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DPChallenge Forums >> Current Challenge >> Sharpness ( or lack there of )
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05/30/2008 02:31:30 AM · #1
I am noticing many unsharp images in the latest challenges. Images that would otherwise be good or even great shots. I know when I started entering here I didn't realise that I had to sharpen after resizing for the web. Could it be that people are making the same mistake? Has anyone else noticed this?
05/30/2008 03:08:04 AM · #2
Personally I'm as or more bothered by what seem over-sharpened images, though not in any particular challenges or anything, just overall. I think people often get over-fixated on sharpness, focusing on the edges (pun intended) while failing to appreciate the composition and color.

Most images need some sharpening, especially (as noted) after significant resizing, but I try to keep it subtle.

Here are some examples showing progressive applications at various settings:
UnSharp Mask example gallery
05/30/2008 03:54:29 AM · #3
I think people also need to be reminded that if you are not using the highest resolution possible for your computer you are affecting the sharpness of images on your screen. I know some people don't know how to increase the resolution while others prefer it to be set lower so that images and text appear larger, but doing so will affect the quality of the image you see on your screen.
05/30/2008 05:19:35 AM · #4
some people also make a conscious choice not to sharpen...
05/30/2008 05:31:03 AM · #5
Does anyone else give credence to the previous challenge effect?
In this case it would the after effect of the soft focus challenge.
05/30/2008 06:00:42 AM · #6
I wasn't trying to be mean. I too think that many shots are over sharpened and a lot of the time soft focus is called for and works well. However quite a few seem to be great shots in the way of composition, colour, interesting subject etc but are just not sharp. I think I'm noticing it most in the male/female portraits. If the eyes were sharper on some of them they would be ripper shots. Maybe it's just me. I wasn't trying to find fault, I was just wondering if it was an issue of understanding about resizing and wether it would be worth letting people know it's advisable to sharpen after a resize. I know I was thankful to find out when I started here. :)
05/30/2008 06:12:24 AM · #7
I've only just started on the site and I know i didnt realise i had to sharpen after resizing and had many comments that my images were too soft a focus, and so i think this is responsible for many unsharp images. I have too agree though that i think it is all to easy to oversharpen and will admit i think i may have made this mistake on a current challenge
05/30/2008 07:44:15 AM · #8
I love soft focus but I find I tend to get shot down because of it...
05/30/2008 08:37:41 AM · #9
JPEG compression is what I am anal about. If someone enters a 25k image with visible pixelation, they will hear from the JPEG police about it. Interesting thing is, sometimes I am the only one to notice these things (at least judging from the comments left), and I have criticized some high scoring photos for it.
05/30/2008 08:53:48 AM · #10
Originally posted by Penny Lane:

I know when I started entering here I didn't realise that I had to sharpen after resizing for the web. Could it be that people are making the same mistake?


I have just come to realize this. As a new person to this I am making the same mistake as you have stated.

Thanks.
05/30/2008 09:33:41 AM · #11
Another factor affecting sharpening is the magnification of the view when you are working on it. If you size the image to the window at some fractional percentage (e.g. 28.3%), you can get display artifacts which you will not see at "even" magnifications (e.g. 25%, 50%). The usual recommendation is to always perform the sharpening step at 100% magnification, even if you have to zoom in and out to see different parts of the picture.
05/30/2008 10:38:22 AM · #12
I am guilty of fuzzy images, not because I am unaware of how to get sharpness or of the standards that demand sharpness. When I voted on the portrait images my first reaction was not to check for sharpness. but to enjoy the composition & the use of light. I respect the standard for sharpness & I accept that my fuzzy image will not place very high. What I would like to understand is why sharpness is so popular. Do we do it just because we can? Is it a way of showing off the quality (priceyness) of a (prime) lens? Maybe it proves that the most expensive equipment takes the best pictures if you're judging on the technical quality. Maybe it's because of LASIK surgery & high-resolution monitors?!

05/30/2008 10:43:44 AM · #13
I would consider sharpness a flaw in a portrait photograph. I am not interested in seing someone's pores in high definition. Soften it up a bit and the beauty emerges.
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