I think I've got a handle on sharpening for web images (typically some USM after the resize), but I am clueless when it comes to prints. How the heck do I know how much sharpening will look good on a 2200x1760 (for example) image printed at 8x10? or 4x5? or any other size? Does the size of the print matter? Does the resolution of the image matter?
Sorry about the 5 questions in 1, but I really don't know anything on this front. Any info you can give me will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
I don't usually sharpen much, if at all, for prints. On small prints, 4x6, 5x7, I usually don't do any, or maybe just 25 or 30%. On bigger prints, depending on content, I may go as high as 50% on occassion.
Not a great answer, I know, but the truth is, when I do sharpen, I just sorta' eyeball it.
I don't usually sharpen much, if at all, for prints. On small prints, 4x6, 5x7, I usually don't do any, or maybe just 25 or 30%. On bigger prints, depending on content, I may go as high as 50% on occassion.
Not a great answer, I know, but the truth is, when I do sharpen, I just sorta' eyeball it.
I'll pry a little more detail outta ya if you don't mind. When you say 25,30,50%, are you talking amount in USM? If so, what values do you use for Radius and Threshold?
Also, when you say you eyeball it, at what magnification do you look at the image? 100%?
Yep, my %s are the USM amounts. I keep the radius at 1, and the threshold between 1 and 3, again depending on the individual shot.
When I eyeball it, I use the USM selctor window tool to show the eyes (in a portrait - some similar spot in a non-portrait shot) in the USM window, and have the whole image at 50% zoom behind it. I hope that makes sense.
I tend to use the little hand to move the 50% image around behind the USM box - I check out different sections of it to see how well the sharpening works, and if it's too much anywhere.
With the image zoomed at 50% I eyeball sharpen til it looks just a bit oversharpened (haloing) and then back off a bit.
Recently, I've used Alien Skin Exposure to sharpen the image. I often use it to give a film look, so if I turn up the sharpening in that filter, I can achieve a one pass PP. Works great for batch processing images from RAW.
I'm now looking into using Focus Magic for print sharpening. I understand that using Focus Magic ($45) with a 1 pixel radius on all your prints provides good results.
I think I've got a handle on sharpening for web images (typically some USM after the resize), but I am clueless when it comes to prints. How the heck do I know how much sharpening will look good on a 2200x1760 (for example) image printed at 8x10? or 4x5? or any other size? Does the size of the print matter? Does the resolution of the image matter?
Sorry about the 5 questions in 1, but I really don't know anything on this front. Any info you can give me will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
We have the same mission! What a coincidence!
Thanks again to all those who've responded, and TIA in advance for any additional input!
