It's a sad but undeniable fact of life: Whether you scan, shoot, or capture, the process of digitizing images introduces softness, and to get great-looking results, you'll need to sharpen the great majority of digital images. The softness introduced during digitizing results from the very nature of the digitizing process. To represent images digitally, we must transform them from continuous gradations of tone and color to points on a grid. In the process details gets "averaged" into the pixels, softening the overall appearance. For some types of printed output, further softness is introduced when the image pixels are converted to dots of ink or toner. As a result, just about every digital image requires sharpening. But another sad fact of digital photography is that most images are sharpened badly--either not enough, too much, or using the wrong methods--creating chunky details and harsh edges. Author, Bruce Fraser is here to teach readers all they need to know about sharpening including when to use it, why it's needed, how to use the camera's features, how to recognize an image needs sharpening, how much to use, what's bad sharpening and how to fix over sharpening. For more on Sharpening: http://www.creativepro.com/story/feature/11242.html
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From the Back Cover
It's a sad but undeniable fact of life: Whether you scan, shoot, or capture, the process of digitizing images introduces softness, and to get great-looking results, you'll need to sharpen the great majority of digital images. The softness introduced during digitizing results from the very nature of the digitizing process. To represent images digitally, we must transform them from continuous gradations of tone and color to points on a grid. In the process details gets "averaged" into the pixels, softening the overall appearance. For some types of printed output, further softness is introduced when the image pixels are converted to dots of ink or toner. As a result, just about every digital image requires sharpening. But another sad fact of digital photography is that most images are sharpened badly--either not enough, too much, or using the wrong methods--creating chunky details and harsh edges. Author, Bruce Fraser is here to teach readers all they need to know about sharpening including when to use it, why it's needed, how to use the camera's features, how to recognize an image needs sharpening, how much to use, what's bad sharpening and how to fix over sharpening. For more on Sharpening: http://www.creativepro.com/story/feature/11242.html
About the Author
Bruce Fraser is an internationally known author, consultant, and speaker on the topics of digital imaging and color reproduction. In addition to authoring Real World Camera Raw with Adobe Photoshop CS2 (ISBN 0-321-33409-4), he is a contributing editor for Macworld magazine and co-author of the best-selling books Real World Adobe Photoshop CS2 (ISBN 0-321-33411-6) and Real World Color Management, Second Edition (ISBN 0-321-26722-2).
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
54 of 55 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
There are plenty of books by Photoshop gurus that explain the software's tone and color controls and most users can usually master these functions if they make a serious effort. But one function that always seems rather inexact is the detail function, as exemplified by the sharpening tools. This still seems to be a rather hit or miss proposition, and there has long been a need for more detailed instruction on this function. Fraser takes the function on, and even if you don't agree with all his recommendations, this book should clarify what sharpening is about.
The book spends more time explaining how and why to sharpen than actually showing the reader how to sharpen pictures and that's as it should be since using the sharpening tools is relatively simple once you understand what is happening.
Fraser agrees with most experts that output sharpening should be the last thing you do to an image before you print or create a web page. However, he convincingly argues for sharpening in several passes for source and content before output sharpening. However to avoid the problems created by over-sharpening an image, he strictly controls source and content sharpening through the use of image masks in the earlier stages.
He also recognizes that dealing with digital noise before sharpening is critical to avoid actually enhancing the noise. He recommends doing this in the raw processing stage where possible, and recommends the use of plug-ins where noise is really serious.
Fraser's writing is clear and unambiguous. The first time he describes a procedure he includes all the steps involved. Fraser explains the use of smart sharpening, but generally dismisses this Photoshop tool in favor of unsharp mask. As a final chapter he includes a number of examples from media as different as a large format transparency and the scan of a print, with a list of steps. The book is profusely illustrated. In many cases we see that the recommended procedures make barely noticeable but positive changes.
The real test is whether the author's multi-pass approach to sharpening really works. I tried it on several pictures and all of them looked better with the multi-pass approach. On the other hand, a question arises as to whether the benefits to be derived from multi-pass processing are worth the effort. Even though Fraser provides you with instructions on created actions to accomplish these tasks, the effort may not always be worth it. On the other hand, for the gallery quality print it probably is worth while.
This book is not for the beginning Photoshop user, but rather for the experienced user. This is not only because Fraser assumes the reader knows how to use Photoshop tools like blending modes and masks, but also because the reader must have enough experience to know when and whether Fraser's recommendations should be adopted. But for the experienced user, I consider this book essential reading.
The book spends more time explaining how and why to sharpen than actually showing the reader how to sharpen pictures and that's as it should be since using the sharpening tools is relatively simple once you understand what is happening.
Fraser agrees with most experts that output sharpening should be the last thing you do to an image before you print or create a web page. However, he convincingly argues for sharpening in several passes for source and content before output sharpening. However to avoid the problems created by over-sharpening an image, he strictly controls source and content sharpening through the use of image masks in the earlier stages.
He also recognizes that dealing with digital noise before sharpening is critical to avoid actually enhancing the noise. He recommends doing this in the raw processing stage where possible, and recommends the use of plug-ins where noise is really serious.
Fraser's writing is clear and unambiguous. The first time he describes a procedure he includes all the steps involved. Fraser explains the use of smart sharpening, but generally dismisses this Photoshop tool in favor of unsharp mask. As a final chapter he includes a number of examples from media as different as a large format transparency and the scan of a print, with a list of steps. The book is profusely illustrated. In many cases we see that the recommended procedures make barely noticeable but positive changes.
The real test is whether the author's multi-pass approach to sharpening really works. I tried it on several pictures and all of them looked better with the multi-pass approach. On the other hand, a question arises as to whether the benefits to be derived from multi-pass processing are worth the effort. Even though Fraser provides you with instructions on created actions to accomplish these tasks, the effort may not always be worth it. On the other hand, for the gallery quality print it probably is worth while.
This book is not for the beginning Photoshop user, but rather for the experienced user. This is not only because Fraser assumes the reader knows how to use Photoshop tools like blending modes and masks, but also because the reader must have enough experience to know when and whether Fraser's recommendations should be adopted. But for the experienced user, I consider this book essential reading.
30 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book nicely compiles all of the information regarding multi-stage sharpening workflows Mr. Fraser has previously published in various articles over the years. If you've never read any of them, then this is a definite must buy. If you've read all of them, you won't find a lot of new information here aside from the highly welcome detailed explanation of CS2's Smart Sharpen filter. Adobe's own documentation has always been pretty ambiguous as to what all the little checkboxes and sliders do in the new dialog.
My main complaint about the book is the size of the images and quality of the paper used in its printing. It is often times impossible to see any difference whatsoever between two variations of a single image. I understand that many of the examples are meant to differ only subtly (the reader is certainly beaten over the head with this information enough times throughout the first few chapters), but it would make it a lot easier to see those subtle differences if the images were larger and printed on a heavier, glossier stock. My copy also suffered from a large number of printing boo-boos (looks like the ink wasn't drying and smeared all over the place) which is no doubt exacerbating the problem.
Overall, it's an excellent book, I just think the price is a little steep considering the quality and size of the product coupled with the fact that most of the information is available free of charge on the web. Please stop printing books about photography on such flimsy stock, Peachpit.
My main complaint about the book is the size of the images and quality of the paper used in its printing. It is often times impossible to see any difference whatsoever between two variations of a single image. I understand that many of the examples are meant to differ only subtly (the reader is certainly beaten over the head with this information enough times throughout the first few chapters), but it would make it a lot easier to see those subtle differences if the images were larger and printed on a heavier, glossier stock. My copy also suffered from a large number of printing boo-boos (looks like the ink wasn't drying and smeared all over the place) which is no doubt exacerbating the problem.
Overall, it's an excellent book, I just think the price is a little steep considering the quality and size of the product coupled with the fact that most of the information is available free of charge on the web. Please stop printing books about photography on such flimsy stock, Peachpit.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
As a photographer and owner of a photo-restoration business, this was a very important topic for me. I regularly get out of focus images to restore and often the basic sharpening methods in Photoshop simply aren't sufficient.
There is a lot of theory in the beginning of the book, which is good; helpful especially if you don't have a solid understanding of digital sharpening, but then comes the real meat. Fraser goes into many different ways to achieve the effects you need with detailed instruction. It's sometimes hard to see the changes in his photo illustrations, but trust him and try what he says. My copy is FULL of post-it tabs. Superb book for the professional.
There is a lot of theory in the beginning of the book, which is good; helpful especially if you don't have a solid understanding of digital sharpening, but then comes the real meat. Fraser goes into many different ways to achieve the effects you need with detailed instruction. It's sometimes hard to see the changes in his photo illustrations, but trust him and try what he says. My copy is FULL of post-it tabs. Superb book for the professional.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the most useful image-editing books in my library
Don't let the title throw you. At the time the book was published (early 2007), Photoshop CS2 was the current version of Photoshop, but the techniques and ideas presented in the... Read more
Published 11 months ago by J. Chambers
5.0 out of 5 stars
Most Effective Sharpening Technique I've ever used!
I bought this book about 6 months ago and it has become a "bible" of sharpening for me. I shot with 6mp and 8mp (now 10mp) dSLRS and had previously used a single pass of UnSharp... Read more
Published on June 2, 2008 by D. Weaver
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great sharpening resource
A excellent sharpening resource for professionals. Not as heavy as John Russ' books, but novice users may find this book a bit over their heads. Read more
Published on November 26, 2007 by Kenneth J. Hoerricks
5.0 out of 5 stars
This book boosted my knowledge and confidence
This book has taken the mystery out of image sharpening and has boosted my confidence regarding the end quality of my work. Read more
Published on August 9, 2007 by John Tucker
4.0 out of 5 stars
Somewhat outdated by ACR 4.1 but a worthwhile read on an important...
Despite appearances, this book is fairly slim and a quick read. Fraser's central tenets are multipass sharpening (to retain your output options plus fit with an automated approach)... Read more
Published on July 5, 2007 by Stephen Best
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb classic on sharpening
If you own Ansel Adam's classics "The Negative" and "The Print", then you'll want to read and own this digital classic on sharpening techniques. Read more
Published on February 21, 2007 by Chip
4.0 out of 5 stars
Will Improve Your Digital Output
This book is well written and understandable if you have a bit of technical expertise. Though I would have liked to seen a small section devoted to how to sharpen my work in the... Read more
Published on February 6, 2007 by R. Adler
5.0 out of 5 stars
All you want to know about image sharpening in CS2.
As with all of the Real World books, Real World Image Sharpening is a manual for the real world Photoshop user. Read more
Published on January 10, 2007 by Kirk A. Marschke
5.0 out of 5 stars
A different approach to sharpening digital images.
Have learned many digital image procedures from Mr. Fraser's books. Have tried and used a number of sharpening techniques, but have not been pleased with the results in general. Read more
Published on November 24, 2006 by W. Knight
3.0 out of 5 stars
Where Are the Sample Pictures?
This book is very well written and includes more than you probably ever want to know about sharpening digital images. Mr. Read more
Published on November 14, 2006 by Anonymous
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