Posted by Jasper Doest on November 9, 2007 at 6:09 AM
talked to my stock agency yesterday and now I'm a bit confused. I use an 8MP DSLR and have used a 6MP DSLR in the past. Since my agent wants the files at 5200px at the longest side at 300dpi I will have to interpolate my files.
They suggested me to interpolate using the alogrithms of my RAW converter as these are better than the ones in PS. On the other hand they suggested me to use a slight amount of sharpening in PS. But this leaves me with the idea that I'll have to sharpen AFTER interpolation. I always used PKsharpener...and thought that the input-sharpener should always be used at your native camera resolution. So one of the questions would be....IF you sharpen after interpolation, what technique would you use? So know I really don't know what to do.... here's a couple of options:
- interpolate and sharpen during RAW conversion, which will increase the noise levels as I don't have any control on the sharpening.
- interpolate during RAW conversion, sharpen in PS...but now I'm sharpening AFTER interpolation...which doesn't seem right to me.
- sharpen in PS, interpolate in PS....although the alogrithms of a RAW converter are visibly better (I tested it this morning).
So....what would be the best option? I hope you're willing to help me out. Perhaps you have another thing I could try....all ideas are more than welcome.
In general sharpening should always be done after interpolation. Input/capture sharpening is only meant to address the softness introduced by the camera's anti-aliasing filter. I would suggest importing to PS, running input sharpening at very light settings, then interpolate the file using Bicubic Smoother, and apply very light output sharpening (assuming someone will ultimately need to interpolate/sharpen again for whatever output they have in mind).
I find it very strange that your agent prefers interpolated files to native resolution. In effect they are likely reducing the quality of their product as a result.
Guy
Posted by Jasper Doest on November 9, 2007 at 8:41 AM
Thanks for the reply Guy....we're on the same level here.
Nowadays 3-way sharpening is the standard...and if I would interpolate directly in my RAW software I wouldn't know when to apply my "capture sharpening" step. I would say I'd have to do that BEFORE the upscaling process...but that would mean I would have to do it during my RAW conversion. And that way I would use control over the first sharpening step and that would increase the noise levels quite a bit.
My agent (which is part of Minden Pictures which is one of the largest agents in nature photography) still wants their images on this high interpolated resolution though. I think I'll just stick with my old technique....like you mentioned...that way I can keep my non-interpolated images in my files.
Discussion
2 repliesThey suggested me to interpolate using the alogrithms of my RAW converter as these are better than the ones in PS. On the other hand they suggested me to use a slight amount of sharpening in PS. But this leaves me with the idea that I'll have to sharpen AFTER interpolation. I always used PKsharpener...and thought that the input-sharpener should always be used at your native camera resolution. So one of the questions would be....IF you sharpen after interpolation, what technique would you use? So know I really don't know what to do.... here's a couple of options:
- interpolate and sharpen during RAW conversion, which will increase the noise levels as I don't have any control on the sharpening.
- interpolate during RAW conversion, sharpen in PS...but now I'm sharpening AFTER interpolation...which doesn't seem right to me.
- sharpen in PS, interpolate in PS....although the alogrithms of a RAW converter are visibly better (I tested it this morning).
So....what would be the best option? I hope you're willing to help me out. Perhaps you have another thing I could try....all ideas are more than welcome.
Cheers!
I find it very strange that your agent prefers interpolated files to native resolution. In effect they are likely reducing the quality of their product as a result.
Guy
Nowadays 3-way sharpening is the standard...and if I would interpolate directly in my RAW software I wouldn't know when to apply my "capture sharpening" step. I would say I'd have to do that BEFORE the upscaling process...but that would mean I would have to do it during my RAW conversion. And that way I would use control over the first sharpening step and that would increase the noise levels quite a bit.
My agent (which is part of Minden Pictures which is one of the largest agents in nature photography) still wants their images on this high interpolated resolution though. I think I'll just stick with my old technique....like you mentioned...that way I can keep my non-interpolated images in my files.