The When & Why of Sharpening Images in Post

I’m sure that you’ve heard about, and possibly had some discussion, about “sharpening” digital images. Sharpening seems to be one of the most misunderstood aspects of fundamental editing. Let me define fundamental editing for you: Fundamental editing is the necessary steps that need to be applied to virtually every digital image file after they come out of the camera. Sharpening is one of those steps. However, if you don’t know what you’re doing, you can actually ruin a perfectly good shot in the sharpening step. Photo by [Erik Ogan]( This was a beautiful photograph that was ruined by over-sharpening. ➔ Over-sharpening created a “white line” along the horizon (an extremely obvious artifact) ➔ The sand along the ridgeline has become pixelated and unreal looking ➔ The ripples in the foreground have visible artifacts and noise that were introduced by over-sharpening. Here’s your quick tip - Always apply sharpening LAST while doing your fundamental edits. Other steps in the fundamental editing process increase visible sharpness - while not introducing the problems seen in the image above. - Always use a very light application of sharpening. How light? It really depends on the photograph. But consider this: if you’re only posting your image to the internet, most computer screens do not have high resolution, so they can’t resolve your image that highly anyway. Use very light sharpen settings. Also, if you intend to print your image, most photo labs apply sharpening through their own equipment. If you sharpen your image file, and then they sharpen it, you can end up with a really lousy looking print. If you’d like to learn exactly how to apply sharpening in your post-production workflow this weekend. [Go here to check out our premium guide “The Ultimate Guide to Fundamental Editing” now »]( Keep that creative fire burning 🔥 Cheers, Brett P.S – If you like my tips (and you want to say thanks) forward this email to a photographer pal. It's just 2 clicks, and it helps out a tonne! Did somebody forward this to you? Welcome! Previous tutorials [here](. Or subscribe & grab your free ebook library [here]( :)       [ Want to build your creative confidence? Try our super supportive [Weekly Photography Challenge Group](. It's a great place to share your work, get inspiration, and mingle with fellow photographers. [Join Now →]( (it's free!)]( [Search 1,000+ tutorials Search]( [Contact Us]( [Member Login]( [Shop Now]( [Free Cheat Sheets]( Thank you for supporting Photzy! We're so glad you're here. Our mission is to help you explore your creative side, through photography. As a small community-led team, email is a crucial way for us to keep in touch. We regularly send out free tutorials, photo tips, inspiration, and store discounts. Never want to hear from us again? Break our lil hearts and [unsubscribe](. Or tell us how we can improve [here](mailto:cservice@photzy.com?subject=Feedback%20on%20your%20email). [Made with ♥ at Level 2 11 York St Sydney Australia]( Copyright © 2012 – 2021 Photzy Pty Ltd.