How Much sharpening is TOO MUCH?

[@TheArcSet]

Thanks for this. Very clearly conveyed.

[@Needacreate]

This is a particularly instructive and lucid discussion of sharpening, with a handy focus on the common problem of oversharpening. Coming from Robin, I didn't expect it to be anything less.

[@RobinWhalley]

Thank you. I'm glad that you liked it.

[@kirklaws-chapman7281]

Helpful and clear as usual, Robin. For creative sharpening on landscapes I often use James Ritson’s suggested method of using a grouped stack of High Pass filters, with the filter radius setting increasing through the stack. As you note, with all sharpening methods there isn’t a definitive set of values to use, but I generally start with a stack of 3, 5 and 15 pixels (a lower value set may work better for lower amounts of sharpening) and check with both Overlay and Soft Light blending. Fine tuning can be done by turning of fthe highest radius adjustment, examining the result for the effect and tweaking, etc., etc. Often a two layer stack is sufficient. The results are pleasingly smooth, I find and a much better explanation with demonstration can be found in James’ video on the subjuct in the Affinity Photo channel.

[@sounderdavis5446]

Very helpful, Robin! Very challenging issue for many of us. Software now can push sharpness very high, and at first, many think, wow, that looks so much better! (while more skilled editors say, no it doesn't!). I'm a work in progress in this area, but I have learned to watch for and avoid the halos, and also, if adding creative sharpening at all, to apply it to limited elements in an image where I want the viewer eye to go, not overall. A video on your preferred ways to handle slightly missed focus would also be helpful.

[@steven3557]

Thank you, and I will look into this on my software. But, most of the time my photos are damn sharp. Is this a different thing than coming from the camera? I shoot with sigma dp Quattros, almost having to desharpen.