Advice on camera RAW editing by Photoshop and canera Raw.

[avz10]

I have a Canon EOS 450 D with a 28-300mm Sigma lens. I was quite used to 35 mm film photography and has this camera now for more than a year. I have started with PS CS5.1 and is learning Camera Raw.

On a trip to Greece, I took this photo. I would like to describe my editing methods and if you can comment:
Taken as RAW- no editing:

Settings:

Settings changed in RAW:

More changes:

I thought everything was not sharp enough, as I want detail. I used Unsharp Mask:

I duplicated the layer and used the High Pass filter.

My final product:

(Her facial features now quite sharp.)
But on Picasa, it is too sharp?!

Any thoughts/critisisms/advice? I still struggle with sharp as well as the colours- I am red green coulour blind.

 

[Kerbouchard]

I would have lowered the opacity in the final highpass filter. A good way to do it is to lower it to 0, and then slide it up until you see your image pop.

Other than a tad bit oversharpened, I would say it was a pretty good edit.

 

[KmH]

For all your sharpening steps I would have used a Radius of about 0.5 rather than 1.

I highly recommend 2 books, if you don't already have them:

Real World Camera Raw with Adobe Photoshop CS5

Real World Image Sharpening with Adobe Photoshop, Camera Raw, and Lightroom (2nd Edition)

 

[avz10]

I apologise for only responding now. I have not yet read these books, but will need to make a plan.

I have made some changes, and would like to hear comments. I moved detail down from the 70's to 50 and radius to 0.5

In PS: Unsharp mask- Should I have moved the radius down here too?

I'm a bit unsure about thr image "popping out" Radius 1.9 I know one should look at the 100% image, but find it very difficult.

Radius 2.6

Used this one- radius 3,6

Screenshot

Final product- could not upload from my computer directly- stated that I did not have the privileges, etc.

Thanks for any comments!!

 

[avz10]

Any other comments- especially with regards to the radius and Last Pass?

 

[Kerbouchard]

Since you have Photoshop CS5, why don't you try the smart sharpen instead of unsharp mask? A lot less work and, IMO, great results.

As far as your latest edit, I would say somewhere between the two. Like I said, I would have just taken the Opacity down a bit on your last sharpening step from your first edit instead of redoing everything, but then again, I also don't use Unsharp Mask and will only occasionally use the High Pass filter method. For me, smart sharpening does a great job and I also have an action called Boutwell Magic Glasses that does an amazing job.

 

[avz10]

Thanks for that.

I will definately try it, but have never used it. So I will nee to do some searching on the topic.

You are not aware of any good tutorials? In any case, I will search and also want to get the book that KmH mentioned on smart sharpening.

Thanks for your reply!

Albie