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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
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    Gothenburg, Sweden
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    Default Advanced Image Sharpening for internet display

    Advanced Image Sharpening
    For internet display
    By MartinBabies


    When scaling down a photo for internet usage your photo might appear unsharp. This is because people tend to scale down way to quickly, apply some Unsharp Mask and then they're done. This is not good at all. The trick is to scale down a little, sharpen, scale down, sharpen and so on.
    Some people think that the best way to sharpen images is to apply the Unsharp Mask filter. It will in this tutorial show how that in fact sucks. There is a much better way of sharpening your photos. The key is a filter called High Pass.

    For this tutorial you might need image noise reduction software, like NeatImage. A guide to NeatImage can be found here: http://www.gfxvoid.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10889
    Please not that if you're photo isn't grainy at all or if you have no people in it, maybe the noise reduction could be skipped. I recommend it for portraits though.

    I will show you the whole process. I will be working with an original file of 2311x3471 px. This is the photo I'll be using. The model is David, I hope he won't mind.. :P




    If you have shot with a higher ISO value, then you might need to remove some noise before you start.

    Cleaning up

    1) Open up neat image and your picture
    2) Reduce some noice but try not to overdo it as that would mess up your end result quite badly.
    3) Save as a new file (default is filename_filtered.jpg).

    4) Open up Photoshop with your original photo.
    5) Paste the filtered version over the original. Add a layer mask to this layer.
    6) Lower the opacity a bit. We don't really want the filtered look. We just want to get rid of some of the noise.
    7) Now pick a big soft brush and start masking away parts from the filtered layer. The parts you should concentrate on are mainly fabrics as the noise only will do good there. Do not remove much from the background or from skin.

    Here's a close up on the skin before and after the quick retouch:

    Before/after


    Looking better... Now let's get on with the real deal.


    Sharpening

    1) Merge all layers.
    2) Duplicate your layer and go Filter > Other > High Pass. Use 0,5 px radius and hit OK.
    3) Change the layer's blending mode to Overlay.
    4) Open up Brightness & Contrast (NOT as an adjustment layer) and pull the contrast up to +50.
    5) Merge the layers.



    Scaling

    1) Go to Image > Image size. Make sure Constrain Proportions is checked.
    2) Round off the vertical size to 3000 px.

    3) Now repeat the sharpening process, but with 0,3 px radius.
    4) Scale down 500 px so that your picture is 1664x2500 px.
    5) Repeat sharpening.


    Cleaning up again

    You will probably notice that the more you sharpen your image the more noise you get. Well, it's time for another clean up with NeatImage.

    1) Save as a new file.
    2) Open the new file in NeatImage and repeat the NeatImage step. You might have to change your settings a little as the noise and size are different now.
    3) Save as a new filtered file. Paste it over your Photoshop file and start masking away parts, playing with opacity etc.

    Scaling and finish

    1) Go to Image > Image size and scale down 500 px again.
    2) Repeat the sharpening process, but with 0,2 px radius.
    3) Go to Image > Image size and scale down 500 px again.
    4) Repeat the sharpening process, but with 0,2 px radius.



    5) From now on we begin scaling down with only 200 px instead of 500 px, so do that. Also repeat the sharpening process between each time you scale down.

    Finally I stop at 800 px height by applying one last High Pass filter.
    My final image looks like this:



    Looks pretty good! It actually looks like I used a much better and sharper lens when shooting this. But in reality it was the crappy Canon 18-55 kit lens.
    Now try comparing this method with simply scaling down only once and applying unsharp mask. You won't get as much detail at all.

    That's it. Hope you liked it (and learned something)!
    Last edited by MartinBabies; 11-06-2007 at 02:16 AM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Minnesota
    Posts
    5,091

    Default

    The tut looks awesome Martin thanks a lot.

    I'll try it out next time i have photos and I'll post my results.


    My DevART
    RATCHET is my bitch
    Andrew says:
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    used the last two pages to roll a joint though
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    ^^HAHAHA, dm sucks XD


  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Denmark
    Posts
    4,197

    Default

    Great your the best martin thx for the tut.




  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Posts
    2,921

    Default

    This is how Ive been sharpening for about 4months, but with two levels rather than.. well, more. I might try it in more detail now, good tutorial for beginners to get to grips with too

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Netherlands
    Posts
    1,068

    Default

    sweet tutorial mate :')
    I thought it was only your camera and skill which made your photos that wonderfull, but it's the tricky sharpening which finishes the photo.

    good job
    • meh,don'tlikesigs

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Gothenburg, Sweden
    Posts
    3,199

    Default

    Thanks. Yes, even not a professional camera and lens will look very sharp if you don't scale down your photo the right way. The trick is to get all these tiny details out to make it look real sharp!

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Sweden
    Posts
    73

    Default

    that photo of me is exceptionally dreadful. i look like a goat or something.

    bögar är också människor

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Gothenburg, Sweden
    Posts
    3,199

    Default

    Yes you do. Nice avatar btw ho!

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Netherlands
    Posts
    1,068

    Default

    Oh Martin thanks for this guide :') I tried it on one of my photos while I'm rowing.
    I guess it's still way to big to post here(1600x1200, wallpapersize) but I like the result much more then the 'Image Size > Unsharp Mask'-way ... Thanks a lot :') I love it.
    • meh,don'tlikesigs

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    South Wales
    Posts
    470

    Default

    Awesome. I'll be using this. Thanks Martin.

    Religion gives nothing in life, only in death.

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