Digital BW, The Print

Monday, January 5, 2004, 8:06:49 AM, you wrote:

AHcn> Mitch,

>> You do not need PhotoKit Sharpener to do sharpening in three passes.

AHcn> Agreed.

>> Both FocalBlade and PhotoKit Sharpener make you more productive than
>> working with layers and layer masks on your own. FocalBlade is 
>> quicker to use, provides more visual feedback, has great customer 
>> service, and costs 50% of what PhotoKit Sharpener would cost me or 
>> 33% of Nik! Sharpener. So, for me, it was an easy decision.

AHcn> My point, exactly. I'm fully aware that most anything can
AHcn> be done in PS, alone, by the more sophisticated user. However, I
AHcn> personally like the smoother workflow and productivity gain of
AHcn> some of the better tools available.

AHcn> Alan Huntley

I would agree fully Alan.  But I truly think in this case the doing it
yourself vs. Photokit is not that much of a productivity and
time-saver, especially if you look at from the more control one has on
an image-by-image basis, especially in part 2.

That said, if PK cost $35 I would buy it. But $99 for a few actions?
No way. And even if one would want it because they feel they lack the
PS skill to do it themselves the 30-60 minutes or so to learn and
practice the layers and methods laid out by Mitch would be time and
effort VERY well invested in applying these tools in other situations
and for other reasons in your continued photographic workflows later

Adding productivity is one thing, but those who may use it as a
replacement for laziness or lack of drive to learn something new is
another. Not accusing you of either but there seems to be a desire for
some kind of turn-key approaches to everything in photography from AF to
AE, to scanning, color management and now sharpening. IMO it does
nothing to further enhance one's ability to create art---quite the
opposite actually.

-- 
Best regards,
 Richard                            mailto:richard@...