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Nik Software's Sharpener Pro for Aperture
Last week Nik Software announced a new Edit plugin for Aperture called Sharpener Pro. I have spent the past week testing this plugin and I have one thing to say--get it!
This plugin is by far one of the most advanced tools for sharpening your images that I have ever seen. It really works as advertised--taking the guesswork out of sharpening your images. So how does this all work? Well, I had a chance to speak with one of the Nik Software product managers this week and here is what I found out.
First of all, the plugin is actually two plugins. There is the RAW Pre-sharpener and the regular Output sharpener. When you download and install for Aperture you will see both listed in the “Edit with” menu. The RAW Pre-sharpener is designed for those of us who are the real sticklers when it comes to sharpening our images. These are the photographers who turn off all in camera sharpening and do everything by hand in Aperture or Photoshop. Nik Software’s RAW Pre-sharpener takes the original RAW data and allows you to perform your own subtle sharpening before doing any other work to your image. Once you have done your pre-sharpening, you can then go about editing your image and use the Output Sharpener tool at the end before making your print.
However, for most of us, we will likely only need to worry about our output sharpening. This is one area where Nik’s Sharpener Pro really shines. From what we talked about on the phone it seems that most photographers do their sharpening in a visual way. In other words, they sharpen their images based on what they see on the screen. This is probably one of the worst ways to sharpen your images, unless of course your intended output is a computer display.
Sharpener Pro comes packed with a number of presets that allow you to specify your exact output configuration. It then adjusts the level of sharpening based on these settings. Instead of applying sharpening based on what we see on screen and then adjusting after a test print, Sharpener Pro takes your output device configuration into account and adds the right amount of sharpening the first time.
In addition to a great set of custom output presets, Sharpener Pro comes with Nik Software’s popular U-Point technology. You can use control points to apply sharpening locally to any area in the image that you choose. This can be very useful when you are trying to highlight a subject, soften a portrait, or maintain the background bokeh that your wide aperture lens is so good at producing.
This plugin looks and feels like all of Nik Software’s Aperture plugins. It has a clean interface, an easy to use toolset and a very robust set of features. The plugin for Aperture sells for $199 on their website and is available as a 15 day free trial download.
If you are in to making lots of prints, you should really give this thing a try. Sharpener Pro has taken image sharpening to the next level!
I have to agree with the author - get this. The price is very high, but I have no regrets at all spending my money on this plug-in. It is a big upgrade from the built in edge sharpener in Aperture!
Hakan
www.hakanaldrin.com
Frankly I was skeptical of this plugin. Just as I was for Silver Efex. After all there are so many different tools that are already included in other software. But this one has made me a believer as well.
I endorse using nik plugins for nearly everyone who needs to process large numbers of files or simply demands very high quality editing. They have save me a ton of time and this new Sharpener Pro 3.0 is the same. They are pricey, but they do give you a great deal of value.
will this give me D700 .nef compatibility w/ Aperture at the same time?
I've used Nik Sharpener Pro with Photoshop since it first shipped many years ago. I'm a definite believer in Nik Sharpener! But I'd like to hear more about Nik's RAW presharpener.
In Aperture, how does it integrate with the other Aperture "bricks"? Is Aperture simply doing the RAW conversion then exporting a .TIFF to the plugin, so the plugin doesn't actually see the RAW data?
Also, how does Nik's RAW presharpener compare with the sharpening that's available in Aperture's RAW Fine Tuning 2.0?
I don't suppose that you'd be in a position to compare and contrast the Nik sharpening software to the Pixel Genius sharpening software?
I've been using that quite a bit lately, and I'd be reluctant to spend another $200 on a tool that I already have.
Granted, it would be inserted at a different point in the flow, but still....
In the interests of disclosure, did you (a) buy this plug-in, (b) try the demo version, or (c) review a copy which was provided to you free for review purposes?
Any review should, IMO, disclose this as it helps to reader assess the writers point-of-view better (especially when the Nik plug-ins are far from cheap and someone is enthused enough to say, "Buy this!")
Thanks,
Jay
Nik Sharpener Pro has been around for many years and is the gold standard for professional sharpening. It does a better job than Pixel Genius (sorry Martin, I spent a lot of time making comparisons) and is more than worth the money.
When I first purchased it, it cost around $450 for PS and it has never caused a moment of regret.
If you are making prints or outputting for magazines or Ads, this is the tool for you.
Nick.
Jay,
Good point... I should make full disclosure... I have only downloaded the free trial at this point.
I suppose I should clarify my "get it" statement by saying... "If you make lots of prints... and you have the money to spare... get it"
-m
What A price! It does appear to be very good however.
But, as Apple do not yet support my D700, and have not done so in the 10.5.5 update, there is little or no point in thinking about this or indeed any other new Plugin!
I am really annoyed at Apple has not provided support in this OS Update!! Far too slow!!
Is this plug-in for Photoshop AND Aperture, or will it only work for one application?
That is, frankly, a silly idea. I am going to make a print, and apply the sharpening suggested by a software with no idea of what the image is, in terms of quality or content. Obviously not. I'm going to look at it on the screen and make a judgement on how sharp it should look for my favourite output device.
@Jezzah33: What makes you think the pixels on your screen relate in anyway to the ink droplets on your printer? Aside from their relative colors to one another they are in fact dramatically different. The truth is, you CAN'T make the visual comparison when it comes to something like sharpening. Color matching is one thing, but specular highlights and noise are quite another. The whole point of this type of software is to take out the guesswork that you are doing and rely on some very tested and complex mathematics to figure out the best level of sharpening for your intended output device.
-m