how to imitate "smart sharpening" of PSCS2 in CS?

is there any such thing? if so, how exactly one should do?

Buy FocusMagic.

This MIGHT work:

 

Sharpen a layer to the degree you want for you highlights.

 

Sharpen a layer to the degree you want for you mids.

 

Sharpen a layer to the degree you want for you shadows.

 

Use the 'blending' in each layer to properly/decently combine the 3 layers.

 

Definitely not as good, but it was sort of how I did it before CS2.

 

Shawn

Try 'Resize magic' http://www.fsoft.it/imaging/en/default.htm

Also, Detail Enhancer in Optipix. Free trial version downloadable from www.reindeergraphics.com.

 

But, if you already have CS, why not upgrade to CS2- it's worth it...

Before CS2 I used the following sharpening proceedure:

 

1. Convert the image type to 'Lab Color' in Image/Mode/Lab Color

 

2. In Channels select 'Lightness', i.e. the b/w part of the image.

 

3. In Filters/Sharpen/Unsharp select the amount of sharpening you think is OK (not too much).

 

4. Reselect the image mode you had been using (Note the colour will be reinstated).

 

I don't know if this is how 'Smart Sharpen' works but this method certainly did a good job for me.

Smart sharpen is a deconvolver, and there's really no way to imitate it by merely adjusting local contrast.