sharpening using High Pass. Very easy and fast and easy to apply to specific areas of a pic and then remove and redo if wanted. I do it in Photoshop Elements and it works like a champ.

[ghosh]

hmmm.. so every digital image needs sharpening! Feew, looks like i need to open a new thread asking member to show me what kind of image needs what kinds of sharpening.

I have used high pass a couple of times but did you say "easy to apply to specific areas of a pic and then remove and redo if wanted" how is that possible?

[ghosh]

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1156/623444090_bf110bd3ce_o.jpg

what kind of sharpening would you recommend for this picture:confused: ?
Ghosh

[subtle_spectre]

Duplicate the layer and set blending to luminosity. Apply USM to that layer...try 200%-radius 1.2 and threshold3.

[Familiaphoto]

If you are doing a high pass sharpening you can erase parts of the high pass layer you do not want to sharpen. For example, if you only want to sharpen the eyes erase all of the pic but the eyes. Just remember to set the High Pass layer to Hard Light and then all will be good. Experiment with the level in this as well, I usually use 1.0 to 2.0 depending on the subject, this methods sharpens really fast.

[Familiaphoto]

Here are a couple variations on sharpening using high pass filter.

#1: Original Image

#2: With a 1.0 radius

[Familiaphoto]

Here are two more...

#3: WIth a 1.5 radius

#4: WIth a 2.0 radius

[Familiaphoto]

Finally, here is an example of a selective sharpening. I did a quick edit as to only get the vegitation, not the cleanest work, but you'll get the point. The High Pass filter is set to a 1.5 radius.

The original is the first image and the sharpened the second.

[Emberghost]

I usuallly use about 120 - 1.2 - 3 , but it always changes per picture.

[laverdure]

If you are doing a high pass sharpening you can erase parts of the high pass layer you do not want to sharpen. For example, if you only want to sharpen the eyes erase all of the pic but the eyes. Just remember to set the High Pass layer to Hard Light and then all will be good. Experiment with the level in this as well, I usually use 1.0 to 2.0 depending on the subject, this methods sharpens really fast.

Sorry for quick hijack...
I use Elements 5 too and how do you "erase all of the pic but.." for selective sharpening? Do you paint on the high pass layer, do you use a mask? Thanks.

[michael_]

dpends on size, if im working in full res i used 200/1.4/0 today if its 800 res then about 100/1.2/0 USM

[Familiaphoto]

Sorry for quick hijack...
I use Elements 5 too and how do you "erase all of the pic but.." for selective sharpening? Do you paint on the high pass layer, do you use a mask? Thanks.

Its easy, I actually use the eraser to remove the parts I don't want to sharpen. I just increase the size of the image so I erase cleanly and go at it.

[laverdure]

Its easy, I actually use the eraser to remove the parts I don't want to sharpen. I just increase the size of the image so I erase cleanly and go at it.

Gotcha. Thanks a lot!