Sharpening

[wintoid]

I bought Photoshop CS just before CS2 was announced, and swore at that point not to buy CS2, but to skip to CS3. Well, CS3 is out, and I have my copy in my bag, ready to take home. I'm looking forward to seeing whether I can do a better job of sharpening with the new sharpening tools.

Are people here using Smart Sharpen in preference to USM? In particular, I'm not clear what to expect in relation to the sharpening of grain (which I don't particularly want) when I sharpen edges (which I do want). There doesn't seem to be a "threshold" slider in Smart Sharpen, or have I missed something?

Any advice about sharpening gratefully received.

 

[GeneW]

Wintoid, I've used CS2 extensively. Can't say I ever liked Smart Sharpen much. I think Unsharp Mask gives you better control. There are other sharpening techniques as well that sometimes work better -- e.g. high-pass filter.

The best overall tool I've found in CS2 is the Shadow/Hilight tool. I've read that the version in CS3 is even better.

If you want to get into advanced sharpening techniques and understanding, there's a good book by Bruce Fraser: Image Sharpening with Adobe Photoshop CS2. Peachpit Press, Real World series. Undoubtedly there's already a CS3 version of the book out or one nearly ready to be released.

Gene

 

[rich815]

Not a huge fan of Smart Sharpen either. I sometimes use it just to add a tad of light sharpening to web images otherwise prefer Unsharp Mask mostly. Been using FocalBlade for my pre-print sharpening. Great tool.

 

[Igor.Burshteyn]

Smart sharp is too smart for me. Used to use USM [150%@0.3/3], or [150%@0.6/6] for more pronounced effect.

 

[wintoid]

LOL thanks guys, perhaps CS3 won't have that much for me 😀

 

[icemendicant]

The book by Bruce Fraser is very good, and another option is to use his Photokit Sharpener plug-in, which gives excellent results and is very flexible - much better than the built in options.

 

[icemendicant]

By the way wintoid - whereabouts in Kent do you live? Looks like we are neighbours 🙂

 

[wintoid]

Recently moved here, to West Wickham after 38 years in South London. I avoided the quake though, did it hit you?

 

[icemendicant]

My next door neighbour told me he felt a slight tremor, but we're about 15-20 miles from Folkestone so no damage. I must have completely failed to notice it but we have three small boys under 6 in the house, so that does not surprise me!

Moved to Kent in 1998, myself, but really love the area. Some of the nicest countryside in the UK, I think.

Dan

 

[charjohncarter]

In Scott Kelby's book he uses these values. I have found them useful.

Basic 125/1/3
Soft Subjects 150/1/10
Portraits 75/2/3
Max 65/4/3
Moderate 225/.5/0
All Purpose 85/1/4
Web 200-400/.3/0

I got these numbers from someone on the web, I also use USM at 25/50/0 to add that little bit of highlight snap to an otherwise dull image. If it isn't too dull half those numbers.

 

[shadowfox]

In Scott Kelby's book he uses these values. I have found them useful.

Basic 125/1/3
Soft Subjects 150/1/10
Portraits 75/2/3
Max 65/4/3
Moderate 225/.5/0
All Purpose 85/1/4
Web 200-400/.3/0

I got these numbers from someone on the web, I also use USM at 25/50/0 to add that little bit of highlight snap to an other wise dull image. If it isn't too dull half those numbers.

Very informative, a question however, don't these values depends on the resolution of the image? if it is, what resolution would the above values apply to?

 

[charjohncarter]

It's been awhile since I check the book out of the library, but the web speaks for itself. I guess. Something sized for the web use those numbers. The others are sizes that are used for digital prints. Although, I have found that some of the formulas are too aggressive for me. So I just back off a little.