Nik’s Sharpener Pro 3.0 is designed to give you more control over sharpening your photos during post processing. Sharpener Pro 3.0 works as a plug in for Adobe Photoshop, Apple Aperture and other Photoshop compatible applications. In Photoshop, Sharpener Pro 3.0 will show up in your filters menu as a plug in and in Apple Aperture you access it through the Images menu. A new window appears with most of the controls on the right side of the screen. You have to scroll down to access all of the options.
You can set up to ten presets. Sharpener Pro 3.0 has both a RAW sharpener and an Output sharpener so you have more control over your sharpening. One of Sharpener Pro 3.0’s strengths is being able to specify your output method. If the method you use does not show up you can add it. You can use the creative sharpening menu determining the sharpening for the whole image or use the U Point technology control points to select a section of the photo you would like to sharpen.
Your sharpening can also be based on various color ranges you select. All three of the sharpening approaches are based on what the program refers to as Structure (s), Local Contrast (lc) and Focus(f). Structure controls and enhances along fine lines, edges and texture. Local Contrast controls the contrast on the fine lines and edges. Focus applies to areas that are out of focus and either increases or decreases the focus in those areas depending on how you set it. When working on your photos the main screen allows three views, fit to screen, 100% or 300%. The smaller window works as a loupe.
(More after the jump)
Loading the program was easy and it immediately showed up in Photoshop,
but it took a little getting use to exactly what each setting does. The
U Point control could be explained in more detail for those who have
never used it before but it becomes more intuitive once you understand
the basics. Initially regardless of how big an area I selected as
denoted by a circle in the photo above, the whole image seemed to be
affected, I did however check with Nik Software tech support which was
very friendly and helpful and the glitch I encountered seemed to be
due to using the beta version.
The above screen shows a circle and the area within the circle area
should be all that is sharpened. Along the right menu selections there
is actually a box that you can check and it will show in grayscale the
area that will be affected by your sharpening. It isn’t immediately
obvious that you have to slide through the menu on the right side,
which is one more step if you are using the U Point control point
technology. Making the “brush” selection at the bottom of the page
allows you to control various filters and exactly what area the filter
is applied using layers.
With so many different applications, be
aware that some features are only available in Adobe Photoshop or Apple
Aperture but not both. Using Sharpener Pro 3.0 as a Smart Filter is
available through Photoshop and the Multiple Image Control is available
when working in Apple Aperture. If you are the type of photographer
who enjoys total control over your post processing, I would recommend
you check out Nik’s Sharpener Pro 3.0. Once you get use to it, it will
become second nature. See the Nik Sotfware website for short clips on
some of the main features it offers.
—Melissa Macatee
Contributing Blogger
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