Hey all,
I've jsut started using the Nik Software Shaprner plugin for CS4.
I am trying to get the output for print sharpening right. I have selected the relevant parameters (continuous tone printer, 300DPI, viewing distance etc)
Now if I just want default global output sharpening, do I leave the "creative sharpening settings at their default? (Strength: 100%....)
Also I am a bit confused by the sharpening softproof view. When I go into softproof view mode, the image looks even more oversharpened than what it does in the normal view mode. I though the soft proof is meant to give a rough idea of what the print will look like?
I know that an image sharpened for print will generally look oversharp on a monitor, so should I just leave everything at default and hope for the best?
The lab I am using isn't being very helpful- I sent 5 images through all with various strengths of sharpening - but now they said they'll charge me an extra $12.50 just to look at these five and tell me which one looks the best. I didn't want to pay $25 courier charge just for 5 test prints so I was hoping they could just tell me over the phone which print looked sharpest -then I could just see what setting I used for that image and batch process the rest and send them through in bulk.
Do you guys generally do a batch output sharpening before you send off to print, or do you do it on a per image basis and perhaps use the brush / mask etc to skip sharpening on some areas all together (blank skies, skin etc)
Thanks for your help!
I have attached 2 screen captures to illustrate my problem understanding the "softproof". First capture is in normal view mode, second with softproof turn on.