Have you ever wondered how space agencies like NASA achieve those incredibly detailed and crisp astrophotos? The truth is, the raw images straight out of telescopes don’t look nearly as impressive. A significant part of the post-processing magic involves sharpening (among other things).
In this video, Unmesh Dinda of PiXimperfect introduces you to the APFR Photoshop plugin, a tool that allows you to sharpen your photos with the same technology NASA uses. Sounds tempting, right? He explores its functionalities, how it compares to built-in Photoshop features, and its overall value for photographers.
The plugin offers a user-friendly interface with a “preview” function that lets you see the sharpening effect live. You can adjust the radius to control the intensity of the sharpening and choose from various rendering methods to achieve the desired look.
While the APFR plugin excels in sharpening astrophotography images, Unmesh demonstrates its effectiveness with portraits and landscapes as well. The plugin’s ability to sharpen details without creating unwanted halos around edges makes it a valuable tool for portrait photography. You can even combine it with subtle smart sharpening for an extra edge.
Landscapes benefit from the plugin, too. It can enhance details and add depth, bringing out the textures and intricacies of the scene. So, it’s not only limited to astrophotography, which is good news for us who shoot other genres.
Unmesh points out that APFR’s sharpening effects can be replaced by Camera Raw and Smart Sharpen, if you don’t want to spend money on the plugin. However, he highlights that it has some advantages over manual sharpening:
Accuracy: The plugin delivers a more precise sharpening process with minimal halos.
Control: APFR offers a wider range of adjustment options, including radius control and various rendering methods.
Ease of use: The user-friendly interface makes it simpler to achieve professional-looking results compared to manual methods.
So, is APFR worth it?
Unmesh concludes the video by addressing the value of the APFR plugin. First of all, it costs $50, and offers access to advanced sharpening technology used by space agencies. According to Unmesh, it’s a bargain for a tool this powerful. As mentioned, manual sharpening techniques using Camera Raw and Smart Sharpen are viable options, but they lack the control and accuracy of APFR.
But not everyone might need it. Astrophotographers and any other photographers who want exceptional detail and depth in their images will find the plugin particularly useful.
Overall, Unmesh approves of the APFR, and considers it a powerful tool to achieve professional-grade results. The final verdict is that it’s worth it, and I suggest you watch the video for demonstration and see if it’s worth your money.
[NASA’s Photoshop Tool for Sharpening: Any Good? | PiXimperfect]
