Unsharp mask settings in PS!!!

[Raydar]

Just read a thread concerning Unsharp mask in PS.
Thought it would be good to see what settings every one uses & see how many deferent setting there is.

I use.......
Amount: 150
Radius: 1.5
Threshold: Between 0 & 10 depending on the image.

Cheers
Ray

[digitor]

It depends on the image, but I use anything from:

Amount : 30 - 200
Radius : 0.4 - 1
Threshold : 1 -5

I have sharpening set to "Normal" in the camera, and shoot raw. If I use NC to convert, I'll leave the NC sharpening setting unchanged, (in other words no USM in NC, just leave the sharpening unchanged in Advanced Raw) and use the lower end of the above settings in PS, but if I use Raw Magick to convert I'll convert the image unsharpened, and use a higher level in PS. Also depending on the purpose of the sharpening, i.e. for a print, for a web image, or whatever. Also I make a point to sharpen as the last step.

Cheers

[darb]

my "d70 defog' action is 20%, 17 pixels, 0 thresh.

[Raydar]

I think there’s going to be some different settings in this lot

I’ve got all the image enhancement stuff turned off in Cam.
I would rather have more control over them in PS & try & get as quicker Wright speed happnin with the Cam.

Cheers
Ray

[digitor]

my "d70 defog' action is 20%, 17 pixels, 0 thresh.

This seems to work as a contrast booster, similar to Thom Hogan's suggestion at the end of this article: http://www.bythom.com/sharpening.htm

Cheers

[Onyx]

Med low or none for sharpening in camera.

Resized to approx 1000 pixels on the long side, my USM setting are:

150-200 amount
0.4 radius
threshold of 5.

On the odd chance I run USM on a full sized (ie. 3008x2000) image, radius gets bumped up to 1.5 or so, judged by eye.

Any image taken with the 70-200VR lens doesn't get the USM treatment, as it's IMHO sharp enough out of camera.

[MattC]

Amount 70-200 or so.
Radius 0.3-0.5
Threshold 0

Of course these values vary according to the image.

Important thing to remember when sharpening, is not to over sharpen. From my own experience, it is better to keep changes small and if need be, sharpen twice. Nothing ruins a pic quicker than excessive use of USM. Better not to sharpen at all than to over sharpen.

Cheers

Matt

[hillsrain]

Have a go at 500/0.2/0 The mileage with this will vary per image.
Most of the time I use 100-200/0.3 or 0.4/ 2 to 8.
My "clarify" for sky/weather shots varies between 10/40/0 to 20/50/0 depending on the pic. A good local contrast enhancer.
I have noticed a significant difference in how sharpening looks from an LCD to a CRT. I always look in the USM window at 300% and the image window at 100% when sharpening to keep halos "out of the picture". (Bad pun LOL)
Cheers,
Tim

[sirhc55]

Normally 180/0.5/0

Chris

[glamy]

I normally use 170-220/0.3/0
Gearard

[darb]

hmm geez looks like my sharpening is tiny ... i might have to try some of these larger amounts !

[darb]

ive just tried like the 150 / 0.8 / 5 (for example) on a few full res images and it creates a bucketload of noise!

[Greg B]

The differences are interesting.

Threshhold determines how much of your image gets sharpened.

0 means every pixel is processed.

The higher the number, the fewer pixels are affected.

I have read that 3 to 4 is good for threshhold to avoid an over sharpened appearance.

[Matty B]

I agree with those who say this will be a variable amount. I generally use 75 - 150% / 0.5 - 5 pixels / 1 to 4 threshold. I find it depends on what degree of bright / backlight hightlights I have on the subject in question as to how hard to sharpen without losing a natural appearance. I tend to go (subjective of course) with a lesser un-sharp masked effect than more. I find it an invaluable tool for my hand-held exposures, especially in windy conditions!

I have printed many pics after using the unsharp mask tool and find that lot (and more) practice is required to guesstimate your requirements for this application. Ok- I'll shut -up now!

[leigh999]

I wonder how the various settings people are using fit together with the in-camera sharpening. I have read that it is best to turn in camera sharpening to none and then apply all sharpening in PS. So I often use amounts over 200%.

What do other people do with the D70 sharpen settings?

[hillsrain]

Who here sharpens selectively using layer masks?
I find it invaluable especially landscapes where sky and foreground require different levels of sharpening.

[Raydar]

Yeah some times mate.
Most of the time I just sharpen the flattened image just before I save it.

Cheers
Ray

[hillsrain]

Yeah Ray USM is usually the last of the PP'ing tasks. I mostly shoot landscapes where large broad areas of colour such as blue sky or black clouds are a noise magnet. Any USM here is a no-no. I use layering a lot, not only to broaden dynamic range as in this pic - http://www.darwinonline.org/displayimag ... 27&pos=131 but to keep noise out of skies. I do regularly use 10-40-0 on cloudy skies though as a local contrast enhancer.
Cheers,
Tim

[Raydar]

Cool I’ll have to try that.
I’ll give anything a go that concerns PS, all ways learning!!!!

Cheers
Ray