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Author Topic: Sharpening Defaults  (Read 2155 times)

HSakols

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Sharpening Defaults
« on: June 23, 2019, 11:14:58 am »

Why have the sharpening defaults been changed in Adobe Lightroom from when the default amount was 25?  I adjust my sharpening to fit the needs of my landscape images but was just curious. 
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Jim Kasson

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Re: Sharpening Defaults
« Reply #1 on: June 23, 2019, 04:57:59 pm »

Why have the sharpening defaults been changed in Adobe Lightroom from when the default amount was 25?  I adjust my sharpening to fit the needs of my landscape images but was just curious.

Dunno why. Speculating that LR changed the default sharpening for the same reason they changed the default color profile: to give the default development more pop and sizzle. IMHO, both changes are a step backwards, and will encourage the already steamroller-like trend towards super sharp, super chromatic images. I thought 25 was too much.

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Chris Kern

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Re: Sharpening Defaults
« Reply #2 on: June 23, 2019, 05:19:53 pm »

Speculating that LR changed the default sharpening for the same reason they changed the default color profile: to give the default development more pop and sizzle. IMHO, both changes are a step backwards, and will encourage the already steamroller-like trend towards super sharp, super chromatic images.

I think Lightroom's new Texture slider is a good tool for achieving greater subtlety in sharpening.  Used in moderation, of course, and often as a local rather than a global adjustment.  I find I'm using less Contrast and particularly less Clarity since it was introduced.  Dehaze is also helpful in that regard.  (Again, used in moderation, and often locally.)

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rdonson

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Re: Sharpening Defaults
« Reply #4 on: June 23, 2019, 08:10:14 pm »

Tools are tools.   It's the responsibility of the users of the tools to know how to make good art with the tools.  Some may run amok but some may make good or even great art with the tools.

If the defaults only appeal to beginners who don't yet know better than so be it.  With luck they will learn over time.  If not, perhaps they aren't going to make good art.

The rest of us will learn how to tailor the tools to our desired outcomes. 

"Make good Art". 2012 Neil Gaimon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plWexCID-kA
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digitaldog

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Re: Sharpening Defaults
« Reply #5 on: June 23, 2019, 08:40:38 pm »

I think they may have changed due to the newer Process Versions? But doesn't really matter as rdonson has pointed out, if you don't like a default, alter it.
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fdisilvestro

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Re: Sharpening Defaults
« Reply #6 on: June 23, 2019, 08:45:00 pm »

I think they may have changed due to the newer Process Versions? But doesn't really matter as rdonson has pointed out, if you don't like a default, alter it.

+1

I thought 25 was too much.

Maybe for a camera without AA filter

HSakols

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Re: Sharpening Defaults
« Reply #7 on: June 23, 2019, 09:35:58 pm »

For landscapes I can typically use an amount of 50, a Radius of .6, a Detail of at least 40 and Masking.  I found Jeff Schewe's The Digital Print to be quite helpful.  I'm no expert and am always open to proven best practices. Do any of you paint in sharpening in key areas?   

An interesting article would be the history of sharpening using both masks in analog and sharpening with the masters such as the late  Bruce Frazer. 

« Last Edit: June 23, 2019, 09:58:36 pm by HSakols »
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tonysiciliano1

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Re: Sharpening Defaults
« Reply #8 on: June 24, 2019, 01:14:28 pm »

I'm confused. I am using LR Classic 8.3.1, the latest release, and the sharpening defaults are Amount: 25, Radius: 1.0, Detail: 25. Seems unchanged to me. What gives?
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Jim Kasson

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Re: Sharpening Defaults
« Reply #9 on: June 24, 2019, 04:28:58 pm »

I'm confused. I am using LR Classic 8.3.1, the latest release, and the sharpening defaults are Amount: 25, Radius: 1.0, Detail: 25. Seems unchanged to me. What gives?

It may be camera -dependent. I'm seeing it with the Nikon Zx and Fuji GFX 50x.

digitaldog

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Re: Sharpening Defaults
« Reply #10 on: June 24, 2019, 04:42:33 pm »

It may be camera -dependent. I'm seeing it with the Nikon Zx and Fuji GFX 50x.
That's the case between what I see for my Canon vs. Sony bodies.
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Alan Goldhammer

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Re: Sharpening Defaults
« Reply #11 on: July 04, 2019, 05:32:26 pm »

It may be camera -dependent. I'm seeing it with the Nikon Zx and Fuji GFX 50x.
Yes, this is what I see with my Z6 and it was a little shocking at first to see how high the Radius was.
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dgberg

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Re: Sharpening Defaults
« Reply #12 on: July 11, 2019, 02:05:47 pm »

For me it enables me to skip a step.
I always use the sharpening mask.
If you attempt to use the masking with sharpening at 0 nothing happens. You have to go up and move the sharpening off of 0, a pain.
Now that it is set at a setting above 0 I can option/command and move the masking where I want it and then set the amount.
All good.

jrsforums

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Re: Sharpening Defaults
« Reply #13 on: July 11, 2019, 05:31:55 pm »

For me it enables me to skip a step.
I always use the sharpening mask.
If you attempt to use the masking with sharpening at 0 nothing happens. You have to go up and move the sharpening off of 0, a pain.
Now that it is set at a setting above 0 I can option/command and move the masking where I want it and then set the amount.
All good.

+1. I set my default = 1. That way I can check the noise with (effectively) no sharpening and, as you, apply mask before adding any sharpening.
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