Thanks Jeff-
No, not stuck in PS but I still use it for a lot of things. Less and less with even the latest features introduced in LR last week.
But the PK Sharpener is so comprehensive that I thought it worth asking if it is now dated. It came to market, what 15 years ago? It seems the math used to create the algorithms for Capture, Creative, and Output sharpening stages won't have changed, as it was based on pixel dimensions and not necessarily any camera, computer or printing technologies, which have advanced considerably even in the last 5 years.
OK, for Capture Sharpening there are proven overall image sharpening parameters based on pixel dimensions, which I can replicate with good control in the LR Sharpening Panel. Parameters which you incorporated into useable automation in PK Sharpener-Capture sharpening in Photoshop.
And for Creative Sharpening, overall and targeted, that's pepper to taste. There are many available tools for this, including PK Sharpener, but LR does well here.
As for Output Sharpening, it is mostly dependent on a few variables: size, paper type, and ink. In LR I have two variables to use: Amount-High/Standard/Low and Media Type-Standard/Glossy, two of the major variables in the Output Sharpening equation. So based on those two variables we have 6 options in total. That seems quite limited when compared to the many, many options and fine-tuning that PK Sharpener offers.
One more thing- we all know the mantra to 'resize your image to the output size before applying Output Sharpening', because the Output Sharpening needs to be calculated and applied at the explicit pixel dimensions going out to the printer and down on the paper. However, in a LR workflow, we just print to a size, the image pixel dimensions are never 'physically' changed. So it seems that even Output Sharpening is happening before it gets resized in the print driver. Which is not good, no? Or is this 'old thinking'?
So, my question is twofold.
First, is the entirety of the capability of PK Sharpener for Output Sharpening, and all it's options and fine-tuning, it's myriad Modules, Sets, and Effects, the light and dark contour options (hundreds of not thousands of combinations), effectively duplicated in LR Output Sharpening while being reduced to 6 combinations of High/Standard/Low and Matte/Glossy?
And Second, how is the relationship of Output Sharpening vs Print Pixel Dimensions being handled? Is something happening in the print pipeline where the image is resized to print dimensions and then sharpened before it hits the printer?
Thoughts?
Appreciate your time-
Mike