Recommendation for Sharpening program? I am presently looking for a pure sharpening program other than the one in lightroom classic. After Utubing and looking at videos on sharpening i...

redfordl Loc: Carver,Ma.

I am presently looking for a pure sharpening program other than the one in lightroom classic. After Utubing and looking at videos on sharpening i see topaz sharpen Ai recommended. I have topaz denoise Ai which i obtained as a free upgrade from topaz denoise 5 which works well . Have used denoise on images taken in my house at 3200 iso and it has done well and sharpened the images at the same time. Any recommendation on a sharpening program that you feel works better than topaz sharpen AI? Thanks!

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I have Topaz Sharpen AI and have used it a few times. It does a reasonable job but it is not magic.

Yes, you can improve a slightly blurred image but beyond a certain point of blur it will not save a really bad image. In addition, it occasionally will add strange things to the image.

On the whole, it's a useful tool but use it with caution.

I had a wedding scene with low light and the bride and groom in a shot. They were at different distances from the camera so there were some focus issues. I took two shots, with focus set on different people. I took one of the shots and tried to sharpen the out of focus one with Topaz Sharpen. There was some improvement. (Same with the other shot). But the best result was using a composite of the two shots just isolating the in-focus person in each and combining the result in Photoshop.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Before you succumb to a software GAS attack, assure you're being effective in actively managing and overriding the default settings that LR gives for both Noise Processing and Sharpening. Ideas and examples are presented here:

Basics of noise processing

Basics of Lightroom Sharpening

I have an older Topaz DeNoise as a 2nd step to LR's NR processing, for higher ISO images. I sharpen both before and after, only in LR, for images sent to DeNoise, using the techniques discussed in the link above.

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

I have been using Topaz Sharpen since before the AI was added. It may not be magic but it is close to it. Yes, as Paul points out LR/PS, very satisfactory sharping can be done in those programs. Over the years I have learned that for special projects, like sharping a photo, specialized products tend to do a faster, easier job. Read Paul's links and try the process and see what you think. Then try the free download of Topaz Sharpen and see what you think about that software. Chose the one that works best for you

redfordl Loc: Carver,Ma.

Thanks Paul for your valuable info on denoising7 sharpening in lightroom etc. Maybe I"ll just stick too using low iso and avoid any noise at all. But from your description of the use of ltrm"s denoise and sharpening tool you can greatly improve upon an image at high iso etc. .l"ve probably just not been using ltrms tools to their full potential. Have a Good Day. Love all your photos from the various zoos.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

redfordl wrote:

Thanks Paul for your valuable info on denoising7 sharpening in lightroom etc. Maybe I"ll just stick too using low iso and avoid any noise at all. But from your description of the use of ltrm"s denoise and sharpening tool you can greatly improve upon an image at high iso etc. .l"ve probably just not been using ltrms tools to their full potential. Have a Good Day. Love all your photos from the various zoos.

I think Topaz does a better job as noise, and retaining image details, that LR can alone. But, that difference and relevance only become worth the effort at higher ISOs, at least for the cameras I shoot.

The key points of my linked examples / discussion is to understand what the import defaults of LR does / doesn't do to your images. Some minor tweaks to these import defaults can have a significant difference, at no additional $ outlay.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

redfordl wrote:

I am presently looking for a pure sharpening progr... (show quote)

Why are your photos not shsrp?

redfordl Loc: Carver,Ma.

Architect, actually most of my photos are sharp as i use the proper photo taking techniques(proper camera handholding,tripod use,focus pt techniques etc.) to prevent blurry images or out of focus ones. I was just making this inquiry as topaz had offered me a deal as a bundle sharpening AI,Gigapixel AI,and Photo AI for 139$,but from Paul"s info on sharpening and denoising i can get along with just using lightroom for denoise,and sharpening images..used properly.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

redfordl wrote:

Architect, actually most of my photos are sharp as i use the proper photo taking techniques(proper camera handholding,tripod use,focus pt techniques etc.) to prevent blurry images or out of focus ones. I was just making this inquiry as topaz had offered me a deal as a bundle sharpening AI,Gigapixel AI,and Photo AI for 139$,but from Paul"s info on sharpening and denoising i can get along with just using lightroom for denoise,and sharpening images..used properly.

I just find it interesting how lenses are bragged about being amazingly sharp and the incredible sensors have superb detail capturing ability yet these same setups all seem to do such a poor job and need sharpening and other crutches to get a decent photo.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Architect1776 wrote:

I just find it interesting how lenses are bragged about being amazingly sharp and the incredible sensors have superb detail capturing ability yet these same setups all seem to do such a poor job and need sharpening and other crutches to get a decent photo.

If you shoot in RAW, well you get an image file that has ZERO sharpening, making your digital sharpening choice and technique 100% relevant.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Architect1776 wrote:

I just find it interesting how lenses are bragged about being amazingly sharp and the incredible sensors have superb detail capturing ability yet these same setups all seem to do such a poor job and need sharpening and other crutches to get a decent photo.

If you shoot at high(er) ISOs, either the camera in JPEG or you in your RAW processing, will have to 'smudge' the pixels in the process of processing the noise. And therefore, again, your choice of both your sharpening and NR software and your technique (usage) are 100% relevant.

redfordl Loc: Carver,Ma.

Right on Rich!!

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

CHG_CANON wrote:

If you shoot at high(er) ISOs, either the camera in JPEG or you in your RAW processing, will have to 'smudge' the pixels in the process of processing the noise. And therefore, again, your choice of both your sharpening and NR software and your technique (usage) are 100% relevant.

Exactly!

Rick from NY Loc: Sarasota FL

Architect1776 wrote:

I just find it interesting how lenses are bragged about being amazingly sharp and the incredible sensors have superb detail capturing ability yet these same setups all seem to do such a poor job and need sharpening and other crutches to get a decent photo.

Whoa - that is just not so. All digital images require some sharpening in order to look their best. But sharpening software was never designed to make a poorly focused image “sharp”. In some cases, Topaz, DXO and Adobe may help make a slightly out of focus picture semi acceptable, but they were designed to improve a well focused image. Saying that the various software does a “poor job” or tries to act as “crutches” to support poor photo skills is wildly off the mark. Your problem is obviously that you are not taking focused pics in the first place. Learn how to accurately focus when shooting and you’ll find that many of the touted capabilities of the equipment are in fact incredible. Just buying a Ferrari will not make me drive like an F1 driver. Or more succinctly, “garbage in, garbage out!” Stop blaming your equipment.

BTW - to answer your actual question, I use Topaz AI when venturing beyond Adobe.

cascom Loc: Redmond

Try ON1 Raw free download
https://www.on1.com/products/photo-raw/download/