How to determine it's sharp enough?

**kat** · 10-27-2010, 01:04 PM

One shoots in RAW, how do you know you have a sharp enough photo? How do you go about it? What signs do you look for?

**Wicked Dark** · 10-27-2010, 01:42 PM

I do and I'm picky. If unsharpened it looks OOF or blurred I pass it by. Unless it's on purpose, you know what I mean. If it's a landscape without much detail that needs to be extra sharp for the eye, I do little or nothing. If it's a close up, or has a close up element to it I'll sharpen slightly...not above 50 in LR3. Usually I also change the radius to 1.5 as well. If it's a macro shot that relies on sharp focus to work, I'll go further, but it's an individual thing that hinges on the image being in focus to begin with. Noise reduction goes with, but again, usually not above 50 on the slider. I find that most web sites including flickr apply their own 'sharpen for web'. The export process itself also applies some sharpening when converting to .jpg.

**asnow** · 10-27-2010, 02:00 PM

Don't know it this is true but I heard this once. Please correct me if I am wrong.

If you are printing ... then sharpen to the way you like it on the screen then sharpen a bit more. The print will require a bit more sharpening.

**IceCreamMan** · 10-29-2010, 02:36 AM

I often wonder this as well. I enjoy working with a photo in LR3, but play quite a bit with the sharpening. Sometimes I will forgo sharpening all together, whereas sometimes I bump it to 50. I seem to vary based on the photo, with no rhyme or reason except what I believe looks good. Perhaps someone else has insight into this...

**kat** · 10-29-2010, 01:47 PM

Thanks for the responses so far. I just wonder how it's suppose to look? What looks right? lol..don't know if that makes sense at all..

**Wicked Dark** · 10-29-2010, 02:48 PM

well if I judge from your photos, I think you do know.

**kat** · 10-29-2010, 02:59 PM

It's when I get them printed I'm finding many don't seem sharp..or some that have that noise to it but I don't see it in the photo on my screen. I'm not to sure if what I look for is right..?