Getting the most sharpness you can out of a picture.

[nathan_hoefert]

<p>So I am trying to figure out how you can make a portrait picture, kind of, make the person jump out of the picture. The person would seem to have sharper edges and when I try doing this in CS4, it doesn't seem any different. I am trying to get the effect that is taken in this photo. This is shot with a Nikon D300, can I still accomplish this quality from a Nikon D90?<br>

Thanks for any input everyone!<br>

<img src="http://i43.tinypic.com/8znorp.jpg" alt="" width="331" height="500" /></p>

[Matt Laur]

<p>In terms of image quality, especially sharpness, there's no difference between the D90 and the D300. The exception might be when it comes to autofocus performance when shooting things like sports. There is no difference between those two cameras that would make a bit of difference in a shot like the one above.<br /><br />Note: If that's not your image, you shouldn't be posting it here. Consider, instead, linking to the photo where you found it. Otherwise, you're reproducing it without permission.<br /><br />A lot of what you're seeing in scaled-down image like that is <em>selective</em> sharpening - using masks to apply the sharpening to just the edges you want to emphasis. The results will be much more noticeable if you've also shot in a way that keeps the background <em>out</em> of focus. <br /><br />There's something else very important about the example in question: he's back lit. Notice how edges like his shoulders, ears, and neck have light glancing from them? That helps to define those edges, and helps to add contrast that separates the subject from the background.<br /><br />See if you can find some other examples you like, and link to them from this thread (don't post them here). Besides ... that one has some very odd hue/saturation things happening in the top half of it. Ick!</p>

[Ed_Ingold]

<p>It sounds like you want to have the subject in sharp focus agains an out of focus background. The best way to accomplish this is not in Photoshop, but when taking the picture.</p>

<p>The usual method is to use a wide aperture and a long focal length lens. This does two things. It magnifies the background but limits its relative width and renders it out of focus. Secondly, the features of the subject become flattened, looking more like he is pasted on the background. This foreshortening effect is due to greater distance from the subject required by the longer lens.</p>

<p>A 300/2.8 lens is often used for fashion shots for this reason, making the model really pop against the background. I wonder if the D300 has a faster or longer lens than the D90. There is no reason one camera alone would work differently than the other.</p>

<p>You can emulate this action in Photoshop by masking the subject and selectively blurring the background. The effect can range from subtle to overcooked (hopefully on purpose).</p>

[markdeneen]

<p>Just casually, the photo displayed looks like a Photoshop composite - a picture made from two images. The left sleeve has a curious white outline.</p>

[Matt Laur]

<p>Nah, I think it's a single image ... just overly worked in post. That sleeve probably had the faintest hint of a glowing edge from the backlight, but the user's aggressive sharpening turned it - as USM so often does - into an edge with a visible border-like line.</p>

[patricklavoie]

<p>The left sleeve has a curious <strong>white outline =</strong> oversharped in post</p>

[mark_sirota1]

<p>I agree that this is a single image, backlit, oversharpened. And it wasn't taken with a long lens.</p>

[plasma181]

<p>Is anyone else bothered by the pink sky? </p>