You can use the Unsharp Mask filter in Photoshop to really get your photos to jump out.

To do so, before you apply any final sharpening, go into Filters > Sharpen > Unsharp Mask and set the values as follows:

Amount: 30%
Radius: 60 pixels
Threshold: 10 levels

You can see the effect below:

Unprocessed



Processed



Absolutely no other post-processing (aside from cropping) was done to this image. You may want to open the original and the processed version in tabs to go back and forth:

http://gongzero.com/assets/photos/ti..._no_polish.jpg
http://gongzero.com/assets/photos/ti...r_polished.jpg


BUT! Using this technique will blow out highlights or lose detail in the shadows (you can see that in the caterpillar above), if these areas are already borderline. Check your histograms!

This is no real replacement for proper S curves and complicated filters, but it works surprisingly well and it's easy to apply and A/B the results with the original.

Taken from:
http://forums.popphoto.com/camera/bo...hread.id=42909

Any other quick and easy tips for this type of PP?


-A

It's an interesting technique, I don't think that you can replace this with proper curves treatment either because this has a localized effect, rather than a general image-wide effect (yes it affects the whole image but it works region by region unlike curves which does the same thing to every pixel based on the LUT generated by the curve).

Also, if you continue to call this image polish, I may kill someone! Call it local contrast enhancement, since that's basically what it is doing.

Heh, call it Poopypants Magillicutty for all I care. I lifted the term from the PopPhoto thread linked.

And as I said, I agree that it's not a replacement for proper S-curve treatment. But it is quick and easy!


-A

What I mean by a proper s-curve treatment, is that neither is a replacement for the other because they operate in different ways. The curves tool will affect every pixel in your image, this won't necessarily.

here's what i mean (took me a bit to get the links to work right, stupid wordpress)
http://www.thecolorblindphotographer...t-enhancement/

Ahh, I see what you mean. Good info!

BTW, I love the idea behind your site.


-A

I go with much different USM levels. Interesting to see how this approach also affects the contrast of the image. FYI, when I sharpen for anything posted online, I do it twice. Also when sharpening images the image size makes a huge difference. ie what I use with a 5D image WILL NOT work with a 1D image.

before:



after canon's suggested percents:




it definately makes a difference, but it kills the effect of the 50mm 1.8