LaserSoft Imaging

If you have a rather colorful or blurry image that you wish to sharpen, the best thing to do is to use Silverfast's LAB scan. Then, once in PhotoShop, go into the Lightness (L) channel and use the Unsharp mask to sharpen that channel. This will prevent any effects on the colors will produce a sharper image than you could get scanning into RGB or CMYK. After that, convert the image into RGB, CMYK, etc.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: ianders1 on 2001-09-04 22:00 ]</font>

As far as I know,you can achieve the same effect if you do the following.Scan into your desired working space(internal for example set to Adobe RGB).Then use unsharp masking in Photoshop.Then fade unsharp mask with the mode set to luminosity.
Stefan

Another incredible, and lesser known technique for sharpening is shown here:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/high- ... pening.htm

Ian,
Your High Pass sharpening technique was worth the price of admission alone. Thanks. This will come in handy and save me lots of time. For the rest of you: If you haven't tried it, go do it now.
Thanks again,
Joe

Ian, High Pass. Just brilliant. Do you need a job?
Only joking I could not afford you.

Do those of you who use LAB and High Pass sharpening in Photoshop avoid altogether any form of sharpening via the SilverFast scanner software?

I ask because I would assume that the scanner software will sharpen both colour and lightness.

Eric Lawrie

Erik,

Unless your scanner is producing blurry scans, yes, turn sharpening off in Silverfast. I do find on some slightly out of focus photos, I'll turn on some light sharpening, though.

I'd try it with the sharpening off, and see what kind of results you get with LAB and high pass sharpening.

Also,

If people out there don't already know, if you work in CMYK, using the Unsharp mask on the black (K) channel also works very well.

-Ian

Just to clear up a few things, Silverfast apparently uses LAB sharpening when it scans, but I posted these techniques, because I've never had much luck using Silverfast's own sharpening functions. Also, I don't always like to do global sharpening.

Another thing, there are two Ians on this forum, and I see there's starting to be some confusion. I'm not the digital imaging genius from N. Ireland with the great website. I'm merely a freelancer from Atlanta, GA, who happens to use Silverfast frequently for a wide variety of projects.

Thanks,

Ian A.