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Sharpening using Capture NX

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Stephen Ragone

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I downloaded NX trail version this weekend and, although only reading about Photoshop Elements, I think NX is easier to use--it layers automatically, the control points seem to replace the need to draw boundaries to change portions of the pix, etc. But, I am not sure the NX does a good job at sharpening the image. It seems that the only way to sharpen an image is to change the D80 settings (and only for RAW images) rather than to do something to the image itself. I think Photoshop gives greater control of the sharpening proc--deciding on the pixel width, selecting parts of an image.... Is this true? I planned to download a trial version of Photoshop Elements to play with but I think I am spoiled already--unless it does a better job sharpening images.Thanks, Stephen Also, what happens to the images I changed in NX if I go with Photoshop? S
 
There is an Unsharp Mask option in the detail menu ! You do not just have to depend on the in camera sharpening.

Is this what you are after ?
--
'Some days you're the dog, some days you're the hydrant.'

 
Actually, you can perform sharpening quite easily in Capture NX.

I usually start by turning the in-camera sharpening off (set it to "none"), then I use the Unsharp Mask (USM) filter. I do this in a separate Edit Step at the end of my workflow (after I'm done adjusting levels, curves, and color).

I use the USM step to get rid of the effects of the camera's anti-aliasing filter. A good starting point for the D80 would be to set the Intensity at 50, Radius at 6, and Threshold at 4. You might get away with a little more intensity, or if you don't want to sharpen every wrinkle on a portrait, use a little less. Click "New Step" in the Edit List, then choose Focus--> Unsharp Mask from the pulldown that says "Select Adjustment".

USM in Capture NX is automatically applied to only the luminosity channel, which minimizes color shifts at the edges. In addition, if you apply USM in NX as a separate Edit Step, you can remove the effect at any time because it is like doing your sharpening in a separate layer (which I think is very cool).

You can also use Edit Steps to create other Sharpening Effects, like High Pass sharpening.

NX does not offer the "Find Edges" filter that Photoshop has, but in all, I find it very competent at doing sharpening, and since you're in RAW, it does it non-destructively. You can remove the USM filter any time as long as you save the image as a NEF.

For my print output, I usually send my final image over to CS2 and I've been using the Nik Sharpener Pro 2.0 plug-in to sharpen for the particular print size and paper type. It works GREAT.

-Jason

--
Author, 'The Photographer's Guide to Capture NX'
Visit my website at: http://www.luminescentphoto.com
 
Thanks to you both for the quick advice. I just tried it and found the change to be very, very subtle. The image is a backlit plant with large green leaves, in front of a window. I saw subtle changes in the window frame, even at a much higher intensity setting . Is this what is to be expected? Also, when I re-opened the sharpening box the previous settings were gone-back to zeros. ?? S
 
Stephen Ragone said:
I saw subtle
changes in the window frame, even at a much higher intensity
setting . Is this what is to be expected?
Click to expand...
You may need to increase also the Radius (but be careful with the halos).
Stephen Ragone said:
Also, when I re-opened
the sharpening box the previous settings were gone-back to zeros.
??
Click to expand...
This happens if you work with JPEGs and save your changes. When you re-open the same file you will not have any of the previous edit steps.
That only happens (keep all the edit steps) when working with NEFs (RAW files).

--
Paulo Goulart
 
NX does a fine job sharpening images. Use the Unsharp Mask Tool.

You can selectively sharpen portions of the images using boundaries and control points.
--
Roger (W6VZV)
Huntington Harbour, California
Surf City, USA

'I want to die peacefully, in my sleep, like my Grandfather...'
Not screaming, and in terror, like his passengers...'

 
Paulo Goulart said:
This happens if you work with JPEGs and save your changes. When you
re-open the same file you will not have any of the previous edit
steps.
That only happens (keep all the edit steps) when working with NEFs
(RAW files).
Click to expand...
In NX you can save JPEGs as NEFs. The reason to do that is precisely so you can save your edit steps. OF course, this doesn't magically turn the JPEG into a RAW file. Just bundles the NX edits with the JPEG in a way that NX can re-use when the file is reopened. Bear in mind, though, that ONLY NX will be able to read such a file. Photoshop (and Elements, of course) can't. You'll have to save it back to JPEG if you want to work with it in another application.

--
My photos: http://www.pbase.com/imageiseverything/root
 
Stephen Ragone said:
Thanks to you both for the quick advice. I just tried it and found
the change to be very, very subtle. The image is a backlit plant
with large green leaves, in front of a window. I saw subtle
changes in the window frame, even at a much higher intensity
setting . Is this what is to be expected? Also, when I re-opened
the sharpening box the previous settings were gone-back to zeros.
?? S
Click to expand...
The impact of sharpening will vary from image to image. In a backlit situation like the one you describe, you might not see much impact becasue there probably isn't much edge contrast (detail) in the leaves for the algorithm to work with. My guess is that the leaves are underexposed to begin with. In general, the NX USM tool is capable of extreme/visible sharpening. It's capability is similar to Photoshop's basic USM feature but, as noted, it's nice that it works on the luminosity channel and doesn't impact color.

Make sure the USM "step" is checked on when you view the image. NX is a little flaky with how it sometimes unchecks steps when you're clicking around or editing other steps.

--
My photos: http://www.pbase.com/imageiseverything/root
 
Thanks all, again. The leaves were backlit and there was a real contrast between their green color and the window pane. The leaf edge didn't change but the drops of water on the window did sharpen. It must be that my lens is so sharp that there is simply no room for improvement! With regard to saving the settings; they were saved when I re-opened the image. They were back to zero while I was still working on the image--going back and forth to adjust the values. I have so much to learn! I am enjoying the process and the chance to pick your brains and read your books (Jason). S
 
Roger J. Buffington said:
NX does a fine job sharpening images. .......
....You can selectively sharpen portions of the images using boundaries
and control points.
Click to expand...
Roger,

Not sure I know how to do the above. Can you talk me throught it?

Chris Elliott

Nikon D80
Sigma 17-70 f2.8-4.5
Sigma 24-70 f2.8
Nikkor AF 70-210 f4
SB-600
Capture NX
Qimage

http://PlacidoD.zenfolio.com/
 
Now that is neat ....and I did not know you could do that.

What I was doing (I may change since that NEF tip)

If I think I may print the photo I save one jpeg after all the edits to be sharpened for print at a later time and most likely in PS.

And then I resize the file to somthing I feel I will display it at...(usually 1200 on the long side) and sharpen that in NX......I feel my result is much better and suitable for dispay and Email..

They also work real well for slideshows on the computer and I will soon, burn one for a Hi-def TV. I hope that also works well.
If not I will resize another file to the 16:9 size.
knickerhawk said:
In NX you can save JPEGs as NEFs. The reason to do that is
precisely so you can save your edit steps. OF course, this doesn't
magically turn the JPEG into a RAW file. Just bundles the NX edits
with the JPEG in a way that NX can re-use when the file is
reopened. Bear in mind, though, that ONLY NX will be able to read
such a file. Photoshop (and Elements, of course) can't. You'll
have to save it back to JPEG if you want to work with it in another
application.

--
My photos: http://www.pbase.com/imageiseverything/root
Click to expand...
--
------------------------------------------------------------
Gene
From Western PA.

Panasonic FZ 20 and FZ30
D50 and lenses.

http://imageevent.com/grc6



Just trying to learn and it's slow going!
 
I tried this and found it had little purpose. When you open the file again you see an 'edit list' of your changes, as if it were a NEF; but you can't modify what you've already done. If you try, you find that the effect is additive, i.e. what you get is the sum of the original edit step plus whatever the current setting is. Since the JPEG data has already been modified, you're left with what amounts to just an historical record of what you did in an earlier session.
 
I am not sure how much use it can be, but the couple files I tried, I used the black and white control point to increase the contrast and when I open it again I can turn that off and use curves if I wish.....I also straightened and cropped them and I can undo those edits also.........seems OK to me. Time will tell!
--
------------------------------------------------------------
Gene
From Western PA.

Panasonic FZ 20 and FZ30
D50 and lenses.

http://imageevent.com/grc6



Just trying to learn and it's slow going!
 
You can apply the USM using the (+) selection brush.

Add the USM step, then click the (-) fill tool to deselect the entire image. Then click the (+) selection brush and paint in the USM as desired.

To check your selection, choose "show selection" from the view menu.

-Jason

--
Author, 'The Photographer's Guide to Capture NX'
Visit my website at: http://www.luminescentphoto.com
 
JasonOdell said:
For my print output, I usually send my final image over to CS2 and
I've been using the Nik Sharpener Pro 2.0 plug-in to sharpen for
the particular print size and paper type. It works GREAT.
Click to expand...
Hi Jason,

Do you send JPEGs to CS2 or TIFFs? Don't you loose something by living NEFs behind?

In your (great) book, you propose to use also Capture NX to do the final, "for printing", sharpening. Is this (with CS2) a much better solution or can we stick with Capture NX for the whole process?
Thanks in advance.

--
Paulo Goulart
 
I send 16-bit TIFFs to Photoshop. Currently, the PS print with preview dialog is a bit more refined than that in NX, especially for borderless printing. The next service release of NX should improve the print function, but I have yet to test it thoroughly.

I usually don't save the TIFF, though-- unless I do retouching work. Since I don't shoot a lot of portraits, I don't usually do much retouching.

-Jason

--
Author, 'The Photographer's Guide to Capture NX'
Visit my website at: http://www.luminescentphoto.com
 
Roger J. Buffington said:
You can selectively sharpen portions of the images using boundaries
and control points.
Click to expand...
It would be great if control points could be used to define the region affected by USM, but I don't believe that's possible (I'd love to be proven wrong on this point). The parameters that can be adjusted with control points include hue, brightness, and contrast. You need to use brushes or similar tools if you want to restrict the impact of USM to a specific region.

--
My photos: http://www.pbase.com/imageiseverything/root
 
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