

I spent much time manually adjusting each tool for optimal results apart from Topaz Sharpen AI. Of the modes offered by Focalblade, this is the most sophisticated and always yields good results. I presented it with an unsharpened TIF of this image and performed a two stage sharpening process – Capture and Creative. It is a very good tool with a wealth of options. Luminar 4 and Photo Ninja provide Detail adjustment and sharpening.įocalblade is a Photoshop plugin and a standalone application. It contains Camera/Lens profiles that compensate for lens edge and corner softness.

DXO Photo Lab has always had a unique feature. The other tools I tested range from having a bewildering set of options (Focalblade) to automatic settings (NIK Define). It’s not scientific, but often provides good enough results.
TOPAZ MASK AI ALTERNATIVE TRIAL
That is fine for a handful of images, but impractical for large sets of images.Īdjusting the settings until it yields good results can be a lengthy process of trial and error, so many photographers have their favourite settings and stick with those. If you spend more time, then creating a layer with a layer mask can provide a greater level of control over the sharpening process. USM is global – it sharpens the whole picture, although its settings build a mask that targets edges and leaves flat areas alone. The main challenge with sharpening a good image is to not introduce unwanted artefacts – halos and noise. Photographers have used USM (Unsharp Mask), the standard Photoshop/Affinity Photo sharpening method, for years and with good results. In theory at least, sharpening an in-focus image is fairly straightforward. Sharpen AI has three sharpening modes: Sharpen, Focus and Blur.
