Capture nx-d - Best practice for sharpening?

[paul_b]

Hi, i'm having a go with the new Capture nx-d, and loving it.

I was wondering what the best practice for sharpening is? I've noticed there's an unsharp mask tool. I've never come across a tool exactly like it, but i imagine it's similar to Lightroom's sharpening tool (but with masks too)? Is it the tool to use for sharpening? I've also noticed there's a sharpening slider in the 'picture control' tool too, which brings me on to my question: Which method is the one to use, the unsharp mask method or the picture control method for sharpening (& why)? If the picture control tool already applies some sharpening automatically, does any more need to be applied anyway?

Any tips on using them would be great too.

Many thanks.

 

[paul_b]

Further thinking: As there are 2 ways (that i have found so far) for sharpening in NX-D (unsharp mask and also sharpening in the picture control tool), can they be used together or if one is being used then the other shouldnt?

 

[paul_b]

Anybody? lol

 

[RocketCowboy]

Capture NX-D is beta software, right? There might not be many people using it for their daily workflow to have best practices yet.

 

[mikew_RIP]

Didnt i read that if you use the beta version your work will not open in the completed program

 

[paul_b]

I think the same question would apply equally to Capture NX-2 too. As they both use the same tools.

 

[Marcel]

You can use both "unsharp" and "picture control" sharpening independently. I think the picture control is more like the "clarity" slider in LR and the unsharp is just that. I suspect (since I'm not a fan of the Nikon software and am not using it regularly) that with the unsharp, if you use it too strong you'd end up with a white line around the contrasted areas. So, basically, all sharpening tools should be used cautiously.

 

[paul_b]

Thanks for replies