Luminous Landscape Forum
Raw & Post Processing, Printing => Digital Image Processing => Topic started by: Kika Livno on July 31, 2007, 09:55:38 pm
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[span style=\'font-size:13pt;line-height:100%\']PhotoKit Sharpener? or Nik Sharpener Pro 2.0?[/span]
So far I have only used C1 along with PS CS2.
Both companies offer additional plug-ins: Nose reduction, filters, etc.
Which one? Your opinion, tips and advice please!
[span style=\'font-size:13pt;line-height:100%\']Thank you[/span]
Kika
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photokit sharpener is fabulous.
tam, formerly katemann until I had the nerve to change my email address.
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PhotoKit Sharpener is the only one I use and recommend. I tried the Nik product and found that it consistently over sharpened at all stages.
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I'll give another vote for PhotoKit Sharpener. A great product.
--Rich
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Add my vote for Photokit Sharpener. It's easy to use and fully customizable. I also tried Nik Sharpener but I wasn't too impressed. I'd add that Nik is certainly not a bad product but I like PKS better.
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I own both. Nik tends to oversharpen so if you like really crisp prints, then Nik does a great job.
Photokit Sharpener is less automatic, but is much more flexible as it created a layer containing the results of the sharpening. The sharpening is much more subtle than Nik, but if you want it really "crunchy", you can rerun Photokit to increase the sharpness.
I don't use Nik anymore since purchasing Photokit.
There's my 2 cents.
Cheers.
Bud James
North Wales, PA
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What about Pixelgenius's sharpening plug-in?
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What about Pixelgenius's sharpening plug-in?
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=131194\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
It's PhotoKit Sharpener (aka PKS)!
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Photokit sharpener does an excellent job and has many options to choose from. Eleanor
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Thanks everybody
!!!Cheers!!!
Kika
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I prefer photokit sharpener over nik sharpener, this one is so hard with the image and I don't see those halos with pixelgenius' plugin.
But If you want to save your money and to have the same if no better results you can use tlr sharpener set of actions. They do an amazing job (it is similar to photokit) at no cost.
You can download it here:
http://www.thelightsrightstudio.com/TLRSharpeningToolkit.htm (http://www.thelightsrightstudio.com/TLRSharpeningToolkit.htm)
(Of course I am a particular, I don´t about this actions programmer).
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I have both and have used both. I prefer Nik. I use it for both prepress and inkjet with excellent results. It's a tad trickier understanding how to use the sliders to get the best reproduction. Generally, 50-70% works the best, and I like the ability to tweak particular colors (for instance, lower sharpening on skin tones.)
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I have both and have used both. I prefer Nik. I use it for both prepress and inkjet with excellent results. It's a tad trickier understanding how to use the sliders to get the best reproduction. Generally, 50-70% works the best, and I like the ability to tweak particular colors (for instance, lower sharpening on skin tones.)
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=131752\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
I like Nik Sharpener Pro, especially Nik Color Efex Pro
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Once you get the hang of it, and it don't take long, Photokit Sharpener is by far the most flexible (read: best) sharpening tool around. And you don't need a sliderule to use it.
Sharpening is always done on an adjustment layer. Discrete layers for dark and light contrast bands adjustable using layer opacity.
It's also a smart tool. It knows (calculates) "just how much" sharpening to apply for a given image of x by y pixels.
A very usable tool for advanced users or new comers.
p
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I don't print my digital photos - they are for web viewing only. Also, I convert RAWs in ACR and will be using ACR as my capture source sharpener.
Is there any point in getting the Photokit Sharpener if my output source is always the web and my capture sharpening will be done by ACR?
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Why not download PK and try it for a week. Pixel Genius has a 7 day trial and a money back guarantee.
I tried it for about two hours and bought it without hesitation.
Even though your photos are for web only, once you learn how to use it, you will notice a difference in before and after.
Try it, you have nothing to lose but a little time.
Rich
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Why not download PK and try it for a week. Pixel Genius has a 7 day trial and a money back guarantee.
I tried it for about two hours and bought it without hesitation.
Even though your photos are for web only, once you learn how to use it, you will notice a difference in before and after.
Try it, you have nothing to lose but a little time.
Rich
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=135125\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
Fair enough but it's only free for a week, then what? I don't need to spend $100 for a plug-in that will only be used for output sharpening to the web. PK looks like a fantastic tool but it does so much more than what I need. I think it is great that it can be set depending on what ink, printer or paper one uses but I don't print. It has great capture sharpening capabilities but ACR 4.1 is more than sufficient for my capture sharpening needs. I love its mask creation. So I don't need to buy a $100 plug-in with capture and creative/content sharpening choices since I don't need them.
If I didn't use ACR 4.1 for capture sharpening then no doubt the PK sharpener would make sense. I am sure it is a great product from all accounts.
If I was printing my shots I think PK sharpening plug-in would be a neccessary tool.
Really, all I require is output sharpening to web for images at 1100 pixel length.
I can write my own PS action. Just need a few pearls of wisdom from more experienced digital photogs. What would be the best sharpening tool to use for ouput sharpening to web for a 1100 pixel length photo?
USM?
Smart sharpen?
High pass?