sharpening

[andyland]

Hi Everyone!
I am curious about using the sharpening feature in my Nikon (D7000)
If I choose vivid it is very sharp and shows great detail on things like pet fur and texture on plants but I believe it is more valuable to not shoot at this mode and go with the least sharpened setting as I can sharpen after?
I am told some stock agencies want the lowest setting on our shots so they can have control over the image.

If I shoot in the lowest setting what is the best way to sharpen after? Is it better to do this and work in post or do images loose something if I don't use the Nikon tool?

Thanks

[Andrew76]

I'm not overly familiar with Nikon's in-camera settings, but I do know that most of them do NOT affect RAW images, which is what I shoot. Then, I do all of my own processing afterwards. I'm pretty sure that the 'vivid' setting does not affect the sharpness of a jpeg image - doesn't the D7000 have a separate bar for 'vivid' (which would be colour saturation), and sharpening?


What stock agency are you shooting for? I'd get their specific recommendations first, before wasting my time, as they all vary, some quite drastically from others. I have shot for iStock, and have only submitted processed images, of which they've accepted quite a few of - I don't imagine anything that could be done in-camera would be over the top.

There are a plethora of post processing methods for sharpening, more than can be explained in a single post - what software are you using?? That would be a great start to help you out!

[Geoff F]

On the rare occasions when I shoot Jpeg, instead of Raw, I always turn off all the 'in camera auto improvements' then edit after uploading images to suitable editing software.

That way, I am in full control of any 'improvements' which are done to my shots.

[rpcrowe]

I always shoot RAW... I always shoot RAW... I always shoot RAW... I always shoot RAW... I always shoot RAW...

And did I mention? I always shoot RAW...

[Shadowman]

Some Picture Controls affect the final image during the conversion process to jpeg or TIFF. The Vivid Control works best, in my opinion, on overcast days making primary colors more vibrant. Below is a link detailing Nikon's Picture Control System.

http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/micr...icturecontrol/

[Colin Southern]

I always shoot RAW... I always shoot RAW... I always shoot RAW... I always shoot RAW... I always shoot RAW...

And did I mention? I always shoot RAW...

Same here.

Shoot RAW and do all my own sharpening.

@ Andy - many many photographers muck up sharpening. Optimal sharpening requires at least 3 passes.

I wrote a mini article (or two) on it some time ago that you might find helpful:

When/How to Best Sharpen a Digital Photograph

Sharpening and Noise Reduction Sequence

[andyland]

I'm not overly familiar with Nikon's in-camera settings, but I do know that most of them do NOT affect RAW images, which is what I shoot. Then, I do all of my own processing afterwards. I'm pretty sure that the 'vivid' setting does not affect the sharpness of a jpeg image - doesn't the D7000 have a separate bar for 'vivid' (which would be colour saturation), and sharpening?


What stock agency are you shooting for? I'd get their specific recommendations first, before wasting my time, as they all vary, some quite drastically from others. I have shot for iStock, and have only submitted processed images, of which they've accepted quite a few of - I don't imagine anything that could be done in-camera would be over the top.

There are a plethora of post processing methods for sharpening, more than can be explained in a single post - what software are you using?? That would be a great start to help you out!

[andyland]

Hi Andrew
i appreciate your help and info!. I shoot both on jpeg and raw and am happy that vivd doesnt touch RAW as you posted. Thank you! I see a setting for neutral and vivid in the camera and think your'e saying that vivid is just SATURATION and POST SHARPENING?

Have not joined a agency but have seen a few that said in specs the format to send. (no xtra sharpening)
Thanks again for your time and info - Cheers Andy

[Polar01]

Andy on the agency sharpening, that would be final output as if it is to be printed that is when the final output sharpening would be done and that for the most part is based on the side of the image.

Cheers: Allan

[andyland]

Hi everyone...how can I post more? where did I open my post? errrrrrr.

[FrankMi]

Hi Andy, I learned my lesson early on about letting the camera sharpen the image. Here is a link to one of the issues I ran into that way... SOOC Sharpened image

[xpatUSA]

Hello Andy,

My Panasonic sharpens too much for my taste when the sharpness is set to zero. However, contrast also affects apparent sharpness a bit and maybe even 'vividness' on your camera. Usually, mine is set to -1 or -2 which is minimum on the DMC-GH1. In Sigma Photo Pro (raw converter), a sharpness setting setting of zero applies way too much sharpness for discerning folks' taste. Older Sigma camera images prefer -0.7; the later Merrill models much less; some folks use the minimum of -2.0!

I am not a great lover of sharpening, regarding it as a necessary evil rather than a 'must do'.

[andyland]

Thanks everyone on your knowledge. Is there a entry level editing program to edit Nikon RAW nefs? till I can get adobe.

[Manfred M]

Thanks everyone on your knowledge. Is there a entry level editing program to edit Nikon RAW nefs? till I can get adobe.

Try the Nikon View NX2 that shipped with your camera. It is a very good RAW converter and you can do some fairly basic editing with it.

[yauman]

Thanks everyone on your knowledge. Is there a entry level editing program to edit Nikon RAW nefs? till I can get adobe.

A "lobotomized" version of Nikon's Capture NX2 program should come with your camera. It lets you process the RAW NEF files and perform some simple adjustments and cropping and output to a few common formats.

If you are using a Mac, the iPhoto program can read the NEF files (as long as you keep your apps updated to the latest RAW readers) and in edit mode, iPhoto does quite well. It's really a mini-version of their Aperture program (which is Mac's equivalent of PSE.)

[Colin Southern]

Thanks everyone on your knowledge. Is there a entry level editing program to edit Nikon RAW nefs? till I can get adobe.

Hi Andy,

You can get Adobe Photoshop CC for (I think) USD 9.99 per month at the moment.

[Colin Southern]

Andy - found it, but the offer expires 31 Dec 13

https://creative.adobe.com/plans/off...shop+lightroom

[jcuknz]

I always shoot RAW... I always shoot RAW... I always shoot RAW... I always shoot RAW... I always shoot RAW...

And did I mention? I always shoot RAW...

I mainly shoot jpg plus RAW and yet to use the RAW files, ever.

I have four options for sharpening High Pass, sharpen, sharpen more, USM .... I use the second and third options for less or more effect .... can never remember the settings needed for HP and USM

There are a hundred and one ways to sharpen and people pick the one which suits the photo and themselves.

[tresise]

Don't confuse the impression of sharpness because of the vivid setting increases the 'vividness' of the image so it just looks 'sharper', with what you can do later in say Photoshop. I would suggest taking RAW and turn off all camera processing. There is no intrinsic advantage in using the 'Nikon Tool' (I presume you mean in camera).

The reason why stock agencies don't want an image sharpened is so the person buying the image can add what they require. What can happen is the photographer sharpens the image, the the person who buys the image sharpens then perhaps the printer might also. The end result is the image is 'over sharpened' and looks terrible.

Hence if the image has had the minimum work done the person buying the image has more options, a case of no make up and natural beauty of the image being enough.

[xpatUSA]

Don't confuse the impression of sharpness because of the vivid setting increases the 'vividness' of the image so it just looks 'sharper', with what you can do later in say Photoshop. I would suggest taking RAW and turn off all camera processing. There is no intrinsic advantage in using the 'Nikon Tool' (I presume you mean in camera).

The reason why stock agencies don't want an image sharpened is so the person buying the image can add what they require. What can happen is the photographer sharpens the image, the the person who buys the image sharpens then perhaps the printer might also. The end result is the image is 'over sharpened' and looks terrible.

Hence if the image has had the minimum work done the person buying the image has more options, a case of no make up and natural beauty of the image being enough.

Pure hogwash!

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