Editing in gimp.

asheeants · Jul 2, 2010

Hello again all! So I just downloaded gimp 2. The first thing I wanted to try was how to sharpen an image. I looked on you tube, and other sites for tutorials to show me how. I must be an idiot because I can't find it. Even the ones that say for gimp 2, as I go through the process the step they have doesn't exist. So can you guys lend a hand and explain how this is done? I don't have photo shop so whether it be gimp or any other free editing software I would just like to learn how to sharpen an image. Fill free to edit this one.

vtf · Jul 2, 2010

Im sorry but I dont use gimp but Im sure someone on here will come to your aid, its a popular program. It does seem underexposed so when I brightened it up in PSE it became a tad noisy so I'd suggest to lighten some first then decide to sharpen.
Just a thought.

Lipoly · Jul 2, 2010

Filters -> Enhance -> Unsharp Mask

BuS_RiDeR · Jul 2, 2010

Try these...

Really basic photo editing with GIMP: Part 4. Sharpening
GIMP - "Smart" Sharpening
GIMP - "Warp" Sharpening

or

3.7. Unsharp Mask

One of these will help you I think...

Retro_10s · Jul 2, 2010

it does seem underexposed

I agree - and ultimately this leads me to suggest that if It is possible - simply re-shoot the picture rather than 'polishing' something that wasn't quite there in the first place. Sharpening an image can also create noise - I don't think you're going to be able to really get this picture the way you want it.

Gimp is a fantastic program - If you're into Post Processing images - Have a look at Lightroom too - It could really help you out.

I've had a little play with it in Gimp 2.6.6 -> It's pretty much the limit of what I'm able to get out of the picture without it becoming to noisy, I've softened it a little too - but any more and you lose the little subtle shadows that give her face shape, and I personally hate images that are too soft - Maybe re-shoot with a lower ISO and larger aperture, maybe only 1 stop is needed.

I think this image could be improved if it was cropped differently too - I don't like how her arm is cut off at the edge of the frame...

benlonghair · Jul 2, 2010

A little trick I recently discovered when sharpening, don't try to do it all in one pass. Keep the diameter low (top slider, like 1-3 clicks above the minimum) and the second slider (I don't have it in front of me, don't remember names) do a little more than the first.

If this doesn't sharpen it enough, you can do it again. It keeps it from getting that PP halo effect and does a good job pulling details out.

asheeants · Jul 2, 2010

vtf said:
Im sorry but I dont use gimp but Im sure someone on here will come to your aid, its a popular program. It does seem underexposed so when I brightened it up in PSE it became a tad noisy so I'd suggest to lighten some first then decide to sharpen.
Just a thought.

Thanks I'll do that

asheeants · Jul 2, 2010

Retro_10s said:
it does seem underexposed

Click to expand...

I agree - and ultimately this leads me to suggest that if It is possible - simply re-shoot the picture rather than 'polishing' something that wasn't quite there in the first place. Sharpening an image can also create noise - I don't think you're going to be able to really get this picture the way you want it.

Gimp is a fantastic program - If you're into Post Processing images - Have a look at Lightroom too - It could really help you out.

I've had a little play with it in Gimp 2.6.6 -> It's pretty much the limit of what I'm able to get out of the picture without it becoming to noisy, I've softened it a little too - but any more and you lose the little subtle shadows that give her face shape, and I personally hate images that are too soft - Maybe re-shoot with a lower ISO and larger aperture, maybe only 1 stop is needed.

I think this image could be improved if it was cropped differently too - I don't like how her arm is cut off at the edge of the frame...

I like what ya did with it, garnet there wasn't much you could do but this is an improvement for sure. You lightened up my face, and brought my eyes out a bit. This was merely a practice picture, just a random photo I found of myself that I thought I would try to fix. Could you kind of walk me through what you did. I cropped it the way I did because of the background I believe, there was just too much going on. I agree that it does look rather odd that way.

asheeants · Jul 2, 2010

benlonghair said:
A little trick I recently discovered when sharpening, don't try to do it all in one pass. Keep the diameter low (top slider, like 1-3 clicks above the minimum) and the second slider (I don't have it in front of me, don't remember names) do a little more than the first.

If this doesn't sharpen it enough, you can do it again. It keeps it from getting that PP halo effect and does a good job pulling details out.

I'm sure this is good advice, but I am so not experienced enough with editing to know what you're talking about. haha