Photoshop sharpening actions.

[mh68]

Just come across this free downloadable set of sharpening actions which may be of interest to photoshop users. Seems like a very comprehensive set, covering various sharpening techniques and masks. The pdf file included with the set has full instructions on how to install and how to apply each process.I`ve just installed it on cs2 and it works fine (also scanned for viruses and its all clear).

sharpening toolkit for photoshop

Hope its okay to post the link, if not mods feel free to delete this

Mark H

[Hobjob]

Originally Posted by mh68

Just come across this free downloadable set of sharpening actions which may be of interest to photoshop users. Seems like a very comprehensive set, covering various sharpening techniques and masks. The pdf file included with the set has full instructions on how to install and how to apply each process.I`ve just installed it on cs2 and it works fine (also scanned for viruses and its all clear).

sharpening toolkit for photoshop

Hope its okay to post the link, if not mods feel free to delete this

Mark H

Thanks Mark

Does look interesting, yet another reason not to watch tele

[Brocker]

Thanks Mark. Have loaded it and it looks quite good. I will give it a try tomorrow....

[JennyS]

Thanks for the link, looks good.

[Tazni]

I have a very simple method that I made that may interest some?


But no one really uses it because they do not understand it... But it is extremely simple

Just duplicate your layer, go on Filter>Other>High pass.

Do between 5-10

Then go onto blending options and change it to overlay.


Just thought it might be a quicker way and you can erase parts which you don't want to be sharp easily and stuff....

[mh68]

Glad some of you found the link useful. I havent really tried any of the techniques properly - just messed about with them on a couple of pics, but they seem very useful.....more so due to the fact masks etc are already done for you and you can simply "paint" sharpening where you want it (or remove it where it isnt wanted) using the brush tool.
Tazni, high pass sharpening is a pretty popular method going off what i`ve read on the camera forums elsewhere....very effective technique too in many cases.
I tend to use a very simple method with most of my pics too - a single click on a Lightroom preset i`ve set up for sharpening with the settings calibrated for my particular camera

Mark H

[The Black Rabbit]

Cheers Mark.
Blimey.
I have an awful lot to learn!
Doug

[DaiTheDragon]

I think some of the downloadable actions for sharpening can confuse the less experiance users. Much better is for them to learn 2 or 3 differant methods of sharpening and use the one that best suits the photograph.
Out of intrest my method is to mask the main subject and there are easy and hard ways to do it, I can then add sharpening to the main subject and noise reduction to the background., plus you can save the mask for to use again.

Dai

[mh68]

I`ve always thought the easiest way to selectively sharpen the subject only in PS is to sharpen the whole image to taste on a duplicate layer, then just use the history brush tool with a soft brush to remove unwanted sharpening from the background.Takes less time than using masks,and to my eyes has the same end result?
For background noise reduction I just use Neatimage if necessary (standalone program not the PS plugin) - if you calibrate the profiles correctly they`ll effectively remove background noise without destroying detail in the subject.

Mark H

[DaiTheDragon]

Firsly, there is no "proper" way to do anything in PH so you use the method that suits you best. If you sharpen the whole image you are also sharpening any noise in the background and even using the history brush just means that you are reverting to the original background which may have noise in it.
I use Noise Ninja and have downloaded profiles for both my cameras but I still only use it for background noise.

Dai

[mh68]

Yep agree Dai, its very much down to personal preference. I`m certainly no expert on PS though, so always welcome tips from others.
I havent tried Noise Ninja but it seems a popular program which others rate highly.

Mark H

[glsammy]

My method is very simple, and no doubt not the best method. I apply a general unsharp mask, followed by neat image to remove the background noise. Works quite well.
I'm currently wading through a Photoshop tutorial disc, which is opening my eyes to the power of this software. My only problem is remembering what I've just watched..

[mh68]

Originally Posted by glsammy

My method is very simple, and no doubt not the best method. I apply a general unsharp mask, followed by neat image to remove the background noise. Works quite well.
I'm currently wading through a Photoshop tutorial disc, which is opening my eyes to the power of this software. My only problem is remembering what I've just watched..

Sometimes the simple techniques are all thats needed Graham. Its very easy to go too far and overdo an image....some wildlife shots i`ve seen have bordered on digital art they have been altered so much

Mark H

[Tormentil]

Originally Posted by glsammy

My method is very simple, and no doubt not the best method. I apply a general unsharp mask, followed by neat image to remove the background noise. Works quite well.

Same here, except I use Noise Ninja.

[Ollie]

Originally Posted by glsammy

My method is very simple, and no doubt not the best method. I apply a general unsharp mask, followed by neat image to remove the background noise. Works quite well.

Same here, mind you that's nor surprising, seeing as it's Graham who has taught me most of what I know about image editing and cameras.

As far as I can see the method of doing it is personal preference as long as you achieve the end result you are after.
Roger

[DaiTheDragon]

One of the main reasons I use masks is that I can apply other adjusments such as curves, level's, saturation, ect. just to the main subject or vice versa.

Dai

[NickCantle]

I like to keep it simple. If it's dull, I drag up the saturation a few notches, then I sharpen it. That's all

Nick

[Hobjob]

Originally Posted by NickCantle

I like to keep it simple. If it's dull, I drag up the saturation a few notches, then I sharpen it. That's all

I too prefer the "keep it simple, stupid", but I usually at least have a look
at the levels / histogram; often needs a little tweak which livens things up more than increasing the saturation in my hands.

[NickCantle]

All I was articulating was that I try and do as little as I can get away with