Never use USM...

[bas thijssen]

I was at a Photoshop-seminar some days ago and the guy that was there from Adobe had a very usefull tip. Never use USM on an entire image. You not only sharpen the things you want to, but also the noise that you DON'T want to. Instead use for example the IntelliSharpen action from FredMiranda. it makes masks and only sharpen the things you want to. And when you use the ARC from adobe, set Sharpen and Smoothnes to 0 and do everything in Photoshop.

greetings
Bas
--
In love with my D60

 

[Ger Bee]

bas thijssen wrote:

 

[Michael Salzlechner]

Always use some sort of smarft sharpen. What you want is to sharpen edges only. So first use edge detection techniques and then use that as a mask to sharpen.

The reverse works for cleanup of noise also btw.

--
Michael Salzlechner
StarZen Digital Imaging
http://www.starzen.com/imaging

photos at http://www.salzlechner.com/photo

 

[Khanh M]

Is this what the Fred Miranda CSPro action does? When I use the Sharpen with Tweak...it selecets the edges and allows me to tweak it to set the intensity of the edge it finds.

Not sure if it sharpens the whole pic or just the edges....

Khanh

Always use some sort of smarft sharpen. What you want is to sharpen
edges only. So first use edge detection techniques and then use
that as a mask to sharpen.

The reverse works for cleanup of noise also btw.

--
Michael Salzlechner
StarZen Digital Imaging
http://www.starzen.com/imaging

photos at http://www.salzlechner.com/photo

 

[CompostHappens]

a small section of the entire image.

I want to sharpen everything but the face(s).

Always use some sort of smarft sharpen. What you want is to sharpen
edges only. So first use edge detection techniques and then use
that as a mask to sharpen.

The reverse works for cleanup of noise also btw.

--
Michael Salzlechner
StarZen Digital Imaging
http://www.starzen.com/imaging

photos at http://www.salzlechner.com/photo

 

[bas thijssen]

Yes, the Fredmiranda action does that. It sharpen in a face for example only the eyes or jewelry...

greetings,
Bas

I want to sharpen everything but the face(s).

Always use some sort of smarft sharpen. What you want is to sharpen
edges only. So first use edge detection techniques and then use
that as a mask to sharpen.

The reverse works for cleanup of noise also btw.

--
Michael Salzlechner
StarZen Digital Imaging
http://www.starzen.com/imaging

photos at http://www.salzlechner.com/photo

--

--
In love with my D60

 

[Bakman_29]

http://www.outbackphoto.com/workflow/wf_17/essay.html

I like it very much...

BaKMaN

I was at a Photoshop-seminar some days ago and the guy that was
there from Adobe had a very usefull tip. Never use USM on an entire
image. You not only sharpen the things you want to, but also the
noise that you DON'T want to. Instead use for example the
IntelliSharpen action from FredMiranda. it makes masks and only
sharpen the things you want to. And when you use the ARC from
adobe, set Sharpen and Smoothnes to 0 and do everything in
Photoshop.

greetings
Bas
--
In love with my D60

--



http://www.digitallyactive.com

 

[cpr1954]

you can mask off the areas you don't... or want to affect..
use the wand.. or lasso.. etc..

easy to do..

with the wand.. use your right mouse click to add ..

hope this helps

cheers

I want to sharpen everything but the face(s).

Always use some sort of smarft sharpen. What you want is to sharpen
edges only. So first use edge detection techniques and then use
that as a mask to sharpen.

The reverse works for cleanup of noise also btw.

--
Michael Salzlechner
StarZen Digital Imaging
http://www.starzen.com/imaging

photos at http://www.salzlechner.com/photo

--

--
CANON 10D - S-30 - A-1 film

 

[Mathias Vejerslev]

I generally agree with mask sharpening (see actions on my sig link), but come on. 'never'?

With a camera like the 10D, you won´t be enhancing any noise at all if you set threshold carefully, and shoot at ISO100.

Mathias
--
CP995 Macro gallery:
http://www.2morrow.dk/75ppi/coolpix/
Digital Deluxe Toolbox - Photoshop Actions for digital photographers:
http://www.2morrow.dk/75ppi/coolpix/actions/

 

[Jamie W]

http://www.outbackphoto.com/workflow/wf_17/essay.html

I like it very much...

BaKMaN

--
Jamie W.
Kindness. Compassion. Understanding. Respect. Courtesy.
I try to live up to these words. Do you?
Film? What do you mean, film?

 

[CompostHappens]

When I use wand, it deals with the area within its borders.
Thanks!

easy to do..

with the wand.. use your right mouse click to add ..

hope this helps

cheers

I want to sharpen everything but the face(s).

Always use some sort of smarft sharpen. What you want is to sharpen
edges only. So first use edge detection techniques and then use
that as a mask to sharpen.

The reverse works for cleanup of noise also btw.

--
Michael Salzlechner
StarZen Digital Imaging
http://www.starzen.com/imaging

photos at http://www.salzlechner.com/photo

--

--
CANON 10D - S-30 - A-1 film

 

[cpr1954]

select "inverse"..

cheers..

easy to do..

with the wand.. use your right mouse click to add ..

hope this helps

cheers

I want to sharpen everything but the face(s).

Always use some sort of smarft sharpen. What you want is to sharpen
edges only. So first use edge detection techniques and then use
that as a mask to sharpen.

The reverse works for cleanup of noise also btw.

--
Michael Salzlechner
StarZen Digital Imaging
http://www.starzen.com/imaging

photos at http://www.salzlechner.com/photo

--

--
CANON 10D - S-30 - A-1 film

--

--
CANON 10D - S-30 - A-1 film

 

[RobE]

Anyone care to explain what the percentage and threshold numbers really mean?

I generally agree with mask sharpening (see actions on my sig
link), but come on. 'never'?

With a camera like the 10D, you won´t be enhancing any noise at all
if you set threshold carefully, and shoot at ISO100.

Mathias
--
CP995 Macro gallery:
http://www.2morrow.dk/75ppi/coolpix/
Digital Deluxe Toolbox - Photoshop Actions for digital photographers:
http://www.2morrow.dk/75ppi/coolpix/actions/

 

[Paul Greenleaf]

Anyone care to explain what the percentage and threshold numbers
really mean?

percentage = intensity, same thing
threshold = determines the distance from the edge pixels that get sharpened.

I generally agree with mask sharpening (see actions on my sig
link), but come on. 'never'?

With a camera like the 10D, you won´t be enhancing any noise at all
if you set threshold carefully, and shoot at ISO100.

Mathias
--
CP995 Macro gallery:
http://www.2morrow.dk/75ppi/coolpix/
Digital Deluxe Toolbox - Photoshop Actions for digital photographers:
http://www.2morrow.dk/75ppi/coolpix/actions/

 

[John Davis]

I generally agree with mask sharpening (see actions on my sig
link), but come on. 'never'?

Mathias:

These fellows are learning... and BTW the blanket statement that started this thread forgets the need to undo AA in DSLRs too...

The suggestion to have a newbies forum is truer than ever.

John

With a camera like the 10D, you won´t be enhancing any noise at all
if you set threshold carefully, and shoot at ISO100.

Mathias
--
CP995 Macro gallery:
http://www.2morrow.dk/75ppi/coolpix/
Digital Deluxe Toolbox - Photoshop Actions for digital photographers:
http://www.2morrow.dk/75ppi/coolpix/actions/

 

[DavidP #28649]

"Percentage" is what you say it is.

What you've called "threshold" is really "radius"

"Threshold" is basically how much difference there needs to be between the luminance in the pixels before sharpnening will be applied. If there's little difference, there will be no sharpening applied.

percentage = intensity, same thing
threshold = determines the distance from the edge pixels that get
sharpened.

--
The Unofficial Photographer of The Wilkinsons
http://thewilkinsons.crosswinds.net
Photography -- just another word for compromise

 

[Pekka Saarinen]

I was at a Photoshop-seminar some days ago and the guy that was
there from Adobe had a very usefull tip. Never use USM on an entire
image. You not only sharpen the things you want to, but also the
noise that you DON'T want to. Instead use for example the
IntelliSharpen action from FredMiranda. it makes masks and only
sharpen the things you want to. And when you use the ARC from
adobe, set Sharpen and Smoothnes to 0 and do everything in
Photoshop.

Fully masked sharpening can look also very unnatural - there is a lot of detail in surfaces and noise is not always just noise. Masked sharpening (originally mentioned 3/2001 in http://www.creativepro.com/story/feature/12189.html?origin=story and popularized and commercialized by many) is good for high ISO shots when you really need to avoid getting noise up but basically you get better look by sharpening "overall" and perhaps doing NR afterwards - people are just too afraid of noise to realize that.

In love with my D60

Ok, as long as you don't start taking it out to dinner.

--
Pekka
http://photography-on-the.net

 

[David Lee139781]

Hi John, "newbie" Dave here I would love a "Newbie" forum, as long as you 'old timers' will still visit us now and again and help us out ;-) In fact, I need your help now. What is "AA" ... other than batteries?

Thanks!!

Kindest Regards,
David

These fellows are learning... and BTW the blanket statement that
started this thread forgets the need to undo AA in DSLRs too...

The suggestion to have a newbies forum is truer than ever.

John

With a camera like the 10D, you won´t be enhancing any noise at all
if you set threshold carefully, and shoot at ISO100.

Mathias
--
CP995 Macro gallery:
http://www.2morrow.dk/75ppi/coolpix/
Digital Deluxe Toolbox - Photoshop Actions for digital photographers:
http://www.2morrow.dk/75ppi/coolpix/actions/

 

[manuthie]

Hi David,

What is "AA" ... other
than batteries?

must be AntiAliasing-Filter.

Manuel

 

[Mathias Vejerslev]

If you want to know a thing or two about sharpening:

http://www.creativepro.com/story/feature/12189.html?origin=story

Then read the rest of Frasers Out of Gamut series.

Your photographs will improve, and your Photoshop skills will hit the roof, and make your spous unhappy.

Mathias

I was at a Photoshop-seminar some days ago and the guy that was
there from Adobe had a very usefull tip. Never use USM on an entire
image. You not only sharpen the things you want to, but also the
noise that you DON'T want to. Instead use for example the
IntelliSharpen action from FredMiranda. it makes masks and only
sharpen the things you want to. And when you use the ARC from
adobe, set Sharpen and Smoothnes to 0 and do everything in
Photoshop.

Fully masked sharpening can look also very unnatural - there is a
lot of detail in surfaces and noise is not always just noise.
Masked sharpening (originally mentioned 3/2001 in
http://www.creativepro.com/story/feature/12189.html?origin=story
and popularized and commercialized by many) is good for high ISO
shots when you really need to avoid getting noise up but
basically you get better look by sharpening "overall" and perhaps
doing NR afterwards - people are just too afraid of noise to
realize that.

In love with my D60

Ok, as long as you don't start taking it out to dinner.

--
Pekka
http://photography-on-the.net

--
CP995 Macro gallery:
http://www.2morrow.dk/75ppi/coolpix/
Digital Deluxe Toolbox - Photoshop Actions for digital photographers:
http://www.2morrow.dk/75ppi/coolpix/actions/