Tips for Tack Sharp Photos

[aatifsumar]

Wow that was helpful. Didn't know Facebook softens while Flickr sharpens images uploaded.
Question: I use Lightroom, don't find the need to use Photoshop yet. I use the Clarity Slider and the Noise Reduction tools to control sharpness levels. Is that the best way to be doing it?

[theqca]

Question: I use Lightroom, don't find the need to use Photoshop yet. I use the Clarity Slider and the Noise Reduction tools to control sharpness levels. Is that the best way to be doing it?

Dont use the clarity slider unless its just a wee bit..it results in halo's around the edge of the pic.

use the sharpness slider but press the Alt key while moving the slider so you can see where the sharpness is being applied in the preview - if this doesnt make sense as of now just hold on for a bit..i'm writing a tutorial on post processing using lightroom

[Sandeep]

Wow that was helpful. Didn't know Facebook softens while Flickr sharpens images uploaded.
Question: I use Lightroom, don't find the need to use Photoshop yet. I use the Clarity Slider and the Noise Reduction tools to control sharpness levels. Is that the best way to be doing it?

As Ayaz said dont use the clarity slider for sharpening...at least not exclusively. Use the sharpening sliders you find in the Details section along with the NR sliders. But first understand what each of the sliders affect in your image.

Nasim Mansurov has written an excellent and easy to understand article on sharpening in LR. Have a look.

http://photographylife.com/how-to-properly-sharpen-images-in-lightroom

[Jasii]

Sandeep ji +1 for the link Sir!

[DG]

Amazing article and helping beginners like us immensely.

I have three questions:
1) Can you please explain the concept behind " Switch off IS/VR while shooting on a tripod" - Why? I know tripod already stabilizing but what is the problem in switching VR/IS on to get even more stability?
2) As Soumya was mentioning Auto ISO feature in low light...in case good amount of Noise comes, then how to tackle it? any other software or normal Noise reduction tool in ACR?
3) If I have already done sharpening while processing RAW in ACR, the do I need to do it again in PS after converting as Unsharp Mask and all are in PS and not in ACR?

Sorry if I am asking something very silly.

[VikramF]

Amazing article and helping beginners like us immensely.

I have three questions:
1) Can you please explain the concept behind " Switch off IS/VR while shooting on a tripod" - Why? I know tripod already stabilizing but what is the problem in switching VR/IS on to get even more stability?
2) As Soumya was mentioning Auto ISO feature in low light...in case good amount of Noise comes, then how to tackle it? any other software or normal Noise reduction tool in ACR?
3) If I have already done sharpening while processing RAW in ACR, the do I need to do it again in PS after converting as Unsharp Mask and all are in PS and not in ACR?

Sorry if I am asking something very silly.

1. Simplistically - with VR on when tripod mounted, the lens is constantly looking for vibration which isn't there and keeps moving the VR element. That movement translates to a little loss in sharpness.

2. To tackle noise, you can use specialist software like Noise Ninja, but even then, there's only so much it can do. Try to limit the ISO to where you feel the noise is manageable

3. Sharpening should generally be done based on the media and size the photograph s going to be shown on. You can do basic sharpening in ACR, but I'd keep final sharpening in PS based on the output size and media (so sharper for prints and not as sharp for screens etc).

No silly questions exist. Only silly unasked questions.

[DG]

Great! Thanks for the clarification Vikram

[bhanuk]

Thanks a LOT Ayazz that really very important information i got it .. n have a gud picture in my mind .. i m really thankfull to you