Sharpening applied twice?

[Ruahrc]

So one thing I haven't really figured out yet is sharpening. I know there are two places that I can sharpen my photos. First, from the develop module. Second, output sharpening.

So here's the question: if I apply some sharpening to my photos upon import or when I edit them up, and then apply output sharpening on export, is that too much?

Example: say I have a 3'''x24'' photo that I import into LR. Coming straight from the camera it needs some sharpening, so I apply the "sharpen for landscapes" preset. I then decide I like this image, and want to print it. Luckily (or planned ), I export the image at 1''% size and get a perfect 8x1' @ 3''ppi. When I export it as a jpg, should I apply additional output sharpening? This is essentially sharpening the image twice, and will it be too much?

Example 2: Say I have the same image as above, sharpened in the develop module. This time I only want to export it for web viewing at 1'''x8''. I should apply output sharpening here, since I'm reducing the image, but should I remove the develop module sharpening? Does it not matter? I feel like there is slight saturation loss when sharpening, and so if I didn't sharpen the image in the develop module, I might keep a little more color. But will the picture not be as sharp, as a result of not having sharpened it in the develop module?

Curious to know what your experience(s) with this are, and how you manage it in your workflow.

Norman

 

[Brad Snyder]

Are you familiar with the multipass sharpening theory, most frequently referred back to Bruce Frasier? Here:

1) Digital capture is inherently a tradeoff between noisy and soft. Most manufacturers opt for soft (at capture, they address it in software later). Lr's rendering engine is designed to compensate for this, that's what the default Develop mode sharpening settings are designed to address, at least in a general way.
2) Creative sharpening, the artist in you wants 'this part' sharp and 'that part' soft. Lr takes a step in that direction with sharpness and clarity settings in the local adjustments.
3) Output sharpening: Lr's philosophy is that this is strictly an alogrithmic matter based directly on the output device(taking size, resolution, etc. into account) and rendering
intent.

Ask a hundred different people and get 1'' different answers. Just do it to please your self. The only advice I have is that I've frequently read that many people tend to overdo the step 1 capture sharpening. So that a nice sharp image in Develop view, may be too sharp in the end.

I generally go with the default, or perhaps just a bit more on amount. Detail and masking are more image specific, depending on textures vs. noise. Then I just go with the flow on output sharpening. Creative sharpening, I tend to try to manage with DOF. I have tried to occasionally fake some DOF blur with the local adjustments to dilute a distraction.