sharpening before or after adding grain?

[markbeckelman]

I'm working on a composite that I want to add an overall layer of grain to (specifically Photokit grain 400). My initial thought is to do my output sharpening first, and then add the grain (so I don't sharpen that).

Any suggestions?

Mark Beckelman

[Bruce Fraser]

The way we designed it expects you to add the grain, then do the output sharpen. But we aren't so naive that we expect the tools to be used as designed. If you're willing to try it both ways I'd be interested in learning about the results.

[markbeckelman]

Bruce -- I created two files:
- sharpened first, then added the grain
- added grain, then sharpened

When just viewing them side by side on screen (at 100%), the grain is certainly clumpier when sharpening is the last step (which I expected) -- but when viewing the final prints, they were virtually identical (which I did not expect).

Mark Beckelman

[Bruce Fraser]

Thanks for doing that. It's what I expected, but it's always good to get confirmation!

[Jeff Schewe]

Which confirms the very read and very difficult problem people have when using computer displays to predict the effect of noise and sharpening. At this stage, there simply is no accurate way of using anything with a resolution of 72ppi (or even 96ppi) to predict what the textural information will look like when printed.

Looking at 100% (or 1 image pixel for each display pixel) will always incorrectly show what happens when images are printed using higher resolution output. Which is one of the big reasons Bruce suggests actually going all the way to a print to accurately evaluate the effects such as sharpening and the effects of grain.

Wish it wasn't so. Wish we COULD use a display for this, but alas, until displays get to be a -LOT- higher resolution, all we'll really be able to use the display is a general loose interpretation.