Sharpening plug-ins etc for OUTPUT INKJET PRINT (NOT web)

So.. I searched various threads and there's no reference (that I can find) to this, which surprises me.. Anyway:

Re: Sharpening plug-ins etc for OUTPUT INKJET PRINT (NOT web).

Just bought Nik Sharpener Pro 3 and thought I'd check out other users experiences... all I get is that ol' bell tolling in the wind...

Well Im interested in any UP TO DATE sharpening plug-ins FOR INKJET PRINT experiences. I know there are loads of links on the web but they are all pre 2010, in fact all pre 2009, mostly around 2003. Not interested in old reviews, as Ive probably read them but also cos they are just out of date

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My experience with Nik Sharpener Pro 3 so far is a very frustrating one. When you install a product and input the product key (serial number/password) EXACTLY as it says on the box, you expect it to work, right? Wrong! For some reason that is so beyond me, so utterly obscure that it is not possible to even contemplate, Nik put the product key on the box in a format that will not work.

Maybe they just absolutely need your email address ( as there's no phone support). When you email them, as you must to get a working key, they do give you a key and it's with the SAME numbers and letters in and in the SAME order but.. wait for it.. (it's so simple!).. it's in LOWER CASE. Not the uppercase as it has it on the box.

But wait! There's more! Also.... (hush - top secret).... you also have to take out the hyphens in the code that are on the box

How's that for foiling their drive to get every buyers email address?

Joking aside.. it is utterly beyond me why they don't put the serial number on the box in the format that will activate the product. How hard would that be? I'm serious. Oddly it would be in keeping with every other software vendors practice. i.e. to give you a working key with the product but Nik obviously feel they have to buck the trend . There was no apology with they secret to making the key work that they sent me, so presumably it is standard practice for them. Not sure how they envision it helping their sales and reputation though.

The reviews don't mention this: So if like me you suffer from Nik Sharpener Pro 3 installation woes where the product key is not working, try this first before emailing them:

E.g.
Product code ON BOX is: 12345-4567-ABCD-EFGH-IJKL-MNOP
ACTUAL code to activate is: 123454567abcdefghijklm​nop

.

software companies should be more customer orientated sometimes!!

crackennz wrote in post #10925488
software companies should be more customer orientated sometimes!!

actually I was hoping for more useful comments than that, more along the lines of which plug-ins work best for INKJET PRINTING

Im interested in whether people are CURRENTLY using plug-ins like photokit sharpener, focalblade , nik etc or is everyone on LR3 now?

I Simonius wrote in post #10925529
actually I was hoping for more useful comments than that, more along the lines of which plug-ins work best for INKJET PRINTING

Im interested in whether people are CURRENTLY using plug-ins like photokit sharpener, focalblade , nik etc or is everyone on LR3 now?

I suggest you take a look at Topaz Labs. Topaz Adjust and Topaz Detail will probably give you what you want.

Hen3Ry wrote in post #10926294
I suggest you take a look at Topaz Labs. Topaz Adjust and Topaz Detail will probably give you what you want.

interesting thanks I'll take a look although I don't think they work on a PPC mac which I still have, but I'll upgrade to an Intel Mac one day so it is still useful.

Do you use them yourself for Printing?

I Simonius wrote in post #10925529
Im interested in whether people are CURRENTLY using plug-ins like photokit sharpener...

My understanding is that the technology in Photokit is now incorporated into the sharpening in LR and ACR.


I use the NIK Sharpener when I print out of Photoshop, but I select "Brush" and paint on selective sharpening with a layer mask. Make sure you select the correct resolution and paper type.

Otherwise, I print from Qimage which does incredibly good print sharpening automatically.

I've got several of Nik products and I have never had an issue with activation surrounding how they deal with the input of serial numbers. I purchased all of mine through download and then they email you the numbers which it works great to just copy/paste them. I have found that their support people are pretty good so talk to them about it, they are usually very accommodating.

I use the PhotoKit plug in to CS4. I got it primarily for the output sharpening.

ssim wrote in post #10933160
I've got several of Nik products and I have never had an issue with activation surrounding how they deal with the input of serial numbers. I purchased all of mine through download and then they email you the numbers which it works great to just copy/paste them. I have found that their support people are pretty good so talk to them about it, they are usually very accommodating.

Glad to hear it - the serial no was in the packaging - perhaps I should have bought as a download!

I Simonius wrote in post #10925529
actually I was hoping for more useful comments than that, more along the lines of which plug-ins work best for INKJET PRINTING

Im interested in whether people are CURRENTLY using plug-ins like photokit sharpener, focalblade , nik etc or is everyone on LR3 now?

Yep...I use Photokit Sharpener all the time...wouldn't be without it.

ChasP505 wrote in post #10926638
My understanding is that the technology in Photokit is now incorporated into the sharpening in LR and ACR.

I use the NIK Sharpener when I print out of Photoshop, but I select "Brush" and paint on selective sharpening with a layer mask. Make sure you select the correct resolution and paper type.

Otherwise, I print from Qimage which does incredibly good print sharpening automatically.

Qimage user here too. It can automatically do all image placement, rotation, upscaling, and sharpening on it's own. If you do any amount of high-volume printing (which for some reason you chose to do at home) then it's a god-send. Actually, it's just plain good.
The program looks as though it was written in 1999 (the cheesy website doesn't help with that image), but you should really try it out.

thanks for the recommendations - I'll take a dekko

Forgot to metion that Im on a mac - and I know most things work on the new Intel macs but sadly Im still ona pre-intel mac (PPC)

I Simonius wrote in post #10935847
I'll take a dekko

Translation please...

ChasP505 wrote in post #10937185
Translation please...

slang ( that's frequently used in common parlance) for take a 'look'

I Simonius wrote in post #10937202
slang ( that's frequently used in common parlance) for take a 'look'

Ah yes... from the Hindi "dekho"...