Professional Technical Guide —Images—
Table of Contents Sharpening and Softening Images............................................................................. 3 Step 1: Make Quick Edits Using “Quick Sharp”............................................................................. 3 Step 2: Fine-Tune “Sharpening”, “Mid-Range Sharpening”, and “Clarity”.................................. 4 “Sharpening”, “Mid-Range Sharpening”, and “Clarity”................................................................ 7 Capture NX‑D.......................
Sharpening and Softening Images Adjusting the Quick sharp Picture Control setting is a quick way of making pictures sharper or softer. Image definition can be further fine-tuned using Sharpening, Mid-range sharpening, or Clarity.
Sharpening and Softening Images, Continued Step 2: Fine-Tune “Sharpening”, “Mid-Range Sharpening”, and “Clarity” After using Quick sharp to obtain the desired overall look, you can finetune the results using Sharpening and its sisters. The examples below show how to soften the complexions of portrait subjects while leaving their eyes clearly visible. The recommended settings for images destined for printing vary with output size.
Sharpening and Softening Images, Continued Adjusting Sharpening Settings for A3 Output Quick Sharp: −2 Sharpening −0.5 Mid-range sharpening −1 Clarity −1 Adjusted Settings Sharpening 2 Mid-range sharpening 1 Clarity −1 Sharpening and Midrange sharpening have been increased so that the eyes are clearly defined, while Clarity has been left at −1 to keep the complexion smooth. Choosing positive values for Sharpening and Mid-range sharpening ensures that the eyes remain sharp.
Sharpening and Softening Images, Continued Adjusting Sharpening Settings for A1 Output Quick Sharp: −2 Sharpening −0.5 Mid-range sharpening −1 Clarity −1 Adjusted Settings Sharpening 3 Mid-range sharpening −1 Clarity −1 Sharpening has been raised to 3 so that the eyes are clearly defined, while Midrange sharpening and Clarity have been set to −1 to keep the complexion smooth. Sharpening has been set to a high positive value to ensure that the eyes are clearly defined.
Sharpening and Softening Images, Continued “Sharpening”, “Mid-Range Sharpening”, and “Clarity” Sharpening, Mid-range sharpening, and Clarity each apply to different areas of the image. In the picture shown here, for example, Sharpening can be employed in fine-tuning the appearance of eyelashes and other fine details, while Clarity is best used to make the subject stand out from the background.
Sharpening and Softening Images, Continued When images are printed, the visibility of each adjustment varies with the output size. ●● Sharpening: This parameter controls the sharpness of details and outlines and can be adjusted in the range −3 to +9. Its effects are most visible when images are output at larger sizes, equivalent to A1 (approximately 0.5 m2/5.4 sq. ft).
Sharpening and Softening Images, Continued Capture NX‑D As of January 2019, the only cameras with Quick sharp and Mid-range sharpening are the Z 7 and Z 6. Capture NX‑D versions 1.5.1 and later, however, offer these parameters with all NEF (RAW) images, regardless of the camera used to create them.
Keeping Pictures Sharp at Small Apertures Enabling Diffraction compensation in the photo shooting menu helps reduce loss of definition caused by diffraction in pictures taken at small apertures (high f/-numbers). Diffraction Compensation While the effects of diffraction may still be visible in landscapes and in other pictures taken with aperture stopped all the way down, enabling Diffraction compensation lets you shoot at small apertures without worrying too much about loss of definition.
