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Introduction
Materials Required:
-Your Brain (Duh!)
-Digital Image (Preferrably High Resolution)
-Adobe Lightroom (Lr)
Information
Introduction
For
many years, on 35mm film cameras, there wasn't a comprehensive image
sharpening method available for the masses (besides manual image
splicing with a fine knife).
However subsequent to the invention of the film scanner, and the
digital camera, we would
be capable of
1)Scanning our once archaic images, and,
2)Preserve them in a computer database whilst digitally sharpening and editing them.
We now live in a society based upon the use of computers, consequently, most of us have a computer or several computer(s) at our disposal. This thus makes the image sharpening process easier and more accurate due to pixelation calculations, radius accuracy, and color pigment recognition.
The overall quality of an image is based upon many elements; content, color, composition and sharpness. Sharpness is defined as the extent to which a photo is clear. However this is a rather vague explination given various image circumstances depth of field, lighting, camera, equipment, and magnification %, thus in this tutorial we will learn what exatly composes a "sharp" image and how to effectively obtain it.
Image post processing is almost essential for today's modern cameras, be it a crummy point and shoot or a high end DSLR, the image sensors never get it quite right, therefore a thorought post processing regimen can really pay off. That is, if you know what you're doing...
1)Scanning our once archaic images, and,
2)Preserve them in a computer database whilst digitally sharpening and editing them.
We now live in a society based upon the use of computers, consequently, most of us have a computer or several computer(s) at our disposal. This thus makes the image sharpening process easier and more accurate due to pixelation calculations, radius accuracy, and color pigment recognition.
The overall quality of an image is based upon many elements; content, color, composition and sharpness. Sharpness is defined as the extent to which a photo is clear. However this is a rather vague explination given various image circumstances depth of field, lighting, camera, equipment, and magnification %, thus in this tutorial we will learn what exatly composes a "sharp" image and how to effectively obtain it.
Image post processing is almost essential for today's modern cameras, be it a crummy point and shoot or a high end DSLR, the image sensors never get it quite right, therefore a thorought post processing regimen can really pay off. That is, if you know what you're doing...
Materials Required:
-Your Brain (Duh!)
-Digital Image (Preferrably High Resolution)
-Adobe Lightroom (Lr)
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Information
OK.
I wont go into all the technical mumbo jumbo but there are a few things
that you should know for reference purposes. For example; The sharpness
of an image is determined by two major qualities:
1) Resolution : Recognition of fine detail (lines) by the human eye. Notice i say the HUMAN eye, there are several cameras and monitors capable of creating and viewing images with a substancially higher resolution that our eyes can even recognise. Thusly, after a certain point, sharpening becomes inconsequential..
2) Accutance : Sharpness of edge transition (.jpg). This translates into the amount of time it takes for edge transition sharpness in an image relay to our eyes. Essetially, this means that the higher the accutance, the better the shapness quality.
AH. Since we have all THAT out of the way, we can proceed to the good stuff; the image sharpening. In the subsequent segments we will learn the specific methodology required in the attainent of a *tack* sharp photo.
Methodology1) Resolution : Recognition of fine detail (lines) by the human eye. Notice i say the HUMAN eye, there are several cameras and monitors capable of creating and viewing images with a substancially higher resolution that our eyes can even recognise. Thusly, after a certain point, sharpening becomes inconsequential..
2) Accutance : Sharpness of edge transition (.jpg). This translates into the amount of time it takes for edge transition sharpness in an image relay to our eyes. Essetially, this means that the higher the accutance, the better the shapness quality.
AH. Since we have all THAT out of the way, we can proceed to the good stuff; the image sharpening. In the subsequent segments we will learn the specific methodology required in the attainent of a *tack* sharp photo.
Ok, you've made it this far, now comes the fun part. Firstly it's
important to have a sharp source image to work with. Because even the
most sophisticated editing programs are not capable of undoing shotty
photography. Remeber: good image
goes in = even better one comes out
As I was completing my undergrad studies in color engineering, I was always told to use tripods in all my source shots. However with the advent of VR (Vibration Reduction) and IS (Image Stabilisation) technoligy increasingly available in modern lenses and camera bodies, camera shake becomes less of an issue. However if in dark of unstable conditions, or if photographing a moving ab. Set the "RADsubject, feel free to use a tripod if it helps.
Anyways, after you've obtained a reasonably sharp image, it's onwards the computer...
As I was completing my undergrad studies in color engineering, I was always told to use tripods in all my source shots. However with the advent of VR (Vibration Reduction) and IS (Image Stabilisation) technoligy increasingly available in modern lenses and camera bodies, camera shake becomes less of an issue. However if in dark of unstable conditions, or if photographing a moving ab. Set the "RADsubject, feel free to use a tripod if it helps.
Anyways, after you've obtained a reasonably sharp image, it's onwards the computer...
Look at
these two images.
Image 1
Seem the same huh?
Image 2
Well think again!
Any image worth looking at and enjoying should be printed in high resolution on a large scale (upwards of 4x5). When you do this, the pixelation becomes magnified and, consequently, any inperfection, regardless of severity, is amplified several fold.
PlugImage 1
Seem the same huh?
Image 2
Well think again!
Any image worth looking at and enjoying should be printed in high resolution on a large scale (upwards of 4x5). When you do this, the pixelation becomes magnified and, consequently, any inperfection, regardless of severity, is amplified several fold.
Watch,
The same photo: but now its magnified:
(please wait for high resolution image (.NEF) to load)
Image 1.
Image 1 (Magnified).
The same photo: but now its magnified:
(please wait for high resolution image (.NEF) to load)
Image 1.
Image 1 (Magnified).
WOW,
wasn't expecting that? Well it's true. A seemingly sharp image (Image
1), after being engargened for print (Image 1 Magnified), shows some
fatal flaws. Well,
not to fret, with some simple clicks of a button in Adobe Lightroom
you'll be relieved all our worries, and before you know it, you'll be
proudly standing in line at the Costco printing booth ready for your
photo to be printed in their largest size.
EDITING
PROCESS
Step
1: Always, always, always shoot in RAW format. Some cameras shoot in
variant of this format (Nikon: .NEF) but it's essentially the same
thing. RAW is defined as a picture without presets with minimal to no
compression. This means that you'll get a prestine uncompromized
picture everytime, and it'll facilitate the editing process. However,
the manipulation of RAW files consumes much more processing power and
requires a large capacity camera storage medium aswell.
Step 2: Fire up Adobe Lightroom and import your .RAW image.
Step 3: Get setup in "DEVELOP" mode. Simply click on the "DEVELOP" tab on the top right corner of the screen:
Step 4. You won't believe how easy this is: On the right hand panel, simply scroll down until you see the "SHARPENING" tab. Set the "RADIUS" to a minimum of 1.0% and set the "AMOUNT" to a maximum of 75%. And would you believe it? That's all folks!
Step 2: Fire up Adobe Lightroom and import your .RAW image.
Step 3: Get setup in "DEVELOP" mode. Simply click on the "DEVELOP" tab on the top right corner of the screen:
Step 4. You won't believe how easy this is: On the right hand panel, simply scroll down until you see the "SHARPENING" tab. Set the "RADIUS" to a minimum of 1.0% and set the "AMOUNT" to a maximum of 75%. And would you believe it? That's all folks!
Conclusion
Who ever said sharpening an image would be hard? If you simply follow the above steps, you'll be on your way to the perfect image and a great centerpiece.
Enjoy.
Who ever said sharpening an image would be hard? If you simply follow the above steps, you'll be on your way to the perfect image and a great centerpiece.
Enjoy.
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you have learned, please feel free to give a small donation.
Thank You - Steven Raspa
Thank You - Steven Raspa
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