Sharpening

mattchewone

mattchewone

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Name
Matt
Edit My Images
Yes
Just wondering the best way to sharpen an image after it has been cropped or shrunk for web?

I am currently using CS3 on Mac.

Thanks
 
I think you'll find that everyone will say 'yes'. Resize for web, then sharpen, and you will get the best results.

Just re-read your post and I think I misunderstood your question! :cuckoo: If you are wanting to know the best way to sharpen using CS3 then i'm no good to you sorry, I'm a GIMP man. But i'm guessing it will just involve using unsharp mask.
 
Sharpening is always the last thing I do prior to export...

shutterman
 
Whats the best way to sharpen? As when ive done it in the past it makes no difference.
 
I sharpen once for my main large tiff/jpg that will be printed.
Then once I have resized for the web I give it another small sharpen up. :thumbs:
 
I would suggest as sharpening being the last stage. You really don't know how much, or little sharpening to add until you've resized the image. If you can preview the image in a browser prior to uploading. That way you'll know if the sharpening is OK
 
What method do you use for sharpening? Filter - auto sharpen?
 
Most use filter sharpen/unsharp mask and settings of about 100,1.0,3 for sharpening a large shot.............then once its been resized for the web... about 50, 0.4, 1

Just starting points. Or you can use high pass sharpening as per a tutorial by Hacker on here.
 
If you use ACR in Photoshop you've got some excellent sharpening tools in that. The beauty of these they apply the sharpening to the luminance channel only, leaving the colour alone. Therby reducing any noise induced by sharpening.
This is primarily capture sharpening, but does reduce the need for further sharpening "down stream". If you shoot jpeg you can set Photoshop to open these in ACR by selecting the option in file handling preferences within the Preferences dialogue.

If you use unsharp mask, you may like to do it via a layer. This way if it's been overdone you can reduce the effect by lowering the layers opacity. You'll need to duplicate the background onto a layer first, though.
 
Can i ask what ACR is?
 
Sorry!!

ACR= Adobe Camera Raw it's the part of Photoshop that is used to handle RAW images. It's a very powerful image processor that has loads of functionality, and really isn't that difficult to use. If you have RAW files Photoshop will open ACR automatically. It's also the same engine that runs Adobe 's Lightroom develop module. It will also handle jpeg images.

Do a google search for some instructional videos, it's worth getting to know .
 
Cheers!

Did a quick go using unsharp mask and to be honest i couldnt see much change! Must be me!
 
I've got actions setup for the following sharpening techniques. Will require Photoshop CS3 for them to work. PM if you want a copy of the actions.

High Pass
Luminosity/Fade
Edge Sharpening
Layer Based Luminosity.

I'll also create some instruction on how to use them

Gerald
 
Dont forget to keep the DPI to 72 and the file size and image area down as not everyone has Broad Band or a 300" widescreen monitor ;) (my tip).

Unless for selling from a Gallery.
 
Janice said:
I sharpen once for my main large tiff/jpg that will be printed.
Then once I have resized for the web I give it another small sharpen up. :thumbs:
Click to expand...

Yup that's exactly what I do :D I prefer the Hi Pass Filter method nowadays as I find it gives more flexability.
 
Still cant work out a good sharpening method. I find the USM doesnt seem to have much affect and when i had a go at high pass the picture looked to bright and a bit funny.
My Examples
Untouched
IMG_0003web.jpg

Un Sharp Mask
IMG_0003USM.jpg

High Pass Filter
IMG_0003HP.jpg


Now i can see the difference. Hope this helps.
 
jerry12953 said:
Slapo, I see you're online at the moment, so ...

I've followed the photoessentials tutorial on high pass sharpening and tried it on one image. As I'm very much a beginner on using layers, how do I merge the Background Layer and the sharpened Layer?:thinking:
Click to expand...

If you're using Photoshop for that, I'm afraid I can't help you much there, I don't own a copy (nor was I given one).
In the GIMP, there are three ways (with all of them, you click on a layer):
- Merge down (merges the layer you right clicked on and the one below it).
- Merge visible layer (does what it says)
- Flatten image (merges visible layers, nukes the invisible ones and if there's should be any transparency after merging visible layers, it nukes that too using the background colour as a background)
 
Slapo said:
If you're using Photoshop for that, I'm afraid I can't help you much there, I don't own a copy (nor was I given one).
In the GIMP, there are three ways (with all of them, you click on a layer):
- Merge down (merges the layer you right clicked on and the one below it).
- Merge visible layer (does what it says)
- Flatten image (merges visible layers, nukes the invisible ones and if there's should be any transparency after merging visible layers, it nukes that too using the background colour as a background)
Click to expand...

This is the same on photoshop. Right click on one of the layers and then at the bottom of the menu are these options.
 
I've started using the high pass method recently as a change to USM/other methods, and as with the other methods there will always need to be a bit of tweaking of settings to get the desired sharpness. As always with post-production/photoshopping whatever it takes a bit of playing around to see what happens - ultimately I guess its down to personal preferance.
 
If it's just sharpening for web go to Unsharp Mask and use the following settings before you resize: Amount 400, Radius 0.3, Threshold 0

Works a treat and remember to drop the resolution from 300ppi to 72 ppi when resizing, or use the Save For Web function.
 
Hacker said:
If it's just sharpening for web go to Unsharp Mask and use the following settings before you resize: Amount 400, Radius 0.3, Threshold 0

Works a treat and remember to drop the resolution from 300ppi to 72 ppi when resizing, or use the Save For Web function.
Click to expand...

How do you drop the ppi?
 
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