Digital Photographer's Software Guide - Bertemes - Net

RAM: 128MB
Supported file formats: JPEG and TIFF
Price level: Approx. $25
Address: San Clemente, California
www.fredmiranda.com
Nik Sharpener Pro
Chapter 16 ■ Sharpening Software 201
Vendor: Nik Software
Purpose: Specialist tool that takes account of image content, intended media, and other variables
before sharpening
Description
Nik Sharpener Pro lets you sharpen 16-bit images without having to reduce them to 8
bits. It offers RAW pre-sharpening, followed by selective sharpening of specific areas,
using a Wacom tablet if necessary, at the “creative” stage. It takes particular account of
image detail and detail relationships; the intended print process, including resolution
of the output device and substrate type/characteristics; and viewing characteristics, including
intended display distance and the personal preferences of the artist creating the print.
Designed for professionals, Nik Sharpener Pro is substantially more expensive than some
of its rivals, with a choice of a complete edition for all media or a (mainly) inkjet edition
that also copes with Web and other electronic output. It has an easy-to-use interface,
with simple slider controls to adjust parameters at the output stage such as viewing distance,
paper type, and printer resolution.
Comments
Nik Sharpener Pro has been highly acclaimed in the photographic press. If you want to
avoid inappropriate sharpening, over-sharpening, or ineffective sharpening, this is a product
that can help. Developed by Nils Kokemohr (astrophysicist, painter, photographer,
and cellist), it has many users completely hooked, such is the improvement it makes to
the print quality of an image. The secret is in the fine-tuning, as Nik Sharpener Pro helps
you optimize the image by taking into account the capabilities of the output device.
Version: Nik Sharpener Pro 2.0 (2008)
Plugs into: Adobe Photoshop 4 and up, Photoshop Elements, Corel Paint Shop Pro and Painter,
Ulead PhotoImpact
OS: Windows 98 SE, ME, NT, 2000, XP, and Vista; Mac OS X 10.1.5 or later
RAM: 256MB recommended
Supported file formats: JPEG and TIFF
Price level: Approx. $400
Address: Nik Software, Inc., 7588 Metropolitan Drive, San Diego, CA 92108, United States
www.niksoftware.com