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DWerner
25th of September 2001 (Tue), 11:41
In comparing images shot with both the G1 and G2 (shot at roughly the same time) I am struck with the difference in character. The color differences have been covered in the G2 reviews but not enough has been said relating to the sharpness/acutance differences. (Acutance is commonly described as how distinct an edge there is between adjacent light and dark areas.)

The G2 is “sharper”. There is much more detail than the mere addition of a few pixels can explain. Yet oddly, the G1 photos seem sharper when viewed from a distance. There seems to be a certain amount of “edge sharpening” going on in the G1 even if “sharpening” is set = Low.

The G2 images are more like the D-30 images that I have seen. They can look softer if you don’t examine the detail. (Of course it’s easy enough to add that “acutance” to the G2 and D30 shots and replicate the “bright and snappy” sharpness that the G1 shots have…)

Is anyone else noticing this?

There are several good general comments on sharpness v acutance at:
http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=000dhx

And if you are mathematically inclined check out:
http://www.pvinc.com/tutorial/tutorial-quality-acutance.htm

Six months ago I ran a search on “sharpening” to learn what values to use in the “unsharp mask” feature in photoshop. I now know at least 12 ways to adjust sharpness in photoshop, with I don’t want to calculate how many variations. Isn’t this a wonderful hobby?

Dave

DWerner
25th of September 2001 (Tue), 13:31
For example go to:

http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=1780318&a=13777271&p=54508107&f=0

Thanks!

justincase
6th of November 2001 (Tue), 10:07
hi dave, you are so right! i have noticed the same thing and am glad to discover it wasn't just me or my imagination. so, care to share you 12 sharpening settings? i only have the LE version but i'm sure they'll translate. thanks.

i just discovered this board today and reading through the different posts, i am also struck by how common it seems that people jumping from the S10 or G1 to a G2 are finding that the G2 is much more sensitive to camera shake. i've had the same problems myself but i'm finally getting the hang of it.

DWerner
6th of November 2001 (Tue), 11:58
Well, I don't have time (or energy:) to list all 12 now.

But, here are two of the less well known...

My favorite is Fred Miranda's Edge Sharpen.
8 and 16 bit versions are available (Free!) at:

http://www.fredmiranda.com/Action_profilesPage/index.html

And, the most interesting is the "high pass" filter method. It produces all kinds of subtle changes besides sharpening. A description of it can be found in an article at:

creativepro.com

Do a search on the word "sharpening". (They have several good articles.)

Good Luck!

Dave

PS I don't know if the Miranda methods will work in PS 5LE but "Ultrasharpen" seems to (a similar commercial process).