Multi-Pass Sharpening Techniques Using Sharpener Pro 3.0
Sharpening digital images can be an incredibly complex and subjective process. Knowing how much to sharpen and when to sharpen are two of the most complex aspects when deciding how to sharpen an image. In this advanced demonstration, we will take a look at simplifying the complexities of the sharpening process. We will begin with a discussion of concepts regarding multi-pass sharpening, when these techniques apply and when they may not. Following the discussion, we will delve into techniques using Sharpener Pro 3.0 to illustrate input sharpening (RAW pre-sharpening), creative sharpening, and output sharpening. Example images will span from landscape to portrait photographs. Dan will discuss using selective sharpening both with Sharpener Pro 3.0 as well as with Adobe Photoshop.
To get the most out of this sharpening demonstration, an understanding of the following tools will help with the information presented in this advanced sharpening webinar:
- – Basic use of Nik Software Sharpener Pro 3.0 (we recommend joining a Dfine 2.0 and Sharpener Pro 3.0 webinar before the advanced sharpening webinar)
- – Understand layers within Adobe Photoshop
- – Know the basics of using layer masks within Adobe Photoshop
- – Aware of Layer Blending modes within Adobe Photoshop
Click here to watch this webinar
Thanks for an excellent webinar. My only disconnect comes when trying to still understand the difference between “Adaptive Sharpening” and “Output Sharpening Strength” when the output will be viewed on the web (display). Are you able to clarify their relationship briefly as defaults are set to 50 and 100 respectively.
Sorry if I missed this, I did watch it twice to better try to understand their relationship.
Hi Rick, This is a great question. It is information I don’t think I covered in the webinar. I pulled this directly from the Sharpener Pro 3.0 user guide, but I’ll talk a bit more underneath: “use the Adaptive Sharpening slider to control the amount of sharpening applied to the entire image. Then use the Output Sharpening Strength in the Creative Sharpening controls section to control the opacity of the sharpening applied to the entire image.”
To take it a little farther, because to me that explanation is a little vague, the Adaptive Sharpening slider is the change in actual pixel sharpening, basically how much specifically targeted contrast is being added to the details in increase “sharpness”.
Where as the Output Sharpening Strength slider is the transparency of the global affect of Adaptive Sharpening, so it will not change the amount of pixel sharpening, it changes how much of that sharpening shows through.
Keep in mind the Output Sharpening Strength slider in the Creative Sharpening section is the global adjustment control. If you use Control Points or Color Ranges, you can control the Output Sharpening Strength selectively in a way that is completely independent from the global adjustments.
Lastly defining what Adaptive Sharpening is, since we have discussed what the Adaptive Sharpening slider controls.
Adaptive Sharpening, lets us control the amount of contrast directed to the edges in a given image to bring out detail. Adaptive Sharpening is different from standard sharpening in that it protects from creating extreme bright values and dark values. This attribute will reduce the chance of creating readily visible and unappealing artifacts that can occur when sharpening. In essence it gives us the control to bring out more detail without creating unappealing affects and protecting darkest and brightest tones in the adjusted image.
cheers,
Dan
Hi Dan,
could You send me your email please? I’ve found something in the Sharpener Pro and you asked me to send it to you. More details in email.
Tomas
Hi Tomas,
Please send it to Supportus@niksoftware.com and we’ll make sure he gets it.
Thanks,
Laurie
Hi Dan,
I just watched your sharpening webinar, which was great! I do have some questions though re: output sharpening for the web and what you recommend, as I don’t think it was covered in the webinar. I post a lot of pics on my website and Flickr. I noticed you applied some creative sharpening first, then resized the image based on where it was going to be displayed i.e print or web. What do you recommend I resize my images to for display on say Flickr, and then what sort of output sharpening should I apply to the newly resized image? Also, when you post a photo to Flickr via Lightroom, in the settings preferences, it asks whether you want to both resize the image AND sharpen the image for screen. I’m assuming that I will NOT want to check those boxes having already resized and output sharpened the image in PS/Nik Sharpener Pro?
Thanks for your feedback!
Cheers, Ben
Hi Ben!
I can give you a good demonstration for output to web if you’d like at a Dfine 2.0 and Sharpener Pro 3.0 webinar. It would be difficult to explain it on the blog post here. to see a schedule of webinars go to http://www.niksoftware.com/dailys and find a webinar that fits your schedule.
cheers,
Dan
Dan,
This was a wonderful webinar and I’ve started employing the techniques that you discussed. I have the Nik Complete Collection and my understanding was to always use Dfine 2.0 prior to doing any other editing. Is that still the rule of thumb when using the RAW presharpener?
Thanks,
Samara
Hi Samara,
I am glad you found the techniques to be helpful! To your question though I would say the order of software is mostly dependent on the image. In general though I have found I get the best results by using the RAW Sharpener first then Dfine 2.0 for noise reduction and then on with the workflow as normal.
cheers,
Dan
This is the best info on this subject plus the tips about layers and masking in PS. I’ll be watching this several times to memorize everything! ***Here’s my burning question I just can’t seem to find an answer to: how should output sharpening per image print size/paper type controlled or best rendered when I upload an image to a photo website hosting service such as SmugMug or Fine Arts America? Meaning, the purchaser can order from a variety of size and print medium choices. I (and probably others) look forward to your answer or pointing us to a blog or video on this subject.
Hi Nancy,
I’m really glad you like the content, I’ll tell you it was a difficult one to prepare.
As far as sending images to a service like SmugMug and others like it, I would suggest skipping the output sharpening phase of the multi-pass sharpening. The Output Sharpener is designed to give you the ideal amount of sharpening for a particular size and print technology, because when using those services you don’t know what size the client will purchase, so it is generally best to not sharpen for output.
I will add that many times the labs that are printing the images through these services will automatically sharpen for you (unless you tell them not to), so although you don’t have as much control (because you aren’t doing it on your computer) the image is still getting a good sharpening by that lab.
So all in all, if you want a good selective sharpening workflow but you are going to be sending it to one of these services, you can use the input sharpening and the creative sharpening, then leave the output to the lab.
Cheers,
Dan
Thank you so much for these very helpful videos. I have learned and continue to learn so much. I shoot in RAW with a D300. I use Lightroom as my host darkroom program and then the full suite of Nik Software plug-ins. I import my RAW files with no LR sharpening. I’m not sure this gives me the best image to make an initial evaluation of sharpness (keep or don’t keep). My question is this…
would you recommend
1. import with no LR sharpening and then Sharpener Pro RAW on every image.
2. import with default LR pre sharpening, make the keep/don’t keep evaluation, remove the LR pre sharpening and use Sharpener Pro RAW for the initial sharpening of just those images I will work on.
I really appreciate your perspective on this workflow question.
Hello Dick,
I would recommend option 2, if you like to assess the images with a little input sharpening on them. Then if it is an image you want to use the multi-pass sharpening technique on an image, possibly remove the lightroom sharpening and add the Raw Pre-Sharpener from Sharpener Pro 3.0 . That said I find the input sharpening with LR4 to be pretty good in a lot of situations, unless you want to do selective input sharpening then I would use the Raw-Presharpener to take advantage of the selective capabilities as well as the Adaptive Sharpening implemented in Sharpener Pro 3.0.
Cheers,
Dan
Hi Dan,
Thank you so much for sending me the link to this video today.
Your webinar taught me a great deal about selective sharpening using Sharperner Pro 3.0, especially how and when to use Raw Presharpening & Output Sharpening.
Have a great trip to NYC!
Looking forward to more of your webinars when you get back.
Take care.
Paolo
Smoky Cat Productions
Jacksonville, FL
Nature & Wildlife
Photography and Videography
Hi Dan
Thanks so much for this captivating video. I spent the whole morning listening to you and testing your recommendations on my own files. Definitely, I learnt a lot!
Cheers
Herve from Paris
http://www.lemotographe.com