Sharpening question
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#1. "RE: Sharpening question" | In response to Reply # 0
ericbowles Nikonian since 25th Nov 2005Thu 25-Jul-13 06:39 AMThere are several concepts that support creating large images with minimal artifacts.
Generally you want to avoid any editing steps that add noise or artifacts early in the workflow. You also want to remove any problems that you do not want to enlarge - dust spots, noise, etc. Use a very light touch and apply noise reduction selectively rather than globally, or very lightly if global to maintain sharpness.
Early in your workflow, you need to be careful about in camera settings, picture controls, or any edits applied during ingest as they can add noise and artifacts that are later magnified.
Upsize very early in your workflow - your first steps after cleaning up problems. Don't upsize more than 50% in a single step. You may need multiple passes of upsizing to reach a desired size for a very large print.
You might want to apply some high pass sharpening between upsizing steps to tighten up sharpness on some areas, but you need to make sure the effect uses a very small radius and is only applied to the subject - not the background where halos would show.
Once you have finished upsizing, you can edit in a pretty normal manner. Keep in mind any step that uses a radius or pixel measure could need a different setting on a really large print.
Eric Bowles
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#3. "RE: Sharpening question" | In response to Reply # 0
barrywesthead
Registered since 06th Nov 2006
Fri 26-Jul-13 09:12 AM
For sharpening, take a look at Focus Magic. It's inexpensive and it works! I was introduced to it years ago by a prominent Nikonian.
For enlarging, a couple of years ago I test compared Alien Skin Blow-up against a couple of others and it was marginally better and image dependant. Nowadays I think they all are pretty much equal. I use Qimage for upscaling but resizing in PS followed by Focus Magic will probably be as good as any treatment.
Barry
http://art2printimages.com
#4. "RE: Sharpening question" | In response to Reply # 0
esantos
Nikonian since 10th Nov 2002
Fri 26-Jul-13 11:07 AM
It is of eminent importance before you even begin to up size an image file for a large print to ensure that the capture was taken using the best techniques to maximize acuity by setting the best focus for the scene, nail the exposure, and achieve the least possible camera shake. Only then can you begin to consider your options to print large. Amending Ansel Adams famous quote - There's nothing worse than a large print of a fuzzy image. I can't stress enough how you cannot make a sharp large print if the integrity of the material is not there.
While I believe the newer versions of Photoshop (CS5 and beyond) and Lightroom (version 3 and beyond) have excellent resizing algorithms I still like to use OnOne's Perfect Resize for anything larger than 20x30. When I am using Photoshop CS5 I simply resize in one shot, usually using Bicubic Sharper. Sometimes Bicubic Smoother works better, but not always. I recommend you resize twice using both methods and inspect both at 100% view and determine which gives you better results. It really depends on the image.
I use several sharpening plug-ins but I always tend to fall back on The Plug-In Site's FocalBlade. Yeah, its sort of old school but I have yet to find another product that gives you the same level of control and the results are always excellent IF you use it correctly. It does require practice and study but the effort to learn how to use it in expert mode is worth it.
While I believe the newer versions of Photoshop (CS5 and beyond) and Lightroom (version 3 and beyond) have excellent resizing algorithms I still like to use OnOne's Perfect Resize for anything larger than 20x30. When I am using Photoshop CS5 I simply resize in one shot, usually using Bicubic Sharper. Sometimes Bicubic Smoother works better, but not always. I recommend you resize twice using both methods and inspect both at 100% view and determine which gives you better results. It really depends on the image.
I use several sharpening plug-ins but I always tend to fall back on The Plug-In Site's FocalBlade. Yeah, its sort of old school but I have yet to find another product that gives you the same level of control and the results are always excellent IF you use it correctly. It does require practice and study but the effort to learn how to use it in expert mode is worth it.
Ernesto Santos
esartprints.com Ernesto Santos Photography
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#5. "RE: Sharpening question" | In response to Reply # 0
walkerr
Registered since 05th May 2002
Fri 26-Jul-13 02:02 PM
This is one of those subjects where you'll find multiple schools of thought and multiple workflows, seemingly divergent, but all of which will produce good results. Some is dependent on the tools you use and how recent they are. I suspect a good reference book will be Jeff Schewe's upcoming book "The Digital Print", provided you're using a LR/Photoshop toolset. It's due out within days, and his past books have been extremely good. It'll probably have more info than you want.
I tend to use a two-step sharpening process, once for capture and then once for print. I use the LR/ACR sharpening tools for the first step, which are really good at minimizing and suppressing halos and LR's printing routines, which contain similarly good output sharpening algorithms. Ernesto's recommendation for FocalBlade is a good one if you want to do it in one step (I used it in the past). Nik Sharpener is also good for one-step sharpening, but not as good for a two-step approach.
Mid-tone contrast, no matter how you arrive at it (clarity slider, high pass techniques with fades for shadows and highlights, etc.) definitely helps in larger print sizes.
Last of all, don't forget about soft-proofing. It doesn't change sharpness, but it definitely can improve color and contrast in the final mage if you do it correctly.
I tend to use a two-step sharpening process, once for capture and then once for print. I use the LR/ACR sharpening tools for the first step, which are really good at minimizing and suppressing halos and LR's printing routines, which contain similarly good output sharpening algorithms. Ernesto's recommendation for FocalBlade is a good one if you want to do it in one step (I used it in the past). Nik Sharpener is also good for one-step sharpening, but not as good for a two-step approach.
Mid-tone contrast, no matter how you arrive at it (clarity slider, high pass techniques with fades for shadows and highlights, etc.) definitely helps in larger print sizes.
Last of all, don't forget about soft-proofing. It doesn't change sharpness, but it definitely can improve color and contrast in the final mage if you do it correctly.
Rick Walker
My photos:
GeoVista Photography
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#8. "RE: Sharpening question" | In response to Reply # 5
jimsanders Registered since 25th Mar 2008Thu 01-Aug-13 11:22 AMOur own Conrad Obregon has his review of Jeff's book here: https://www.nikonians.org/forums/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=195&topic_id=1660&mesg_id=1660&page=
The review is also on Amazon here. The book is now available.
#6. "RE: Sharpening question" | In response to Reply # 0
Gentlemen,
Thanks for the great advice.
I suspect if this were a workshop, that y'all would be handing me an invoice
I'll look into all of these suggested applications, and once I'm finished reading An Editor's Guide to Premiere Pro (CS6 version) I will invest in the book you mention Rick.
Thanks to all,
Rob Manning
Thanks for the great advice.
I suspect if this were a workshop, that y'all would be handing me an invoice
I'll look into all of these suggested applications, and once I'm finished reading An Editor's Guide to Premiere Pro (CS6 version) I will invest in the book you mention Rick.
Thanks to all,
Rob Manning
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#7. "RE: Sharpening question" | In response to Reply # 6
barrywesthead Registered since 06th Nov 2006Sat 27-Jul-13 04:54 PM
Here's a link to a similar topic curently active on Nikonians in case you have not seen it.
https://www.nikonians.org/forums/dcboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=326&topic_id=884&mesg_id=1081
Barry
http://art2printimages.com
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#9. "RE: Sharpening question" | In response to Reply # 7
pqtrths Nikonian since 02nd May 2007Tue 13-Aug-13 10:27 AMForgive me for not adding any useful information on this subject, but I have a book at home on sharpening digital photos beginning with the exposure. I'll post the title and author as soon as I find the book. (Stored while the house is re-carpeted.)
MpVisit my Nikonians gallery
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No where could I see any halos from sharpening.
I do not print, if I might it would be through Nash Editions or somewhere like that.
I looked over in the post forums but didn't find a specific thread on how one arrives at stellar images of such size.
Do any of you, Rick, Eric etc. have a workflow listed in the archives as to how one manages that type of refinement?
Thread link please.
The man's work is here: http://www.theg2gallery.com/exhibits/the_sierra_light/index.html
Thanks!
Rob Manning