What's best to use for sharpening

[Charlie Chalk]

Hi

I've had a look round the forum and can't find anything that seems to cover this, but sorry if I'm going over something already posted...

I've found the Sharpening (in the Advanced Raw menu, not Unsharp Mask) tool in Nikon Capture 4 to be very good (to my eyes anyway), is it better than either the Unsharp Mask in NC4, the in camera sharpening or USM in PS?

I've read plenty of posts saying people use PS and its Unsharp Mask, but is it realy better than the NC4 Sharpening tool?

And, is the Sharpening in NC4 the same as the in camera sharpening? If so wouldn't I be better setting all this up in camera to save me faffing around in PP?

Hope this makes sense to you!

CC

[sirhc55]

CC - I prefer to shoot RAW with no in camera sharpening and then do the sharpening in PSCS. I have tried the USM in NC4 and prefer PS USM.

You might also find this technique the way to go:

http://www.fredmiranda.com/article_3/

Chris

[Charlie Chalk]

I'll give that a read (as soon as I've finished making these bottles up for tonights round of baby feeding!).

Can you tell me what difference there is between the (RAW Menu) Sharpening in NC4 and Unsharp Mask (in either NC4 or PS)?

I realise there is only low/medium/high type settings in sharpening, and USM has greater control by use if the sliders, but are they two different beasts or is one just a simplified version of the other?

By the way, it looks like its mid morning for you guys in Oz, why aren't you out working? your not still on UK time are you (just coming up to midnight, probably ought to be in bed and away from this computer myself!)

CC

[atencati]

CC - I prefer to shoot RAW with no in camera sharpening and then do the sharpening in PSCS. I have tried the USM in NC4 and prefer PS USM.

You might also find this technique the way to go:

http://www.fredmiranda.com/article_3/

Chris

sirh, the link doesn't work with the [url] atached, can you edit and put a space, or click here...

http://www.fredmiranda.com/article_3/

andy

[Werewolf]

By the way, it looks like its mid morning for you guys in Oz, why aren't you out working? your not still on UK time are you (just coming up to midnight, probably ought to be in bed and away from this computer myself!)

CC

Charlie, my fellow Geordie, some of us don't have to work! After 27 hard years in the workforce I'm now officially a SAHD (Stay At Home Dad). Takes a bit of getting used to - but I'm getting there!! 11.40am here, kid's fed and asleep, beautiful day outside so I think I'll take him for a walk when he wakes. It's a hard, but canny, life man!

As for sharpening, I always use USM in NC, and fiddle around with it further in Advanced Raw. Works for me.

ps Have a Broon Ale for me

[MattC]

Charlie,

It is better not to sharpen in NC if you plan on doing further work in PS. USM comes last in the workflow.
It is for this reason that I use USM in PSCS exclusively. I prefer to become proficient in the use of one program for handling such tasks, although I have no doubt that equivelant results can be acheived using either PS or NC in the right hands.

Cheers

Matt