A challenge for those who are keen

[kamion]

Hi guys,
Here's a challenge I have for you who are keen on photo manipulation.

This is the photo. A badly taken photo. There's camera shake (as evident in the lettering on the map) and the main subject, the bowl of fruits, is out of focus.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y136/KamionCTR/Misc/IMG_0109_small.jpg

What can you do to remove the visible camera shake on the map and make the bowl of fruits a bit sharper? Please tell us how you do it.

The CR2 file can be found here:
http://www.savefile.com/files3.php?fid=8905985

[stepheno]

Couldn't resist - although the file was very slow to download even on 1mb dsl. Anyway couldn't see much wrong with levels and curves so all I have done is USM, twice.

http://www.oboyle.plus.com/tpf/fruit.JPG

regards

[praxis]

So what is USM?

[stepheno]

USM = UnSharpMask. I know it sounds contradictory but it's a process, originally used in printing, for sharpening soft images . You'll find it under filters in PS. HTH.

regards

[praxis]

Thought so! thanks!

[KenCo]

And a link to an article in the tutorial section.
http://thephotographyforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1740

[kamion]

so using USM twice (what values did you use?), would reduce the "halo" effect from appearing?
Anyone know how to use the PS CS2 smart sharpen "handshake" filter?

[kamion]

edit: Oops repeat posting! Sorry!

[stepheno]

IF I remember rightly the settings were quite strong. I think I had something like 150/4.5/2 with reduced settings for the second pass. I would use similar settings for SmartSharpen with Gaussian Blur selected. There are gurus on sharpening around here and Ken's link is a good place to start.

regards