Lightroom Sharpening

Kryptix

Suspended / Banned
Messages
1,730
Edit My Images
Yes
I'm struggling to get my sharpening right when exporting using Lightroom. I find that if I do a 100%-crop sharpen and get it bang on, when I export to a 800x800 JPEG it looks soft. I have to go back and WAY over-sharpen it for it to look any good when I export it.

Does anyone have any advice? What sort of levels do you use? I'm a fan of SHARP images -- what sort of settings would you suggest?
 
For best effect you should always sharpen after downsizing (as well as before). Otherwise the downsizing simply obliterates much of the sharpening you applied to the full sized original. In LR2 there is an option to set output sharpening when you export. I find that "standard for screen" works well. LR1.x did not have output sharpening.

20090623_082221_0013_LR.jpg


I do not go overboard with my sharpening within the LR Develop module. Typically my settings might be something like 50, 1.0, 25, 40, or I might actually be quite happy with the defaults of 25, 1.0, 25, 0. Of course, the image should be sharp in the first place. Sharpening is not a fix for blurry or OOF images, just to combat the AA filter and to add a little creative enhancement/punch. Here is a recent example left at Lightroom defaults. The only edit is WB. Output sharpening on export took care of the rest. To my eyes this looks naturally/realistically sharp without that crazy overboard effect, with halos, that some people favour....

20090608_143628_8107_LR.jpg


Sometimes a photo does need a little help. I can't remember if this was shot through plexiglass or wire fencing but I gave it a helping hand by sharpening at 29, 1.2, 46, 20 before exporting with further sharpening after resizing.

20090608_143125_LR-2.jpg


It's a long time since I watched this video but this might cover the topic of output sharpening as well as sharpening in general - http://www.usa.canon.com/dlc/controller?act=GetArticleAct&articleID=287&fromTips=1

If not then this definitely will - http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=466333
 
Nice one. Those images look perfect IMO.

I'll have a gander when I get home. :)
 
they look great

I've seen options in resizing and export JPG options where it will apply sharpening for you.
makes a huge difference in irfanview for example with quick image edits
it's worth investigating these. I need to look into LR2 more myself...
 
Exactly what Tim said!

Other than a little bit of input sharpening, sharpening should be the very last thing you do to an image, even after resizing. As you've noticed an 800px wide image needs different sharpening to a full res image, then if you add sharpening for print into the mix it's a complete minefield!

Luckily Lightroom's export sharpening takes care of it, the sharpened look is part of your style, I'd suggest changing the amount of sharpening to high (I think that's what its labeled as) in the export dialogue.
 
I use the 'simple sharpening' method in Lr Mogrify. Think I have it set on 0.25 on export. I don't do any sharpening before I export to be honest.
 
519b053f.jpg


What do you think?
 
Back
Top