Sharpening Enlarged Prints

My question is, is there a formula, or technique used to sharpen when preparing a file for large print. I know how to sharpen for the web. My images posted here that are sharpened for the web, are sharper to my eye than the file at it's native size. All that I do for full sized files is apply USM. I have read members postings about specific sharpening for printing. I just don't know what those techniqes are. I don't have my own printer, so I will be outsourcing my printing. In the past, I just provided the files with my normal PP, and USM applied. I want to be able to provide the best quality possible under these circumstances. Is there more I can and should be doing? Any advice is highly appreciated.

Thanks,
Chris

Chris,

There's no real recipe, but like many other controls there are some steps that will get you 80% of the way there. You'll still need to tweak the last 20% depending on the specific characteristics of the image.

The most comprehensive processes have 3 steps and you can apply one, two, or all three, depending on the image:

1. Capture sharpening: this is usually used to remove softness resulting from anti-aliasing filters or other capture-related "fuzziness". It is usually very subtle.
2. Creative sharpening: this helps enhance local contrast and better-define detail before the final enlargement
3. Output sharpening: applied to the file at its final output size and after all adjustments are done

You can get commercial packages that will automate much of these (like Nik Sharpener), but there are also some excellent free/shareware scripts, like the TLR Professional Sharpening Toolkit:

http://thelightsright.com/TLRProfessionalSharpeningToolkit.htm

Guy

One advantage of using an application like the TLR toolkit (which is what I use) is that your sharpening steps will be on layers. This means that you can use masking to selectively sharpen the image. No reason to sharpen the sky or other areas with little or no detail, right?

Also, your images sharpened for prints will usually look a bit 'crunchy' (oversharpened) on your monitor. This is intentional, as laying ink down on paper itself slightly softens an image, so your prints should look just fine.

I very highly recommend downloading the 300 page PDF file called 'Sharpening Your Photographs' available at the link that Guy provided.

Let me be the third to advocate for the TLR toolkit and the comprehensive (300 page) treatise on sharpening techniques. Be warned; however, that you've opened a can of worms and you will need time and perseverance to fully explore this topic.

Thanks guys. It seems like maybe a bit more than I was bargaining for. But I'll give it a try. My goal is to produce the best images and prints that I can.

Thanks,
Chris