Sharpening, etc?

[jerryh]

Matt_xyz recently commented (quite rightly, I think) that a shot of mine could use some contrast enhancement and sharpening.
This is the shot: http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/ga...mage-9702.html

I've had a go at sharpening the image and have not achieved anything which I'm happy with.

What advice can anyone give on enhancement of images for upload.

Feel free to comment on or even adjust my photo if you wish.
I'm using Corel Photopaint v10.

Thanks in advance,
Jerry

[matt_xyz]

Hi Jerry,

In the shot below I have simply increased the contrast a little and then applied some unsharp mask. Normally I would apply this to the bird only (by selecting and feathering the bird) but for a low resolution web shot like this I think you can get away with applying it to the whole image. I also applied a little bit of extra USM to the bird's head. It took about 30 seconds in total. I use Photoshop Elements 2, I'm afraid I've never used Corel Photopaint.

It was still a good shot to begin with. I'd kill to get a bittern shot that good!

Matt

[Alan]

Again almost the same as Matt's, but this time Levels were used in Photoshop. Then a little sharpening with unsharpmask, and finally, a tad of Hue/Saturation to lift the colours.

There are loads of ways of going about it, just find the one that suits you.

[jerryh]

Thanks, Matt.
Maybe I'm being too critical of what I achieved with my own sharpening. I see the improvement you've made in the image of the bird, but also see what I didn't like in my own attempts - which is an edginess (real word?!!) and patterning on the leaves below the bird's neck.

My software has "unsharp mask" - I'll play with that.

As for seeing a Bittern - it's luck improved by patience. Luck because I live close enough to Minsmere to go there about once a month, and patience, because whenever I go there, I always spend a total of at least 4 hours in the 2 hides overlooking the reedbed.

Jerry

Originally Posted by matt_xyz

Hi Jerry,

In the shot below I have simply increased the contrast a little and then applied some unsharp mask. Normally I would apply this to the bird only (by selecting and feathering the bird) but for a low resolution web shot like this I think you can get away with applying it to the whole image. I also applied a little bit of extra USM to the bird's head. It took about 30 seconds in total. I use Photoshop Elements 2, I'm afraid I've never used Corel Photopaint.

It was still a good shot to begin with. I'd kill to get a bittern shot that good!

Matt

[matt_xyz]

Originally Posted by jerryh

Thanks, Matt.
Maybe I'm being too critical of what I achieved with my own sharpening. I see the improvement you've made in the image of the bird, but also see what I didn't like in my own attempts - which is an edginess (real word?!!) and patterning on the leaves below the bird's neck.

My software has "unsharp mask" - I'll play with that.
Jerry

That's the side effect of applying USM to the whole image. Normally I apply it selectively to try to minimise effects such as this.

Matt

[jerryh]

Hi Alan - thanks.
No offense meant, but I don't find your version very realistic. You've definitely sharpened the definition of the feathers, but the contrast seems high and the colours too saturated.

As you say - it's a case of find the way that suits. Maybe I just prefer a softer picture.

Thanks again,
Jerry

Originally Posted by Alan

Again almost the same as Matt's, but this time Levels were used in Photoshop. Then a little sharpening with unsharpmask, and finally, a tad of Hue/Saturation to lift the colours.

There are loads of ways of going about it, just find the one that suits you.

[Jonny]

I have managed to get my bushcraft knife really sharp using a spyderco sharpener, but I don't think that is going to help you..................Jon

[Alan]

Originally Posted by jerryh

Hi Alan - thanks.
No offense meant, but I don't find your version very realistic. You've definitely sharpened the definition of the feathers, but the contrast seems high and the colours too saturated.

As you say - it's a case of find the way that suits. Maybe I just prefer a softer picture.

Thanks again,
Jerry

Yep, it's all subjective Jerry.

[jerryh]

That's another thread!

I'm always on the lookout for a good sharpener, though only for penknives. What's a spyderco?

Jerry

Originally Posted by Jonny

I have managed to get my bushcraft knife really sharp using a spyderco sharpener, but I don't think that is going to help you..................Jon

[Jonny]

Originally Posted by jerryh

That's another thread!

I'm always on the lookout for a good sharpener, though only for penknives. What's a spyderco?

Jerry

Its called a spyderco sharpmaker and it is great for sharpening, pretty much anything, I can now shave the hairs on my arm with my axe as well as most my knives, its that good................Jon
http://www.heinnie.com/cgi-bin/heinn...r.htm&cart_id=
Link to see it..........Its on the bottom of the left side