[Dave]

Try this & let others know if it works for you.

As your very last step in your processing of a shot in Photoshop, just before saving, perform the following using UnsharpMask.

- Set percentage to 500%
- Set pixels to 0.1
- Set threshold to 0

Now click on pixels box & now use the up & down key on the keyboard to increase from 0.1 to 0.2 etc. Ensuring you have "preview" clicked keep pressing up until the picture "pops" at you (eg. becomes super sharp) . At this point check to see if it's too sharp (eg halo's). If it is drop back one click by presssing down arrow.

You'll usually find around 0.2 pixel is perfect, but other shots can go higher.

Have a go

[Chris]

All Dutch to me Dave.

[Hacker]

I'll have to try this, I sometimes sharpen at Percentage 25% (ish), Pixels at 50 and threshold at 0, this gives a good range of contrast to the image.

[Dave]

You would still do that Colin....this is just a final subtle tweak at the end

Chris, sorry should have said this is within Photoshop CS, filters. ..... is there an unsharpmask option in the Photo processing software you use ?

[fionaB]

i use USM at 95% 3.5 ratio and 0 threshhold..... tried your way and it didint really do much until i upped the ratio to about 1.2

Fiona

[stepheno]

Same for me as with Fiona. But if I up the Threshold it gets very pixelated.

[Chris]

Originally Posted by Dave

Chris, sorry should have said this is within Photoshop CS, filters. ..... is there an unsharpmask option in the Photo processing software you use ?

I've got a copy of PSP 10 on my computer upstairs, but most of my manipulation is done on an old laptop (armchair comfort) which I have a free program called Photfiltre - no unsharp mask

[Dave]

Originally Posted by fionaB

i use USM at 95% 3.5 ratio and 0 threshhold..... tried your way and it didint really do much until i upped the ratio to about 1.2

Fiona

DId you apply this after your normal sharpening ? As part of an action I have saved for adding a border to my web sized shot, the last step is to apply 0.2 pixel sharpening at 500% .....sometimes I have to take a step back in history, as it's too much.

[Steve]

As most of you know the amounts and ratios of sharpening needed will depend a great deal on the amount of detail (and contrast) in the shot and the size of the image that you are working on. Larger images need more sharpening as do images with less contrast.

A good tip to try on your full size shot (straight from the camera and at the first stage-before you begin altering exposure/contrast colour etc) is Unsharpen mask at 21, 35, 0. This has the effect of cleaning up the picture as though it has polished off a light haze layer. Its subtle but effective...give it a try

[Rob Barron]

I think Steve's idea is intended for a final touch, not for the main sharpening of a picture.

It is simply not possible to give a set of numbers for the settings and use them for every picture as all shots are different. It's rare I use a high figure for radius as that would then only sharpen areas of very low detail. For people, I would start with a small radius value, a 0 threshold and only about 100% but will then go up from there to what the picture needs. The problem is often hair as that will show over-sharpening before skin ever will, especially if it is curly or wavy hair where it will have a smiliar effect to moire patterns.

If you find you are getting the hair over-sharpening but the skin is not as sharp as you'd like, lift the threshold and this will have a counter-balancing effect so as the threshold goes up, the sharpening will come down a bit. Then you can push the radius higher without over doing the hair.

If the picture is a landscape with no or little delicate detail, set the radius a bit higher, try around 10. Setting this higher will help to reduce sharpening of any noise in the sky which can end up looking granulated. I do the same with stonework that has intricate convolutions like a sculpture.

The key is of course to experiement and try what works best. But always watch areas of high contrast as that is where you will get the dreaded halo effect that ruins a good picture. Just don't assume that because a setting worked for your last picture that it will be the same for this one.

Having said that, if you took a lot of photos of a similar object, it is likely that you will need much the same level of USM so then you can apply it without going through the dialogue box. All you have to do is hit Ctrl+F and it will apply the last filter you used (I am assuming you are not applying lots of other things in between here!). If you feel it has applied a touch too much this time, just press Ctrl+Shift+F and you can reduce the effect by sliding the percentage down until it reaches the point you like.

Ok, I'll shut up now. I really do go on don't I? <g>

Cheers,
Rob

[Steve]

Originally Posted by Rob Barron

I think Steve's idea is intended for a final touch, not for the main sharpening of a picture.

Cheers,
Rob

Nope, I sometimes do this as stated above at the very first stage, it increases the contrast and lifts the picture almost as if you have removed a layer of dirt. It is not used to sharpen the image at all though and you do have to be careful that by applying the USM at these levels you don't cause the highlights to become blown out, which is a potential side effect. Obviously the figures I gave above are approximate though and your milage will vary according to both the image size and contents.

[P-E]

After normal sharpening I sometimes give an image some USM @ 20,30,4.

I must try some of the other tips TFS

[nicklovick]

I have always found when trying to sharpen my MX shots in sand that the sand oversharpens.
After reading this post I'm now able to sharpen the shots as I require without the over sharp sand

Thanks folk!!!