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Author Topic: where is smart sharpening  (Read 36607 times)
redzuk
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« on: July 13, 2009, 11:54:43 PM »

I'm trying to print some out of camera jpegs in one quick step, just open in qimage and print, but i cant find the unsharp mask function.

Probably right in front of me but i cant find it anywhere.  I see "sharpen" plainly marked on the quick tutorial, but my interface is a bit different.

   Normally I:
1. process photo in gimp,
2. resize in irfranview,
3. copy resized file back to gimp and apply usm
4. save sharpened file,
5. open in qimage and print.

I was also looking for a way to copy and paste the sharpened file into qimage without saving it, if its possible to eliminate my step 4 above.

Thanks, Carl
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DdeGannes
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« Reply #1 on: July 14, 2009, 12:47:36 AM »

I do not know what you are referring to in "process photo in gimp" but certainly all the processes 2-4 can certainly be done more effectively, both in terms of quality and efficiency, in Qimage.
The main strength of Qimage is its ability to optimize the resize and sharpening functions, without altering your original file, and passing the optimized data to the specifications required by your specific printer.

The resulting print is maximized in terms of quality.

Select an image in the thumbs or image in the queue, right click and select "Create Associative filter" > full edit. The dialog box that comes up has all the magic that Qimage can do, the filters chosen will be applied to the file when it is being sent to the printer for printing. Your original file is left intact to adjust the filters if required in the future.
« Last Edit: July 14, 2009, 01:00:54 AM by DdeGannes » Logged

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redzuk
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« Reply #2 on: July 14, 2009, 02:31:37 AM »

"process photo in gimp"   I was referring to levels, white balance, saturation, etc., all those things you find when you click on "create associative filter".   Thanks for the quick reply, thats what i was searching for. 

Processed a photo real quick and its sharp, good colors, very nice except I somehow created a big smeared out smudge on the subject.  When I was done on the full edit page i just clicked done and printed, deleted the photo out of the editor, and the smudge remains.  I was glad you pointed out that the file remains intact, but how come that smudge doesnt go away? Its about the size of a nickle on a 4x6 print. Maybe i have to close qimage and reopen and it will be gone?  It hasnt effected the original file I'm looking at in the Lightstone viewer.

Also cropped the top off the subjects head, its an olympus 4/3's file cropping to a 4x6 print.  I dont find a quick easy way to move the photo around on the paper to crop.  Thats really why I started using irfanview instead of cropping in qimage in the first place.  Thanks for any help, i'm sure this software is powerful, but really i bought it two years ago and never use it, just not intuitive for me.

Carl
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Terry-M
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« Reply #3 on: July 14, 2009, 06:41:53 AM »

Quote
except I somehow created a big smeared out smudge on the subject.
It sounds as though you accidently used the "blemish" filter while using USM. See the attached screen snap (click on thumb to enlarge).
Notice the smudge I created and the fact that there's a dot in Blemish in the Auto Correct section. Blemishes are corrected by clicking and dragging to the right in the preview shown. Just un-dot "Blemish" and your smudge will disappear.
Quote
I dont find a quick easy way to move the photo around on the paper to crop.
use the Full Page editor and the crop tab. To open the FPE, click the right hand button (magnifier icon) under the page preview on the main screen. Select the crop tab. There you can move the crop around, zoom and for precise cropping, click the High Precision button (icon with magnifier & +).
Keep asking Carl, you'll find Qimage is all you need.
Terry.
« Last Edit: July 14, 2009, 06:44:25 AM by Terry-M » Logged
BrianPrice
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« Reply #4 on: July 14, 2009, 07:42:12 AM »

Carl
This is what I would suggest for your workflow:

1  Process photo in Gimp (if thats what you are used to it's best to stick with it) and save.
2  Open in QImage and print.
Use the full page editor and precision crop for cropping as Terry suggests and use the 'Sharpen' setting to match your photo.

Brian
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Fred A
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« Reply #5 on: July 14, 2009, 09:40:32 AM »

Quote
Carl
This is what I would suggest for your workflow:
Carl,
Apparently, you really don't have a satisfactory workflow. ... and as Seth and Terry pointed out, you are by-passing the quality of processing afforded by the proper use of Qimage.
The Unsharp Mask, for example is far superior to any other application's use of USM. Why? Because Qimage also has the Equalizer function to allow more control and better quality.
The interpolation (re-size) is best done in Qimage without any prior resizing or the original. Just tell Qimage what size print to make, the Hybrid or Hybrid SE interpolator will beat any app out there for quality prints. .... and that's why!
The print cropping is a cinch... it's all easy, but a person must put some effort into learning it and using it.
Use Gimp  since you are comfortable, but work at learning to use Qimage properly and you will never go back to anything other than Q again for processing and printing.
By the way, Smart Sharpening in another topic altogether. One quation at a time, and we will all try to help you get into the groove.
Fred
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Fred A
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« Reply #6 on: July 14, 2009, 09:49:15 AM »

Sorry, I meant Dennis and Terry.
Too early in the am for me. Smiley
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Terry-M
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« Reply #7 on: July 14, 2009, 10:17:41 AM »

Brian said:
Quote
Process photo in Gimp (if thats what you are used to it's best to stick with it) and save.
But Carl originally said
Quote
I'm trying to print some out of camera jpegs in one quick step, just open in qimage and print

Brian, I don't agree with you on this (in the nicest possible way  Wink). Saving in another application means over-writing the original or extra copies.
The non-destructive feature of Qimage adjustment filters is missed otherwise.
Hopefully Carl will take Fred's advice:
Quote
it's all easy, but a person must put some effort into learning it and using it.
and we can all help him to do that.  Grin
Terry.
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Seth
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« Reply #8 on: July 14, 2009, 12:16:03 PM »

Carl-

I agree with Terry as to:
Quote
It sounds as though you accidently used the "blemish" filter while using USM. See the attached screen snap (click on thumb to enlarge).
   It is SOOOOOO easy to get involved in that blemish mess when trying to just do unsharp mask.  (I quit doing it in QI!!)

BUT, if you are just trying to do "quick an dirty,"  I would do away wih all the other processing.  Let QI do the exposure and white balance, jump back out pick the size and turn up the smart sharpening.  Problem is, you do not see it in advance. 

BTW- You can even crop within the QI editor if you feel the need.  The beauty of this is it doesn't lose the original image (unless you want to); it is saved as part of the filter.

I learned my lesson from Mike a LONG time ago on re-sizing.  I let QI do it.  MUCH better quality interpolation. 

The only "re-size" I do in PS is opening in 16 or 32-bit, then saving my final PSD as 8-bit.
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Seth
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Fred A
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« Reply #9 on: July 14, 2009, 12:59:33 PM »

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It is SOOOOOO easy to get involved in that blemish mess when trying to just do unsharp mask.  (I quit doing it in QI!!)
I am always willing tol earn, but for the life of me, where does using the Unsharp Mask get tangled with the blemish tool???

Fred
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DdeGannes
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« Reply #10 on: July 14, 2009, 01:16:37 PM »


Quote" BUT, if you are just trying to do "quick an dirty,"  I would do away wih all the other processing.  Let QI do the exposure and white balance, jump back out pick the size and turn up the smart sharpening.  Problem is, you do not see it in advance." end Quote.

Will the soft proof feature show the print sharpening??
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Seth
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« Reply #11 on: July 14, 2009, 01:49:45 PM »

Boy, I don't know that one.  I don't use/trust soft proofing for looking at sharpening.  I don't feel monitors really show that aspect as it will appear on the print--all papers being different. 

I trust the smart sharpening so implicitly, I just print and look.

That being said, the only "quick-and-dirty" prints I make are proofs.  They are done on an Epson Picturemate using QI.  Then I hit the button, walk away and go do something else.
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Seth
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Terry-M
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« Reply #12 on: July 14, 2009, 02:41:14 PM »

Fred said:
Quote
where does using the Unsharp Mask get tangled with the blemish tool???
The only way I can think of is that a user assumes you can drag the image within the filter preview window. The text in the Window is clear enough as to what dragging left or right does.
Quote
It is SOOOOOO easy to get involved in that blemish mess
is an exaggeration I think  Wink

To move the view position, either RIGHT click in the preview away from the centre to move it, or on the main image, at the point you want to look at in preview. Remember you can zoom in and out (fixed settings) in that preview Window.
I say this so as Carl and other readers can make this a learning experience  Smiley

Quote
(I quit doing it in QI!!)
you are missing out on this excellent feature - even Outback Photo copied the Equaliser idea for a plugin.
Terry.


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Seth
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« Reply #13 on: July 14, 2009, 04:38:20 PM »

Hi Terry-

Quote
(I quit doing it in QI!!)
you are missing out on this excellent feature - even Outback Photo copied the Equaliser idea for a plugin.
  Wellllll, remember that Uwe is a programmer.  (We go back to before he became a book writer.)

Maybe I was misleading.  I do an initial USM when I first work images in PS or something else.  All DIT images need that (sharpening in the camera is not the best place--even in my  $5000 stuff).  It's the Brucer Fraser method that still works.

Any additional areas that need a punch up, without haloing, is done in PS because I can then revert and use the History Brush for just the areas where required.

Let me say that I do ALL of this anticipating what's coming down the line.  Less USM is more since I am constantly envisioning what Smart Sharpening will add.
(PS3 Smart Sharpen isn't very.)
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Seth
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redzuk
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« Reply #14 on: July 15, 2009, 05:13:31 AM »

Thanks for all the great help so far

I'm just shooting blind trying to use the USM function.  Preview window doesnt show the changes, I'm actually getting decent results anyway but how do you know whats happening without a preview?

The "sharpen" tab near the top of the full edit window does show the results in the preview window.  Is that whats known as "smart sharpening"?   

The rotate function in full page editor is great.  I used it to take a big crop off a small jpeg, taking a vertical slice out of a 4x6 file.  This is the first time i ever found an easy way to do this. I didnt really expect it to be printable and looking at the preview it looked terrible. But i clicked on the "HQ preview" and it looked good.  Print came out real soft but much better than expected.  Anyway, what is "HQ preview"?

Carl

 


   
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