8.17. SharpeningThe Sharpen command (see Figure 8-13) seems awfully tempting. Could technology really solve the problem of blurry, out-of-focus photos? Um, no. Instead, the Sharpen tool that now appears in iPhoto works by subtly increasing the contrast among pixels in your photo, which seems to enhance the crispness of the image. In pro circles, applying a soup §on of sharpening to a photo is a regular part of the routine. In iPhoto, move the Sharpen slider to the right to increase the sharpness, or to the left to soften the look.
Now, lest you think otherwise , too much sharpening can also ruin a photo, since, eventually, the pixels become grainy and weird-looking. Fortunately, Apple has mostly protected you from this sort of disaster by keeping both the effects and the side effects of the Sharpen control to a minimum. You can help matters by moving the slider in small increments . Generally speaking, sharpening should be the last Adjust-panel adjustment you make to the picture. If you apply other corrections after sharpening, you may discover that you have to return and sharpen again. Also, keep in mind that softening (or unsharpening) can be effective for portraits that are "too sharp," or for landscapes where you want to create a more dreamy effect. Sometimes applying just a little softening will smooth out skin tones and take the edge off the overall appearance of the portrait. |