Digital BW, The Print

I may be opening a can of worms.  But, is FocalBlade, still, pretty 
much the "state of the art" of the sharpening tools out there?  The 
last post I could find on FocalBlade was almost a couple of years ago.
Thanks,
Randy

I like Photokit Sharpener by pixelgenius.com.

Barbara White
On Oct 4, 2005, at 6:34 AM, Randy Rancier wrote:

> I may be opening a can of worms.  But, is FocalBlade, still, pretty
> much the "state of the art" of the sharpening tools out there?  The
> last post I could find on FocalBlade was almost a couple of years ago.
> Thanks,
> Randy
>


barbara@...
http://www.barbarawhitephoto.com

Randy

Please can you go back to the posts in mid August under the heading "Genuine
Fractals" and read them.  If following that you still have questions then
come back and post them.  However I do think that that thread will likely
answer all your sharpening questions.

Cheers

Steve

> From: Barbara White <barbara@...>
> Reply-To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
> Date: Tue, 4 Oct 2005 09:37:09 -0700
> To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
> Subject: Re: [Digital BW] Sharpening Tools, FocalBlade etc...
> 
> I like Photokit Sharpener by pixelgenius.com.
> 
> Barbara White
> On Oct 4, 2005, at 6:34 AM, Randy Rancier wrote:
> 
>> I may be opening a can of worms.  But, is FocalBlade, still, pretty
>> much the "state of the art" of the sharpening tools out there?  The
>> last post I could find on FocalBlade was almost a couple of years ago.
>> Thanks,
>> Randy
>

Duh ignore that one!!  Off to get a coffee....with my tail between my legs.

> From: Steve Kale <stevekale@...>
> Reply-To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
> Date: Tue, 04 Oct 2005 17:57:55 +0100
> To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
> Conversation: [Digital BW] Sharpening Tools, FocalBlade etc...
> Subject: Re: [Digital BW] Sharpening Tools, FocalBlade etc...
> 
> Randy
> 
> Please can you go back to the posts in mid August under the heading "Genuine
> Fractals" and read them.  If following that you still have questions then
> come back and post them.  However I do think that that thread will likely
> answer all your sharpening questions.
> 
> Cheers
> 
> Steve
> 
> 
>> From: Barbara White <barbara@...>
>> Reply-To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
>> Date: Tue, 4 Oct 2005 09:37:09 -0700
>> To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
>> Subject: Re: [Digital BW] Sharpening Tools, FocalBlade etc...
>> 
>> I like Photokit Sharpener by pixelgenius.com.
>> 
>> Barbara White
>> On Oct 4, 2005, at 6:34 AM, Randy Rancier wrote:
>> 
>>> I may be opening a can of worms.  But, is FocalBlade, still, pretty
>>> much the "state of the art" of the sharpening tools out there?  The
>>> last post I could find on FocalBlade was almost a couple of years ago.
>>> Thanks,
>>> Randy
>>

Oh! So, I guess that horse has already been beaten; probably to 
death!  I guess I was searching for the wrong thing.  I should have 
been searching for "Genuine Factals"; guess I should have known. :-o 
Thanks for the lead.  I'll go do my search and get back with you if 
I have any questions 
Later,
Randy

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Steve Kale 
<stevekale@b...> wrote:
> Randy
> 
> Please can you go back to the posts in mid August under the 
heading "Genuine
> Fractals" and read them.  If following that you still have 
questions then
> come back and post them.  However I do think that that thread will 
likely
> answer all your sharpening questions.
> 
> Cheers
> 
> Steve
> 
> 
> > From: Barbara White <barbara@b...>
> > Reply-To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
> > Date: Tue, 4 Oct 2005 09:37:09 -0700
> > To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
> > Subject: Re: [Digital BW] Sharpening Tools, FocalBlade etc...
> > 
> > I like Photokit Sharpener by pixelgenius.com.
> > 
> > Barbara White
> > On Oct 4, 2005, at 6:34 AM, Randy Rancier wrote:
> > 
> >> I may be opening a can of worms.  But, is FocalBlade, still, 
pretty
> >> much the "state of the art" of the sharpening tools out there?  
The
> >> last post I could find on FocalBlade was almost a couple of 
years ago.

> >> Thanks,
> >> Randy
> >

Ok Steve, I did my search!  What the heck does Genuine Fractals (an
interpolation program) have to do with Sharpening, other than the fact
that someone started discussing PK Sharpener in the middle of the
thread???  Guess I learned something about up scalling!  Any way, I
think I found out the info I need somewhere else.  Seems the software
to look at as far as SHARPENING goes is FocalBlade and PhotoKit Sharpener.
Randy

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Randy Rancier"
<randy_rancier2004@y...> wrote:

> Oh! So, I guess that horse has already been beaten; probably to 
> death!  I guess I was searching for the wrong thing.  I should have 
> been searching for "Genuine Factals"; guess I should have known. :-o 
> Thanks for the lead.  I'll go do my search and get back with you if 
> I have any questions 
> Later,
> Randy
> 
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Steve Kale 
> <stevekale@b...> wrote:
> > Randy
> > 
> > Please can you go back to the posts in mid August under the 
> heading "Genuine
> > Fractals" and read them.  If following that you still have 
> questions then
> > come back and post them.  However I do think that that thread will 
> likely
> > answer all your sharpening questions.
> > 
> > Cheers
> > 
> > Steve
> > 
> > 
> > > From: Barbara White <barbara@b...>
> > > Reply-To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
> > > Date: Tue, 4 Oct 2005 09:37:09 -0700
> > > To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
> > > Subject: Re: [Digital BW] Sharpening Tools, FocalBlade etc...
> > > 
> > > I like Photokit Sharpener by pixelgenius.com.
> > > 
> > > Barbara White
> > > On Oct 4, 2005, at 6:34 AM, Randy Rancier wrote:
> > > 
> > >> I may be opening a can of worms.  But, is FocalBlade, still, 
> pretty
> > >> much the "state of the art" of the sharpening tools out there?  
> The
> > >> last post I could find on FocalBlade was almost a couple of 
> years ago.
> > >> Thanks,
> > >> Randy
> > >

I sent a post within seconds of that one apologising for my lack of
coffee...  Did you not read that one?  Anyway sorry for the detour.   I use
PK Sharpener for output sharpening by the way.  For sharpening 1DsII files I
prefer to use a routine that was posted on Rob Galbraith's forum which uses
a combo of the Smart Sharpen and Noise Reduction filters.

> From: Randy Rancier <randy_rancier2004@...>
> Reply-To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
> Date: Wed, 05 Oct 2005 01:43:56 -0000
> To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
> Subject: Re: [Digital BW] Sharpening Tools, FocalBlade etc...
> 
> Ok Steve, I did my search!  What the heck does Genuine Fractals (an
> interpolation program) have to do with Sharpening, other than the fact
> that someone started discussing PK Sharpener in the middle of the
> thread???  Guess I learned something about up scalling!  Any way, I
> think I found out the info I need somewhere else.  Seems the software
> to look at as far as SHARPENING goes is FocalBlade and PhotoKit Sharpener.
> Randy

No problem Steve, I wasn't sure what to make of that second email.  
The way I look at it, I learned something, not necessarily what I 
was looking for, but something that may come in handy in the 
future.  Any way, in the future you can delete your own post, if you 
wish, by clicking on your own message any click the delete button up 
by the Reply & Forward buttons.  Also, thanks for your input on PK 
Sharpener.  I'm currently considering PK Sharpener and FocalBlade.
Randy

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Steve Kale 
<stevekale@b...> wrote:
> I sent a post within seconds of that one apologising for my lack of
> coffee...  Did you not read that one?  Anyway sorry for the 
detour.   I use
> PK Sharpener for output sharpening by the way.  For sharpening 
1DsII files I
> prefer to use a routine that was posted on Rob Galbraith's forum 
which uses
> a combo of the Smart Sharpen and Noise Reduction filters.
> 
> 
> > From: Randy Rancier <randy_rancier2004@y...>
> > Reply-To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
> > Date: Wed, 05 Oct 2005 01:43:56 -0000
> > To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
> > Subject: Re: [Digital BW] Sharpening Tools, FocalBlade etc...
> > 
> > Ok Steve, I did my search!  What the heck does Genuine Fractals 
(an
> > interpolation program) have to do with Sharpening, other than 
the fact
> > that someone started discussing PK Sharpener in the middle of the
> > thread???  Guess I learned something about up scalling!  Any 
way, I
> > think I found out the info I need somewhere else.  Seems the 
software
> > to look at as far as SHARPENING goes is FocalBlade and PhotoKit 
Sharpener.
> > Randy

Don't forget Nik sharpener pro. It is reputed to be
one of the best

Woody Spedden

--- Randy Rancier <randy_rancier2004@...> wrote:


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The second version of Nik represents a significant improvement.  To 
my mind, the most valuable modification is a selective sharpening 
option which autommatically adds a layer to the file and then lets 
you choose whether to apply the sharpening to the entire image and 
erase what you do not want or to "paint" on sharpening where you want 
it.  You have the full choice of brushes and opacity and thus a lot 
of control over the process.  I find it great for portraits as I use 
the paint option and then sharpen only eyes, mouth and hair leaving 
the skin as is.  

It also provides a capture sharpen option but I cannot decide if that 
really works well or not.

Worth the upgrade.

Steve

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Elwood Spedden 
<elwood@w...> wrote:

> Don't forget Nik sharpener pro. It is reputed to be
> one of the best
> 
> Woody Spedden
>

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Randy Rancier" 
<randy_rancier2004@y...> wrote:
 Seems the software
> to look at as far as SHARPENING goes is FocalBlade and PhotoKit 
Sharpener.
> Randy


Randy, 

FWIW, I use FocusMagic on a duplicate layer for capture sharpening at 
the setting it detects up to a maximum setting of 2.  This is on 
digital capture files (Canon D60 for example - with "L" lenses the 
detection may be 1 or 0.  With large scans, Focus Magic's memory 
utilization may fail though!)

Before printing upsized files I often use Focal Blade.

You can try Focus Magic for free.

I have no beneficial interest in either product.

Colin

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Barbara White <barbara@b...> 
wrote:

Photokit Sharpener is amazing. You can taylor your sharpening both pre-print and at the 
time of print. You can even taylor the sharpening to suite various media...different matte 
and glossy papers. 

Buy it. You won't regret it at all.

> I like Photokit Sharpener by pixelgenius.com.
> 
> Barbara White
> On Oct 4, 2005, at 6:34 AM, Randy Rancier wrote:
> 
> > I may be opening a can of worms.  But, is FocalBlade, still, pretty
> > much the "state of the art" of the sharpening tools out there?  The
> > last post I could find on FocalBlade was almost a couple of years ago.
> > Thanks,
> > Randy
> >
> 
> 
> barbara@b...
> http://www.barbarawhitephoto.com

The only issue I have with it is that it is not very good with digital
camera files.  I have stopped using capture sharpening with my 1DsII files.
I spent some time working with Bruce Fraser on this but wasn't really happy
with any of the solutions he put forward.  I do still use it for "output
sharpening".  Prior to output sharpening I use the following in CS2:

Smart Sharpen Filter:  120%, Radius 0.9, More Accurate, Remove Lens Blur,
Shadow: 100%, Width 30, Radius 1  Highlights:  100%, Width 65%, Radius 1

Then:

Reduce Noise Filter: All settings zero except for Sharpen which I set
between 40 and 50% depending on the image

> From: steveh0607 <steveh060758@...>

> 
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Barbara White
> <barbara@b...> 
> wrote:
> 
> Photokit Sharpener is amazing. You can taylor your sharpening both pre-print
> and at the 
> time of print. You can even taylor the sharpening to suite various
> media...different matte
> and glossy papers.
> 
> Buy it. You won't regret it at all.

Steve,

It all works fine with my digital files - D100, D70, and D2x. Must be 
something funny with your camera!

Bob Frost.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Kale" <stevekale@...>

The only issue I have with it is that it is not very good with digital
camera files.  I have stopped using capture sharpening with my 1DsII files.
I spent some time working with Bruce Fraser on this but wasn't really happy
with any of the solutions he put forward.  I do still use it for "output
sharpening".

Yeah the 1DsII and the PhaseOne H10 (that I no longer use) are crap - you
want them?  Just kidding.  (Not that you'd take the Canon as I see you are a
Nikon kind of guy...)  Seriously I found I didn't like capture sharpening on
the 1DsII files.  All sorts of artefacts in hair for example - no jokes
please.  (PK Sharpener is excellent on film.)  I have made an action of the
filters I described in my earlier post and it is much much better.  The
method was posted on Rob Galbraith's forum.  (Try it and tell me what you
think.)  I then follow it up with a PK Output Sharpen.

> From: Bob Frost <bob@...>
> Reply-To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
> Date: Thu, 6 Oct 2005 15:38:14 +0100
> To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
> Subject: Re: [Digital BW] Sharpening Tools, FocalBlade etc...
> 
> Steve,
> 
> It all works fine with my digital files - D100, D70, and D2x. Must be
> something funny with your camera!
> 
> Bob Frost.
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Steve Kale" <stevekale@...>
> 
> The only issue I have with it is that it is not very good with digital
> camera files.  I have stopped using capture sharpening with my 1DsII files.
> I spent some time working with Bruce Fraser on this but wasn't really happy
> with any of the solutions he put forward.  I do still use it for "output
> sharpening".

Steve,

Could you post a link to this here? I tried t find it and couldn't.

Thanks,
Barbara White

On Oct 6, 2005, at 7:55 AM, Steve Kale wrote:

>   I have made an action of the
> filters I described in my earlier post and it is much much better.   
> The
> method was posted on Rob Galbraith's forum.  (Try it and tell me  
> what you
> think.)  I then follow it up with a PK Output Sharpen.
>
>
>

I'll try to find the post but the steps are outlined in my earlier post in
this thread.

> From: Barbara White <barbara@...>
> Reply-To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
> Date: Thu, 6 Oct 2005 10:25:50 -0700
> To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
> Subject: Re: [Digital BW] Sharpening Tools, FocalBlade etc...
> 
> Steve,
> 
> Could you post a link to this here? I tried t find it and couldn't.
> 
> Thanks,
> Barbara White
> On Oct 6, 2005, at 7:55 AM, Steve Kale wrote:

O.K., got it. Sorry, I thought you said an action. No problem...

thanks,
Barbara

On Oct 6, 2005, at 10:33 AM, Steve Kale wrote:

> I'll try to find the post but the steps are outlined in my earlier  
> post in
> this thread.
>
>
>