Image Sharpening plug in for Photoshp?

sanking

Member
Joined
Mar 26, 2003
Messages
5,437
Location
Greenville,
Format
Large Format
I am wondering what image sharpening software others are using with Photoshop? Bruce Fraser's Image Sharpening with Adobe Photoshop CS2 is a great resource, but unfortunately even after reading the book carefully and utiliizing some of the concepts I still an not able to anticipate from the screen image what the final print will look like.

There are clearly a lot of options available. Just wondered if someone might comment on the best one for someone working primarily with scans of MF and LF film where noise reduction is not nearly as big an issue as it might be with digital cameras and 35mm scans.

Sandy King
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Pinholemaster

Member
Joined
Oct 17, 2005
Messages
1,566
Location
Westminster,
Format
8x10 Format
I only use PhotoShop's sharpening abilities. Why pay someone for a plug in that doesn't do anything more than what PhotoShop can do?

The secret to all unsharp masking, or smart sharpening, is to bring the image up to 100%. Some times when having to make difficult adjustments I go larger than 100%.

I highly recommend learning to sharpen images in LAB color. That way you can reduce noise in the A&B channels through a slight blur, and sharpen only in the L channel so you don't alter the colors.

The problem is with anything like this is that there's a huge learning curve. Each and every one of use has to read take workshops, and apply what we learn through trial and error.
 

donbga

Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2003
Messages
3,053
Format
Large Format Pan

Sandy,

Man there are so many options but I guess that is why you are asking the question.

You may want to consider Intellisharpen II plugin for PS made by Fred Miranda Software.

http://www.fredmiranda.com/software/

It's priced at about $30 and can be downloaded. I don't own it but I have friends who do and are quite pleased with it, but I'm not sure if it is a 16 bit product, though it probably is.

]I've also got another friend locally that swears by Nik Sharpener Pro. It must be a decent product because she is the most untechnical individual that uses PS and her prints look very nice, Prior to purchasing NSP her work always looked way over sharpened. However Nik Sharpener is much more expensive.

Noise Ninja and Neat Image both have sharpening available and are good noise reduction products as well. I beleive Sam uses Noise Ninja so maybe he would let you test it on his Mac. I have the demo version of Neat Image and it does a very good job of sharpening though most of the time I turn it off preferring to use Mark Nelsons sharpening action though I think it does tend to sharpen noise.

Don Bryant
 

Baxter Bradford

Member
Joined
Nov 17, 2004
Messages
795
Location
Lymington, S
Format
4x5 Format
Another option is from Pixelgenius - their Photokit which places the sharpening on layers. It utilises a 3 stage approach which makes sense and I omit stage 2 creative sharpening, just performing Capture and output stages.

I find some of the settings are too strong, reducing opacity of the light contour layer in both stages enables me to achieve the effect I want. Photoshop actions have been written for both to ease workflow.

It is written by Martin Evening and some other Photoshop gurus.
 

Kirk Gittings

Member
Joined
Mar 21, 2006
Messages
84
Location
New Mexico
Format
4x5 Format
Sandy, I don't like the "look" of PhotoKit. I used it for years. Now I just use a very slight USM "capture" sharpening in the scan and a strong High Pass Sharpen action into a separate layer and adjust opacity to suit different print sizes. Works like a charm and I only have to save one final file. If you want the action I will email it to you (or anyone else).
 
Last edited by a moderator:
OP
OP

sanking

Member
Joined
Mar 26, 2003
Messages
5,437
Location
Greenville,
Format
Large Format

Hi Kirk,

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I would like the action. Personal email is sanking@clemson.edu.


Sandy
 

Joe Lipka

Member
Joined
Sep 24, 2002
Messages
908
Location
Cary, North
Format
4x5 Format
I am in agreement with those that use only the "native" sharpening tools provided in photoshop. Earlier versions of photoshop might have benefited from use of third party software for sharpening, but now photoshop is pretty much "up to date" in terms of sharpening.

I think that one of the things that needs to be recognized is that there is no "universal" sharpening tool. Different techniques work for different types of images. Another thought to keep in mind while you experiment with different techniques and different images.
 

garri

Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2006
Messages
67
Location
Oban, west c
Format
Large Format
Hi Kirk, I would be keen to try the sharpen action too, I am relatively new to PS and have not, as yet, found a way of using sharpen with layers.
Thanks
Gari
 

donbga

Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2003
Messages
3,053
Format
Large Format Pan
Hi Kirk,

If I could beg your indulgence could you send me a copy of your sharpening action?

A heart felt thanks,

Don Bryant
 

Anonymous

Member
Joined
May 14, 2003
Messages
59
I don't know if this would be of interest to any of you but I found a wealth of sharpening techniques in a book I came across. The title of the book is "The photoshop CS2 book for digital photographers". The author is Scott Kelby.
 

jd callow

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Jan 31, 2003
Messages
8,466
Location
Milan
Format
Multi Format
I'd like to see an experiment using all of the sharpening techniques used by the membership applied to the same base image as a way of comparison. We could then try to match techniques to application image, and type or develope the best technique for the numerous applications and image types.
 

MVNelson

Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2006
Messages
5,345
Location
North Florid
Format
4x5 Format
If I could trouble you also for your action Thanks:rolleyes:

Miles
mnelson@gtcom.net
 

Baxter Bradford

Member
Joined
Nov 17, 2004
Messages
795
Location
Lymington, S
Format
4x5 Format
John - sort of forum set-up question, so move if in wrong thread, but relevant here methinks.

Rather than trouble Kirk for every individual who would like a copy of his action, would it be possible to have an area where one could post such files for downloading on demand?

I too am curious to try this action, but not haven't wanted to inconvenience him.

There are lots of potential assets to be shared, such as digi-neg Curves for alt proc would be good for people needing these to make quicker progress with their photography.
 

David A. Goldfarb

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Sep 7, 2002
Messages
19,974
Location
Honolulu, HI
Format
Large Format
In the meanwhile, if the file isn't in the approved list of file attachment types, he could ZIP it and post it as a ZIP file as an attachment to a post, since ZIP files are on the list.
 

jd callow

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Jan 31, 2003
Messages
8,466
Location
Milan
Format
Multi Format


Baxter,
I agree. I will look into building an upload/download area. In the interim if we could follow David's suggestion that would be great.
 

df cardwell

Subscriber
Joined
Jul 16, 2005
Messages
3,357
Location
Dearborn,Mic
Format
Multi Format
NoiseNinja has been very satisfactory for me
in a production setting for pure digital imaging.
You can deal with noise and sharpening issues at once,
and it has a very good preview. A VERY good tool.

.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…