D2X RAW sharpening question

[bmeeks]

I've just purchased a Nikon D2X; I've previously used a D1X and with those RAW files have been using PK Sharpener religiously since it was introduced. I'm spoiled by this software and RARELY use any other kind of sharpening (save for the quick and dirty preview images for a client).

Here's my problem: Using the "high res" Capture sharpen on the D2X files, the software appears to be sharpening TOO much! And when I go to use the creative sharpener (medium edge II, because I mostly shoot editorial of people) the files REALLY start to look crunchy.

Am I doing something wrong? I know what's on the screen (I have an Apple Cinema LCD monitor that's been profiled) isn't supposed to be representative (sharpness wise) of the end result, but I never saw files this crunchy with the PK software on D1X files.

Any comments, suggestions?

Thanks

[bmeeks]

Oh, c'mon! Where are all the Pixel Genius guys!?

One of the biggest selling points in getting this software was such ready access to the guys that developed it.

What's the deal, guys? Someone should have an answer here!

[alfin]

bmeeks,
Maybe the genius guys think you should start using the adjustment possibilities built into the plug-in. Lower the light and dark contour layers opacity from 66% to 50% or more, adjust the group layer opacity down from 100% while watching the crunchiness disappear from your image and if that is not enough, use the Capture Sharpener Expert with levels adjustment to control exactly what is being sharpened in your image. For the creative sharpener brushes, number 2 has more sharpening effect than number 1? You find it all well explained in the user manual. Hope this helps.

[Bruce Fraser]

I've been on the road since Thursday, sorry.

Suggestions in order.

1.) Don't be overly swayed by the on-screen appearance until you've taken the image through the whole workflow to output.

2.) If the output is crunchy, be more cautious with the creative sharpeners.

3.) Still crunchy? Take the light contour down to 50% from the default 66%.

4.) Still crunchy? Send the file to me at bruce@pixelgenius.com, or let me know where I can download it.

[bmeeks]

I've been on the road since Thursday, sorry.

Suggestions in order.

1.) Don't be overly swayed by the on-screen appearance until you've taken the image through the whole workflow to output.

2.) If the output is crunchy, be more cautious with the creative sharpeners.

3.) Still crunchy? Take the light contour down to 50% from the default 66%.

4.) Still crunchy? Send the file to me at bruce@pixelgenius.com, or let me know where I can download it.

OK, perhaps I did jump the gun and get a bit testy (thanks, Lars for the answer and the ever so gentle reminder to RTFM).

It's true, Bruce, that I haven't taken the D2X image all the way to print; I was just tuning up some initial images to display on the web; however, my workflow for posting images on the web is nearly indentical to those images being processed for print work, right up until I resize for the web and apply the proper output sharpener.

Of course one of the huge advantage of PK Sharpener is it's flexibility and I should know better than to gripe before exploiting that flexibility... I just thought perhaps I was doing something wrong. I guess the work flow changes with the improved RAW files and I just have to find that sweet spot.

If it still doesn't get there, I'll take you up on that offer and send you a file.

Thanks again, to both Bruce and Lars.

[rhkdiver]

Check out this thread as I aske the same questions a while back....

http://forums.pixelgenius.com/showthread.php?t=648&highlight=Klein

[bmeeks]

Thanks for the pointer to the previous thread, very helpful.