Whether it's for print or for web, most images need to be sharpened before displayed. There are a million different ways to accomplish this, but I prefer to keep it simple and in one program. This easy workflow will help you create eye catching images that pop out to your viewers.
Step 1: Clarity is NOT Sharpness
Far too many photographers learn about the clarity slider and jack it up to create "sharp" lines and images that seem to pop off the screen in an HDR fashion. This is one of the most over abused tools in Lightroom, and a little bit goes a long way, if you use it at all.For portraits, I often keep my clarity adjustment at -5 to -10. This keeps skin detail from emerging in unflattering ways and helps soften the light and contrast on the subject. Here's my image after processing along with my exposure and basic adjustments:
Step 2: Apply Sharpening in Detail Panel
The sharpening tool in the detail panel is similar to the sharpening filters in Photoshop. You can adjust the amount of sharpening as well as various thresholds for where and how it will be applied. For a good starting point, 25 - 1.0 - 30 - 10 is a good basic level for sharpening. For this portrait, my settings were 50 - 1.5 - 65 - 10. This is mostly because I was shooting wide open at f/1.8 and I wanted to bring back a lot of sharpness the Canon 50mm 1.8 loses at that aperture.
Step 3: Adjustment Brushes
If you are working on a portrait or any image where you really want specific elements to be sharper than the rest of the frame, you can use a combination of adjustment brushes to achieve the hyper sharpness you see a lot in large aperture, shallow depth of field photos like this portrait. I used a combination of negative clarity on the subjects skin, then positive clarity and sharpness on the eyes, nose, and lips to enhance those features.
Step 4: Export Sharpening
The last step, and likely the most crucial, is the export sharpening settings in the export module. You have three options: none, print, screen. I use print, which tends to sharpen a little more than screen, but I find it works well for both. You also have three levels to choose from; low, standard, high. I use standard most of the time, as it provides sharp lines without looking overdone on smaller screens like phones and tablets.
Final Comparison
Click to enlarge
How Do You Sharpen Your Images?
Sharpening is an often obsessed over aspect of lenses, but many photographers don't utilize the tools available in post production to enhance their lenses sharpness. Luckily, Lightroom has fantastic sharpening tools and features if you know how to use them. Do you use Lightroom, Photoshop, or another technique?
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The article you provided touches on various aspects of image sharpening, primarily using Lightroom as the main tool. Here's a breakdown of the concepts discussed:
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Clarity vs. Sharpness: The author emphasizes the difference between clarity and sharpness in image editing. Clarity adjusts mid-tone contrast, while sharpness enhances the definition of edges in an image. Overusing the clarity slider can lead to unnatural effects.
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Sharpening in Detail Panel: The Detail panel in Lightroom allows precise control over sharpening. The settings include amount, radius, detail, and masking, which affect how sharpening is applied to the image. The recommended starting point is 25 - 1.0 - 30 - 10, but specific adjustments may be necessary based on the image and shooting conditions.
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Adjustment Brushes: These are used for localized adjustments in an image. In the case of portraits, the author mentions using negative clarity for skin softening and positive clarity/sharpness for enhancing specific facial features like eyes, nose, and lips.
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Export Sharpening: Before exporting an image, the article suggests applying a final round of sharpening specifically tailored for the intended output, whether it's for print or screen. The options include none, print, or screen, with different levels of sharpening (low, standard, high).
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Post-Processing Tools (Lightroom & Photoshop): The article emphasizes using Lightroom for the discussed workflow. However, it acknowledges the presence of similar sharpening filters in Photoshop for those who prefer that software.
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Premium Preset Collection: The author offers a premium preset collection for Lightroom, including various presets for color, black & white, and fine-tuning adjustments, including custom sharpening presets, to streamline and enhance the editing process.
For someone wanting to improve their image sharpening skills, this article serves as a comprehensive guide, detailing both the technical aspects within Lightroom and the artistic considerations for different types of photography, especially portraits shot with wide apertures.
The provided information seems to be from a photographer or photography enthusiast with a strong understanding of post-processing techniques, particularly in Lightroom, and a preference for a nuanced approach to sharpening rather than excessive use of tools like the clarity slider.
