[Recovered Thread: 57224]

[tommysdad]

Besides all the other adjustments ,brightness ,saturation etc .I started using these 2 methods along with the norm,
and my pics seem to really stand out.

Local Contrast Enhance using photoshop ( this is my favourite )
----------------------------------------------------
Filter>Sharpen>Unsharp Mask....add the following values

Amount 20%

Radius 50%

Threshold 0

You can check / uncheck the preview box to see the results,then press ok.



Light Haze Removal
---------------------------
I found this to work well on landscapes or hazy days,again using the unsharpmask filter

Filter>Sharpen>UnsharpMask....add these values

Amount 20%

Radius 30%

Threshold 4

For stronger haze removal .......
-----------------------------------------
Amount 20%

Radius 60

Threshold 4

again you can check the preview box to compare.The haze removal is slight,but every littlehelps to get that clearer picture.

Hope this helps someone.

TommysDad

[kashka]

Thanks for the tips,TD..I only have infraview right now..maybe there is something similar in it..lol...I am still pretty green.The Gimp,which I understood was close to PSP had settings like that I think but I had to delete it as it kept freezing up:sad:
lisa

[DGehman]

Kashka -

If you mean Irfanview, you can do sharpening, but not with any fine tuning. There is only one value that you can change ina range from 1 to 99. Possibly the deverloper (Irfan Skiljan) has explained somewhere what this does. Thedefault setting of 30 is not terrifically aggressive, unless you apply it twice.

This function is under Image > Sharpen. To set the value, go to Image > Effects > Effects Browser and click on Sharpen.

Irfanview can also use some Photoshop, Filter Factory, and Filters Unlimitedplug-ins. However,Photoshop and other plug-in-ableimage editors already have unsharp mask built in, and I can't find any free filters that do unsharp mask...

Dave

[kashka]

Dave...yep that is the program..and I have been using that sharpen option on occasion..but I didn't realize you could do it twice.I am going to have to check with my engineers at work next week..they sometimes get some nice programs for their provisioning..I may have to nag them abit and "borrow" them.A couple years ago they had Corel which I "borrowed",I'll have to check what they have now.Thanks again for the advice..
lisa

[Robstreats]

Three other freeware programs worth lookingin at are:-

PhotoFiltre - http://www.photofiltre.com/
Paint.net - http://www.eecs.wsu.edu/paint.net/
Picasa - http://www.picasa.com/index.php

Obviously not as comprehensive as photoshop, but more facilities & options than many.

[kashka]

Thanks Robstreats..I have two of the three you mentioned.Will check out the third.I had The Gimp(which I can liked the best)..but I guess my dinosaur OS wasn't happy with it..lol
lisa

[tommysdad]

I have used the Picassa program before ,it has lots of features and an auto enhance trick.Its worth checking out ,and best of all its the right price...Free!!

TD