Capture Sharpening

mattmatic

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22 Nov 2005 - 12:14 PM

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Thought I'd share this one with the wider community. I've been trying out some novel sharpening techniques over the last few weeks.

It's intended to work from Capture One unsharpened outputs, and just add some "zing" to the capture. You'll still need to sharpen for specific outputs etc, but I've found this a good starting point.

I haven't yet put the action online, nor provided photos, but I'd very much like your comments on how it works for you!

Click here to view the technique (originally posted on the Pentax User forums).

Have fun!
BTW - please email me if you want to reproduce this. Pete - if you'd like this technique for here, just let me know and I'll try and rustle up some images!!

Matt

User_Removed

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22 Nov 2005 - 12:31 PM

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I occasionally use Fred Miranda Intellisharpen II... Which seems to be very similar.
Col

RichardB

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22 Nov 2005 - 1:16 PM

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Excellent matt - Thank You ! - I just tried it and compared to my usual sharpening of high pass this is infinitely better

(My PS didn't do select luminosity though so I selected midtones with colour select tool)

Richard.

mattmatic

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22 Nov 2005 - 8:29 PM

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Ok everyone, here's the downloadable action.

I've tweaked it a little, and left the opacity of the sharpened layer at 80%. A little adjustment either way can help with some images.

To answer your questions:
Col: yes I have Intellisharpen II too. But now I don't use it, I prefer mine
Richard: glad it helped. Maybe the action will help more.
Simon: yes, I know about TLR. Fabulous site and set of actions. However, I have tried to address the imbalance of sharpness that results from the Bayer matrix in DSLRs (except the Sigmas with the Foveon sensor). In addition, mine's quite a lot faster. I'd encourage a comparison, and would also suggest following TLR's guides for Creative and Output sharpening.

More comments are welcome though!

keithh

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22 Nov 2005 - 11:55 PM

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The Moon on a Stick, Bri.

mattmatic

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23 Nov 2005 - 12:20 AM

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Bri - erm... maybe you'd like to do one?!!?

Keith - LOL! Have you tried this 'O Pro One?

Richard - yes, the blend if is applied to the top layer (the one that's called "Capture Sharpen"). You are correct that you apply it to the top layer... but the blend-if includes logic for both "This Layer" and "Underlying Layer". It allows some rather interesting operations, but for this action the values are set so that the deep shadows and bright highlights are left alone. Hope that helps!

keithh

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23 Nov 2005 - 12:27 AM

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I have downloaded it and may give it a run on a shot within the next half hour.

I'm afraid I'm a Three Stage afficianado myself....but done manually.

mattmatic

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23 Nov 2005 - 1:03 AM

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Let me know how you get on Keith.
And while I think of it, there's another interesting little technique I could write up using Blend If. I'm writing them up and hopefully Pete will post the Sharpening one in the tutorials when I'm done. (But very busy right at the moment with work.)