Sharpen RAW files before HDR processing?

[Honu]

I convert my photos (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/#) to TIFF in DPP and then use the TIFFs for HDR processing in Photomatix. Should I sharpen the raw files before I do this?

Thanks!

[fly my pretties]

No, the softer the image is the less likely it is to have any weird effects occure during the conversion process. At least that's my experience.

[kirkt]

Generally, you probably do not want to sharpen your images, or do much more to them other than convert them from one format to another, prior to combining them into an HDR dataset. Sharpening tends to increase local contrast at edges or other areas of high local contrast. Most sharpening does this by darkening dark pixels and lightening light pixels at these areas of high contrast, creating "halos" of contrast to give our visual systems the impression of sharpness. This goes for noise too.

The tonemappers that you will invariably use to convert your HDR dataset to an LDR image suitable for display or print will accentuate these halos and other artifacts of sharpening, so you want to hold off sharpening until you have tonemapped you image, typically.

Have fun!

Kirk

[Honu]

Thank you both for the input!