USM is an acronym for "Unsharp Mask," which is a sharpening tool in PhotoShop. It's the most common type of sharpening used on scans or digital images. To explain it in a very untechnical way, it increases contrast where edges of objects meet in a photo. Too much USM, yields a frosty, sparkling edge that has an unpleasant feel to it. Some scanners apply a cruder form of sharpening during the scan.. It's best to turn this off and apply USM judiciously after scanning. I think this photo has some other issues as well that were probably created during rendering. It does appear somewhat overexposed, but that could be just too much brightness and contrast pumped in during the scan or in post-scan manipulation. Paul
On Aug 19, 2006, at 12:40 AM, Jack Davis wrote: > Thanks, Paul for response. > This was shot using a white reflector in natural light. LX & A100 f/2.8 > macro and Provia 100F. > Don't do my own scans. What's USM? > "Highlight blasts", I'm still thinking about. > > Jack > > > --- Paul Stenquist <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> I wasn't even thinking about the Columbine shot. Yes, I'm serious. >> It's the highlight blasts at the edges of contrasting colors that >> make it look oversharpened. But it is a very nice shot. Are you >> applying a lot of USM to your scans? (I believe you said you were >> shooting film.) In any case, that's my take. I could be wrong, but >> that's the impression I get. >> Paul >> On Aug 18, 2006, at 11:09 PM, Jack Davis wrote: >> >>> Paul, >>> Are you really serious about it's possibly being "over sharpened" >>> or is >>> this a spin off play on the recent Columbine exchanges? >>> You say "perhaps", does that mean you feel it is or you haven't >>> decided? >>> If you feel it is over sharpened, PLEASE clue me as to what it is >> you >>> see that causes you to reach that conclusion. Could you be >> confusing >>> "contrast" with something else? >>> Do I have a unique monitor? >>> >>> Jack >>> >>> --- Paul Stenquist <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >>> >>>> Nice shot. Perhaps a bit oversharpened. >>>> Paul >>>> On Aug 18, 2006, at 9:49 PM, Jack Davis wrote: >>>> >>>>> Along the same theme as the recent dew covered blossom, this very >>>>> small >>>>> blossom is covered by actual morning dew. Note the droplet size >>>>> compared to the blossom..whatever it is. >>>>> >>>>> Comments welcome. >>>>> >>>>> Jack >>>>> >>>>> http://photolightimages.com/aspupload/detail.asp?ID=173 >>>>> >>>>> __________________________________________________ >>>>> Do You Yahoo!? >>>>> Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around >>>>> http://mail.yahoo.com >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >>>>> [email protected] >>>>> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >>>> [email protected] >>>> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >>>> >>> >>> >>> __________________________________________________ >>> Do You Yahoo!? >>> Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around >>> http://mail.yahoo.com >>> >>> -- >>> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >>> [email protected] >>> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >> >> >> -- >> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >> [email protected] >> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >> > > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around > http://mail.yahoo.com > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > [email protected] > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
