Sharpening question

[versedmb]

I am shooting in RAW more often recently (learing the advantages of RAW). I often apply some degree of USM to my images in PP.

Is it better to apply USM to images after conversion to jpeg or use the "sharpening" function in DPP when converting to jpeg?

[canonloader]

I use ACR, part of CS2 to edit my RAW files. And in RAW, I only adjust the exposure, shadows and contrast, then export to JPG. All sharpening is done in CS2, and is always the very last thing I do before a Save As.

And there are other ways to sharpen than USM. One of my favorites is to open the Channels Pallette and click on the Red, then Green, then Blue channels and see which one has more blur, usually it's the Red channel, or sometimes the Green. I select that channel then go to Filters/Sharpen/Sharpen Edges. Then click the RGB channel again to see the results in color. Try it, your going to like it. :)

[inverseSquare]

Is it better to apply USM to images after conversion to jpeg or use the "sharpening" function in DPP when converting to jpeg?

Are you moving the images between DPP and photoshop as jpg's ? Personally i'd output them as a 8bit tiff.
It'll create a fairly huge file but will stop photoshop receiving a compressed image. (you can always delete the tiff's afterwards :) )

For the sharpening, i'd leave the default raw sharpening setting (3 i think ? its fairly mild), then do your main sharpening in photoshop after you have resized your image.

Cheers.

[tzalman]

Many postprocessers use three stages of sharpening - Captive, Creative and Output. See:
http://www.creativepro.com/story/feature/20357.html
Personally, I do the capture sharpening in the converter, if DPP at level 2 and if Raw Therapee at 0.3, 300, 3.

[lostdoggy]

Here is a sharpening action by The Lights Right:

http://www.thelightsright.com/TLRProfessionalSharpeningToolkit.htm

Have a go at it. Its Free!!!

From there you can stick with it or venture to create your own sharpening technique!!!

[versedmb]

Thanks for the responses guys; perhaps there is no ideal way to go about sharpening. ;)

[airfrogusmc]

I usaully sharpen in photoshop (CS2) after converting. Filter/Sharpen/either smart sharpen of unsharp mask. Usually smart sharpen and either lens blur or motion blur depending on whats appropriate. Depending on the image I usually start with say smart sharpen lens blur 3 pixels 60%. again depending on the image I might do it 3 times first time say 3 pixels at 60% then again 2 pixels at 20% and the last time really fine tune it say 1.5 at 10%.

[williec]

Best reference I have found is Bruce Fraser's, "Real World Image Sharpening". see: http://www.peachpit.com/store/product.aspx?isbn=0321449959

It's a complete, somewhat technical explanation of sharpening combined with step-by-step strategies for image sharpening. Bruce preferred a multi-pass approach for source optimization, content and output. The techniques can be set as Actions in PS and I have found it to be the most useful tool for sharpening.

[cfcRebel]

I, too, use the 3-pass sharpening method mentioned above (www.thelightsright.com). I normally run the Capture Sharpening right after converting from raw to psd, then adjust level/contrast/color as needed, followed by Creative Sharpening to work on selective area, then just run Output Sharpening right before Save As jpeg.
Mitch, the author of the TLR sharpening toolkit, has recently enhanced the powerful scripts so they run more efficiently on Photoshop CS, CS2 and CS3.

[canonloader]

Hey Fee, good to see you around again. I just downloaded a few of the ones I use a lot again. Thanks.

[cfcRebel]

Hey Fee, good to see you around again. I just downloaded a few of the ones I use a lot again. Thanks.Hi Mitch. How's your summer? I enjoy the TLR scripts very much and really welcome the enhancements.

[canonloader]

Summer has been good to me. The GBH's finally showed in large numbers and brought their white cousins and little green brothers with them. It's birdy heaven here now, but I await winter and frozen rivers, to bring back the real birds. ;)