Any tips on recovering OOF images ?

[Alpha_7]

Hi,

At an earlier shoot I had a number of focusing issues with one of the cameras I was using, and wouldn't you know the one they'd like to use is the one that is slightly out of focus. I'm just wondering if anyone PP masters out there have some tips on how to improve the shot (if at all) I've tried a few different sharpening methods, but with little sucess. Does anyone have any suggestions ?

Here is a small version and a link to a larger 1.1mb version.


http://alpha7.potatis-gallery.com/dslr/_DSC0916pp.jpg

[myarhidia]

Hi Craig,
it seems to be a DOF issue, not a focus one. The girl on the rock in front is much sharper than the people behind her. Unfortunately, I'm not one of the PP masters that can help.

Good luck

[johnd]

I agree, it looks to me like a dof issue. The front rank looks sharp, but the focus is slightly out on the rear rank. Craig, have you tried selectively sharpening the faces of the rear rank? That may do it.
Cheers
John

[shutterbug]

What size print are the clients looking at?

A good solution is to print on Canvas and it will look very nice.

[shutterbug]

Create layer and work on most OOF thing on image. Then mask and bring back the things you want sharpen or play with opacity

[shutterbug]

or you can use this software http://www.focusmagic.com

[Alpha_7]

Thanks for the suggestions, I checked and the camera was at f5.6 which was probably too shallow for such a large group, unfortunately I handed Katie his camera without double checking the settings it was on AF-C while I took shots from another angle with another. I felt that the AF-C had lead to many of the shots not being fully in focus rather then just DOF issues.

I tried focus magic, I can't say any of the results looked better, I think the shot will be a 4x6 or maybe an 8x12 but not huge. (I hope).

[PiroStitch]

printed should be alright. i don't think it'll be that bad...sure it's not tack sharp but should be fine. I'd be more concentrating on the WB than the DOF in the pic. I understand they're in the shade, but they look a bit too blue.

[wendellt]

you can incrementally reduce image size by 80% then run 'smart sharpen' filter in photoshop play with the radius setting to ge tdesired result

then if you want you can reduce image size again run smart sharpen again

only reduce theimage if you can work out your minimum image size first

everytiem you reduce the image size the smart shrapen has more of an effect less pixels you see

reducing image size and using smart sharpen approprioately is better tthan increasing the radius of smart sharpen in dialog box

you can continue to do this til the image looks sharp enough

but the smaret sharpen filter will sharpen the in focused areas too and it may look over sharpened so you have to judisciously select the out of focus area smake a selection keep the selection in the channels for later referene
then apply the sharpening

[Matt. K]

At the print sizes you mentioned it will be fine. Maybe run a tad of noise removal through it (yes....accentuate the softness even further) and perhaps some canvas texture. The colour balance needs a little refinement.