Exporting/Saving photos for on line use - Sharpness -

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Maver!ck

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Lionel
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Just wondering if anyone has a quick and easy method of preparing shots for on line use, whether that is on your website, Facebook or whatever.

The reason I ask is I like to export from LR because it is quick and easy. I usually export to between 600 and 1200 pixels on the longest edge (depending on intended use, nature of the image and mood at the time!) at 72 pixels per inch and sharpened for screen at the standard amount. The result I get is a bit like this;

3314 by LionelM06, on Flickr

and to be honest I am not really happy with the sharpness achieved by this method.

My other method is to open the image in PS6 and resize it using the crop tool, specifying the size and res I want. I then save for web using fairly high settings but with an eye on file size. Then close the original file without saving and open the jpeg. Sharpen it, subtly at this file size (i have a method but won't bore you with the details as I think everybody has their own methods) and save again.

I think this method produces better results but it's a bit clunky and time consuming. There might also be room for still more improvement but this is along the line of the results I am getting;

3314_1 by LionelM06, on Flickr

So, can you see the difference? (player in the foreground obviously)

Any thoughts / suggestions for improved method / result?

Thanks

Lionel
 
Is Flickr affecting your shots in any way …… are you getting the same on here as you get in Flickr as other guys have reported that sometimes there is a change between Flickr and here
 
That is possible Bill but I would see it as an additional factor as there is a difference before uploading. I don't think flickr or Facebook are the best place for image quality but necessary evils!
 
I also use LR and PS6 but I prefer to finish output sharpening using Nik Collection, which includes the superb Pro3 Output Sharpener app. Depending on the type of output and size, i.e. for web display, or print/gallery etc, you can adjust the desired sharpening appropriately. It's not a "quick n'easy" solution but the results for me far outstrip what I can do in PS6/LR. Maybe a good professional can match Nik Pro3 using PS6, but I'm not able to.
So for me, well worth the investment!http://www.google.co.uk/nikcollection/
 
The second image seems more desaturated than the first if you look at skin tones especially the face but the sharpness appears to be the same or very similar for a web image.
 
i just set LR to sharpen for screen and leave it at that.

note about flickr, the original is untouched so upload at the size you want to share at and then link to the original.
 
Thanks Peter, i actually have the Nik Collection. Hadn't been using the output sharpener though!! Had a bit of a play with it there and there certainly is potential. And it is faster than my sharpening 'process'. (another subject!) See what you mean Bryn, there is a slight difference in saturation in the two images but on my screen it is very slight. Not my doing! At least not intentionally. Thanks Neil. Maybe I should think about file dimensions / res?

Nik ProSharpener 3 could be the answer I was looking for but any other observations are welcome too :)
 
It looks to me like there's a bit more contrast and vibrance in the second than the first - solid colours in the shirts are a little different, and that shouldn't be affected by sharpness as such.
 
Thinking the differences in saturation etc may be coming from 'Save for Web' where there is a conversion to sRGB. Although it should treat the image in the same way for both saves, where there has been some additional work, it may be making slightly different decisions in the depths of the process.
 
I use NIX output sharpener.
 
I think the second looks over sharpened to me. Somewhere in between would be my ideal for low res screen use.

They both look very dark here BTW. Your monitor calibrated?
 
Thanks Addison. (Presume its Nik) Will definitely have to spend some time having a good look at the Nik plug in. David would you mind expanding please. Looking closely i see there is what appears to be slight haloing around the players forehead & nose but, but that's there in the original. Just direction of light and or reflection from the pale wall behind. Or is it something else that you mean?
 
I meant merely subjectively, the second one just looks overly sharp to me. I appreciate that there's rim lighting around the guy's head, but the sharpening just seems to exaggerate it. The first one seems a wee bit soft though, so for me, somewhere between the two for that resolution of image would probably be my choice.

They both seem dark though.
 
Sorry, have been neglecting this thread. I have started using Nik output sharpner, usually set at around 18 to 20% for this size of image and painting in only the significant edge detail. Finding that seems to work fairly well but will post a shot or 2 later for a 2nd opinion!

Re image being a tad dark, yea my monitors are calibrated but it is a bad habit. I tend to unintentionally err on the dark side. Don't think the retina screen (1 of them) helps in this regard. Even when it is calibrated.
 
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