Sharpening an Image

[pyterps]

I'm having a lot of trouble sharpening images, I never seem to get it right.

I would like to know the techniques that everyone else uses which may help me get something that looks right to me.

[Radtech1]

Alot depends on the program that you are using. I use FocusMagic and have posted this before. Since you ask, it seems like a good time to repost.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=44102

Rad

[KevC]

UnSharp Mask has always done wonders for me in Photoshop :D

[pyterps]

I use photoshop and the unsharp mask but don't what settings work best. I'm looking for examples of settings and what works for each of you.

[mphoto]

There is some good background information over at Luminous Landscape:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/understanding-series/understanding-usm.shtml
and
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/contrast-enhancement.shtml

[Huckaback Photo]

Different images often need different settings or teckniques.
dif cameras also need dif amounts and ways of sharpening an image.
can only offer a starting point for you to try in ps unsharp mask.

general purpose amount 80 to 100 radius 1 to 2 threshold 3 do a test print

hit the filter unsharp mask a second time to re-apply settings listed above, do a test print

now may be reduce these settings and another test, what you see on screen not always works with finished print, dont forget you are changing pixels into minute drops of ink.
so experiment. this really is the basic beginning as far as sharpening is concerned.
Cheers
Martin( huckaback photo)

[Candid Bandit]

I take ALOT of burry pics..LOL.. So to savage some of them, I use PScs unsharp mask to fix it. The formula for me is if its very blurry like motion blur, set the amount to 200.. threshold at mininum and then adjust the radius starting from the lowest one step at a time untill you acheive your desire sharpness. For just little blurry pics like you can see the subjects eyelashes but can't count them, then set the amount to around 30, threshold at mininum and then adjust the radius. Thats just how I do it.. might not be the correct way but it usually works pretty good.

[Hellashot]

Are you shooting JPG or RAW? I shoot RAW and apply no sharpening while processing the RAW information. Then if I'm going to print 4x6 without cropping I'll use default USM settings with a value of 400. If I'm going to sharpen it for computer viewing I'll use 200 instead.

[Jesper]

The effect of Unsharp Mask in Photoshop is very dependent on the size (in pixels) of the image.
Before you choose Filter / Sharpen / Unsharp Mask, make sure to zoom in to 100% so that you can see what happens with the image.

I usually start with something like this for a full-size (3072 x 2048 pixels) image from my 10D:
Amount: 120%, Radius: 1.0, Threshold: 6

For smaller, web-size images (I often use 720 x 480 pixels for posting on the web), I start with:
Amount: 120%, Radius: 0.3, Threshold: 6

I start fiddling with the Amount first to make the effect more or less strong. The "Preview" checkbox in the Unsharp Mask dialog is very useful to see what the sharpening does to your image. I frequently toggle it off/on, change the parameters a bit, toggle off/on etc. to see what happens with my photo.

You know you've sharpened too much if you start to see white halos around sharp edges. But how much you want to sharpen an image is a matter of personal preference, so there's no absolute limit.

Are you shooting JPG or RAW? I shoot RAW and apply no sharpening while processing the RAW information. Then if I'm going to print 4x6 without cropping I'll use default USM settings with a value of 400. If I'm going to sharpen it for computer viewing I'll use 200 instead.What do you mean with "a value of 400"? Is that the "Amount" setting? What do you have "Radius" and "Threshold" set to? And what is the size of your images in pixels?

[quickben]

For sharpening in PSCS, I use USM (Un-Sharp Mask) and my settings are almost always thus: Amount - 150 %, Radius - 0.3/0.5, Threshold - 0.

I apply this 2, 3, or 4 times at ACTUAL PIXELS size.

Oh, I almost forgot. Set your photo to LAB COLOR and de-select the A and B channels before applying USM. This way, it is a more subtle and natural application of sharpening. (The colors are contained in these channels, and don't take to sharpening very well)

Try it. Hope it works out for you.

Gary.

PS. I read all this in one of Scott Kelby's books. They are really good for beginners like me :-)

[Hellashot]

What do you mean with "a value of 400"? Is that the "Amount" setting? What do you have "Radius" and "Threshold" set to? And what is the size of your images in pixels?

I use default values of radius and threshold, whatever they started out as, and the last changeable value I refer to as 400 or 200. On RAW (6MP) from my Drebel.

[Scottes]

Once you change one of those values PS uses it as the "Default" the next time you run USM. As a result I haven't seen the Default values for USM in over 14 years.... I have no idea what they are.

[Hellashot]

My defaults: radius: 1.0, threshold: 0. Using amount: 200 or 400 as stated before.

[Chazs]

I think this link was posted earlier. I've taylored it a bit myself, but I think it's a great starting point.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/digitalphotography/learnmore/sharpening.mspx

CHUCK

[petermorell]

I use the CrispImage Pro plug-in in PS to sharpen. It provides more than just USM and I use it to sharpen at several stages in the workflow. I think there are other plug-ins that support this type of sharpening approach as well.

[gmitchel]

I've got all sorts of free sharpening resources on my site: Photoshop action set, tutorials, learning galleries, tips of the week, etc.

http://www.thelightsrightstudio.com/DigitalDarkroom/DigitalDarkroom.htm

Cheers,

Mitch