I've read similar things in various places, most notably in Bruce Frasier's books and articles. However, I find I get better results if I sharpen RAW images a moderate amount before conversion. I don't go all the way with them, but I do enough to bring the RAW to a level somewhat comparable to an unsharpened scan. Usually that's between 24 (the PSCS Camera RAW initial default) and 50. After that, some additional overall sharpening or targeted sharpening can be applied before printing or after web resizing. I've tried working both ways. At least in terms of inkjet printing on my Epson 3200, those images sharpened before conversion show more apparent sharpness without artifacts than those sharpened only after conversion. Paul
> My research and limited experience shows that any sharpening/unsharpening > should > be done to the final image after resizing for output. Contrary to what one > would > think, the smaller the image the more sharpening needed. Very large prints > may > need some blurring instead. It is very easy to over sharpen or unsharp-mask > an > image and it can not be undone once the image is saved without loss of > quality. > > Ergo, produce the best possible image without any avoidable sharpening and > save > that as your archive, then sharpen as need just prior to printing or posting. > > > graywolf > http://www.graywolfphoto.com > "Idiot Proof" <==> "Expert Proof" > ----------------------------------- > > > Boris Liberman wrote: > > Hi! > > > >> It sounds like you have a good grasp of the RAW conversion process. > >> My main suggestion would be to use the Sharpness slider carefully. A > >> setting between 75 and 100 is a lot of sharpening. Blow your image up > >> to 100% or 200% when sharpening to see what it does to the edges and > >> transition areas. I find that I usually can't go above 65 without > >> causing damage and frequently end up in the 50s. You're also applying > >> even more sharpening after conversion. Without a doubt, you're > >> oversharpening. This will tend to significantly reduce the plasticity > >> of the image in that the transition areas will be "notchy" or abrupt. > >> I also think that if you get everything right with exposure, > >> brightness, shadows, and contrast before you convert, you shouldn't > >> often have to fuss with curves or limites. I sometimes add a minor > >> tweak after processing, usually just as a final contrast adjustment > >> with the rgb curve, but most of the time the RAW converter gets it > >> right. Too much is frequently too much. > > > > > > Paul, I have to agree with you. It is just that I was often pointed out > > that my images lack some sharpness and some contrast. It seems that I've > > over-accepted that advise. > > > > I am going to start with the same procedure I am applying, but with much > > less sharpening, especially for image that would be printed. Then I will > > slowly build up my experience from these prints. > > > > Boris > > > > > > > > > -- > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.10.4 - Release Date: 4/27/2005 >
