sharpening

Just wondering what kind of sharpening techniques everyone uses for processing photos.......i have heard of some using lab sharpening.....and some others.........or is it better to just use unsharp mask or smart sharpen?

Check out this site for PS plugins:

http://www.thelightsri​ghtstudio.com/digital-darkroom.htm

I use the TLR Professional Sharpening Toolkit scripts. http://thelightsrights​tudio.com …onalSharpeningT​oolkit.htm

I used PK-Sharpener, http://www.pixelgenius​.com/products.html. Expensive but worth every penny. Best features is you have differnet types of sharpening, you can even use the paintbrush to paint in the areas where you want to sharpen and it is non destructive.

Bill

TLR does all that and more, and it can be setup to run silent batches. Oh yeah, and it's free.

TLR took its ideas for its product right from PK-Sharpener. TLR even uses the same names found in PK-Sharpener to describe the type of sharpening it does. I do see many photographers, mostly Pros are not recommending TLR while they recommended PK-Sharpener. Must indicate a PK-Sharpener is a better product since they are using a product you have to pay for than the one that is free.

Bill

For run of the mill stuff USM always does me well, although I have started earnestly using USM in Lab mode with staisfying results. I have the PK appy and use it quite a bit, as well...especially the Easter Egg!

Hi jfrancho,

Are you talking about the TLR Sharpening actions or the scripts? I use the script version and sure would like to know how to set it up to run silent batches. Please advice.
Thanks.

This simply isn't true at all. TLR was a result of unanswered questions about how PK worked. For details, see here. PK is an excellent product - you cannot go wrong with it - however, TLR has an advantages such an expert mode that allows you to set your curves, gaussian blur, USM, etc. to custom fit the sharpening to the image. Mitch does offer his tools for free, however they aren't simply just basic homebrew techniques.