Capture sharpening for scanned image

[Bernard]

Despite all that has been said on the subject, I am still confused as to when apply capture sharpening, especially since most discussions pertained to images acquired with DSLRs, whereas I am working with scanned slides (with a Nikon Coolscan IV).

Should I apply capture sharpening immediately after opening the scanned 16-bit TIFF file, or should I make the major tone corrections first (levels and curves on adjustment layers)?

[Jeff Schewe]

You should always do any -MAJOR- tone correction -BEFORE- sharpening for the reason that setting black & white points can alter and destroy extreme highlight or shadow information if you sharpened before the tone work. Minor tone and color twaeking is another thing entirely. . .minor work is something you can do after sharpening.

[Bernard]

Jeff, thanks for your reply. So which corrections would you consider as "major"? I work from a scan, and do all the work in PS (nothing in the NikonScan software except ICE and tagging with "Nikon wide RGB" profile). This seems quite different from someone using a file from an SLR, largely processed in Adobe Camera row.

Bernard