On: Sun, 04 Jan 2004 David Riecks wrote:- > However, I will point out that there are images where 180 may be too low. > IMHO, the "telltale" signs will appear most quickly when you are dealing > with "highly detailed" images, especially those that contain "hard edges" > (rapid transitions) at an angle to the image. For example, architectural > images with an edge of a building at a 30 or 45 degree angle will exhibit > "stair-stepping" at lower resolutions more quickly than at higher > resolutions. If there is a heavy application of USM (unsharp mask) this > "stair-stepping" may become quite pronounced.
The way sharpening is applied at print size really does govern the rendition of optical detail and continous tone. If it is actually sharp, then no jaggies. If it looks like it has been sharpened, then jaggies it is. > > If the image is a rather "soft-focus" close-up of a face, then lower > resolutions should not be a problem. Perhaps tiny jaggies around eyelashes detail would give soft focus with a zing? I jest but it works. Just a thought passing. > > The other major factor is the size of the print and it's relative "viewing > distance." ....and which are the other parts of the sharpening equation that leave some of us confused at to how and what level of sharpening to apply. When sharpening really works, it is not visible, not something that you actually think about when looking at the picture, as in the way that a properly colour corrected picture draws no attention to its self. This is where the confusion lies....take any optical beam from a lens and digitise it and it will look soft - even though the optical information is there, it's just that we have not drawn it out yet. Big Hint:- go birdwatching with just a pair of eyes - after a few hours of staring and I mean really staring at your surroundings, you will be amazed at what you see start emerging from the fine detail of your own eyesight - as processed in your brain. Lots of colours too! I mention this as so much of what we see, actually happens in the brain as an essential part of being a human. Nobody knows what the world looks like, we only *think* we know and thats good enough for me. <G> Vision is liquid. William Curwen http://www.william.ws =============================================================== GO TO http://www.prodig.org for ~ GUIDELINES ~ un/SUBSCRIBING ~ ITEMS for SALE
