Im having an issue with sharpness.

[danielryan]

Ok on my camera i have a mode called sharpness right now its on normal, there are three modes Low, Normal, and High. I took a pic without flash but with some window lighting.

Here it is.
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1QaeONJFDvva0mZrqMakq0qXM6r7wK_thumb.png (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1QaeONJFDvva0mZrqMakq0qXM6r7wK)


The edited but but not fully edited pic.
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1kNzB5X5QRUqDeJf6LNkSPpzjPOW_thumb.png (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1kNzB5X5QRUqDeJf6LNkSPpzjPOW)


Do you see on the 2nd pic how on the side of the face and around the eye its grainy? I guess my question is how can you make it clear? Sould I change the sharpness mode to low on my camera? Or is the lighting?
I might have more questions but these are the ones that are in my head right now. Sorry if this doesnt make sense, I tend to make questions not make sense at times.

[dj_paige]

Lightening an area that was originally dark can cause the appearance of grain. This is why most experts recommend you get the exposure correct in the camera, rather than fixing it afterward. By the way, grain is different than sharpness.

[Juergen D]

Should I change the sharpness mode to low on my camera? Or is the lighting?
It's the lighting. You have tried to lighten very dark shadows. That process will introduce noise. It has nothing to do with the sharpness, even though the image is somewhat out of focus.

There are filters in PSE or plug-ins that will help you reduce the noise.

Juergen

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/11j88xYOqfuSjwbWyTHy3pHeXOFlNq_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=11j88xYOqfuSjwbWyTHy3pHeXOFlNq)

[jhzich]

Something that I've been using lately to deal with noise, and I like the way it's working is to do the following:

Select the area in question
Go to Filters>Blur>Surface Blur

Does a great job for me...see how it works for you.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1wpdh3i9laGMwFRhiMHV9IScMCwA4_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1wpdh3i9laGMwFRhiMHV9IScMCwA4)

[danielryan]

Wow you guys edited my pic great how did you guys lighten it like that? It looks so natural.

[nu2scene]

I think you have a few things going on in those shots. First off the original pic is very dark. You under exposed it. Like was stated above, when you have an under exposed shot, and you lighten it in elements, you will increase the noise(grain). Especially if you are using a P&S camera with a small sensor. Those cameras usually have more noise to begin with, even with a good exposure. But when you increase the brightness, it makes it very noticeable.

The next thing is your focus. I don't know where you're focusing, but it doesn't seem to be on the face. It might just be that the camera is too close. At a certain point all cameras will not be able to focus properly if you are too close.

The next thing seems to be motion blur. It almost looks like you did not hold the camera steady. And if you took the pic one handed, the odds are high that the camera moved when you took the picture.

[danielryan]

I think you have a few things going on in those shots. First off the original pic is very dark. You under exposed it. Like was stated above, when you have an under exposed shot, and you lighten it in elements, you will increase the noise(grain). Especially if you are using a P&S camera with a small sensor. Those cameras usually have more noise to begin with, even with a good exposure. But when you increase the brightness, it makes it very noticeable.

The next thing is your focus. I don't know where you're focusing, but it doesn't seem to be on the face. It might just be that the camera is too close. At a certain point all cameras will not be able to focus properly if you are too close.

The next thing seems to be motion blur. It almost looks like you did not hold the camera steady. And if you took the pic one handed, the odds are high that the camera moved when you took the picture.

Yeah the reason why it was dark was because I didnt use flash, i thought I had enough light in the room, but I guess I didnt. I was trying to focus on my face but I also wanted to get the arm a bit too. And I wanted it to be a close up shot so I had my camera mode to Self portrait. And yes maybe the camera did move.What can help it not shake? Some people said try using a tripod.

[nu2scene]

Yes a tripod would be great. But if you don't have one, you could improvise a bit. Set the camera on a counter or table or table or something like that. Most cameras have a delay mode on them. Either 5 or 10 secs or something. Use that, it will give you time to push the shutter, and then run in front of the camera before the camera takes the pic. You'll probably have to take a few shots to figure out the alignment, but there won't be much shake.

Another thing, see if your camera has a histogram function. If it does, use it, it will help you with exposure a LOT.

[danielryan]

Another thing, see if your camera has a histogram function. If it does, use it, it will help you with exposure a LOT.


Do you think that will be in my settings? I have this camera.
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1IWwo8X8fgX63vOUtxsmcQvVRHbl6q1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1IWwo8X8fgX63vOUtxsmcQvVRHbl6q1)

I dont know if that camera will have a function like that.

[Juergen D]

Wow you guys edited my pic great how did you guys lighten it like that? It looks so natural.
I opened the image in Camera Raw and adjusted the exposure.

Juergen