Sharpening Query (Page 2): Just testing! This is the result of a sharpening application from Impixio software. Most of the theses "sharpening" efforts seem weird. What do y'all think?

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Just testing! This is the result of a sharpening application from Impixio software. Most of the theses "sharpening" efforts seem weird. What do y'all think? Improvement? May be on a smaller screen or smaller print.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

E.L.. Shapiro wrote:

Just testing! This is the result of a sharpening application from Impixio software. Most of the theses "sharpening" efforts seem weird. What do y'all think? Improvement? May be on a smaller screen or smaller print.

There was another version of the image posted to UHH and linked in the replies. Rather than futzing with the soft version, why no try resizing the sharper version with a higher pixel resolution?

Day.Old.Pizza Loc: Maple Grove, MN

Which is preferable, tack-sharp or a little soft? It depends on what you were trying to capture. The competition results can easily be explained by a difference in taste between you and the Judges.

delder Loc: Maryland

John N wrote:

I put three entries into a club competition last n... (show quote)

Our Community Photo Club had the same problem using the original projector in our meeting room.
Situation improved somewhat when it was replaced with a 90" TV/AV Monitor, BUT colors especiall are nowhere near as impressive as on the iPad our leader presents from...

I have an open question as to weather we should "Preempasize" our shots for display on a certain monitor?
This is a community meeting room, so we lack the option to pre-set the monitor.

Ideas?

Aloysius Loc: Tampa, FL

“Sharp” is certainly not the sole criterion for a good photo. Introduce the judges to the Avedon blur” and proceed accordingly.

Day.Old.Pizza Loc: Maple Grove, MN

I think iPads, PC’s and iMacs will always display a photo better than a large-screen TV.

For general viewing everyone brings in a print or a device for viewing their photo. For the Judging all the photos can be uploaded to a host site and then viewed by the Judges on a single large computer screen.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

larryepage wrote:

I have rarely entered competitions or shared image... (show quote)

plumbbob1

Not commenting on your work flow but rather when you put a photo out for judging judges will invariably have there biases. I found the same in showing my Akitas. I learned to only enter shows after I had researched the judge.
Otherwise, enter a lot of shows and then evaluate his/her judging and then convince yourself that you are a better judge.

Dennis833 Loc: Australia

For my final output sharpening I use "High Pass Sharpening" in Affinity Photo. I can send you the instructions or the Macro that I have made if you would like to try it.

Delderby Loc: Derby UK

E.L.. Shapiro wrote:

Just testing! This is the result of a sharpening application from Impixio software. Most of the theses "sharpening" efforts seem weird. What do y'all think? Improvement? May be on a smaller screen or smaller print.

Attached - your Inpixio pic after replacing sky using the same app. Seems to reduce the HD effect?

MrMophoto Loc: Rhode Island "The biggest little"

Your original post didn't seem to be concerned with sharpening as much as it did about why the judges dumped your images. I enter Calls for entry (photo contests) all over the world and occasionally get selected, I also attend lectures and webinars when ever I can on photography on what makes a winning photo (my words). What I've come to understand is that judging photos, art, is VERY subjective. Dumping a photo because it had borders may be just a parameter the judge automatically disqualifies for. Very often, in the list of how a call for entry wants the images prepared, it states no frames or borders, just saying. What I have learned is that you should make your images to YOUR liking, you will never please everyone or every judge, don't take it personally. Besides, why do you make you images in the first place? To please some random person? I hope not.

plumbbob1

Amen!

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

MrMophoto wrote:

Your original post didn't seem to be concerned with sharpening as much as it did about why the judges dumped your images.

I hoped I made it quite clear that two images were dumped because they were SOFT and I was trying to ascertain if there was a difference in editing before resizing or post resizing. It seems the answer is trial and error though one club member says he does his editing on full size, resizes, and then tunes it again on manufacturers native software.

It's something I'll be trying along with the high pass filter suggestted by others.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

John N wrote:

I hoped I made it quite clear that two images were dumped because they were SOFT and I was trying to ascertain if there was a difference in editing before resizing or post resizing. It seems the answer is trial and error though one club member says he does his editing on full size, resizes, and then tunes it again on manufacturers native software.

It's something I'll be trying along with the high pass filter suggestted by others.

I'd suggest being judicious about changing your whole process in response to the comments of one judge. They are sometimes just not very honest. We are in a time when soft images are evil things...it's easy to accuse an image of being soft. Nobody even flinches. It is equally as likely that the judge just didn't like your image, so claimed it was soft.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

John, given the clear visual differences between the earlier image and the 2nd, resized, you are 100% justified in (a) investigating, (b) understanding, and (c) correcting the issue causing the problem. Things to consider / understand:

1, What specific source file was used to resize?
2, If you repeat what you remember of the process creating the resized output, do you get the same result?
3, Do these review steps begin to point to the issues and / or corrective actions?