Sharpen Photo Smartly

What's the best time to sharpen your photos? And what's the best tool - Camera Raw, Photoshop's Smart Sharpen, or something else? These questions and more are answered in an excerpt from the upcoming book Photoshop CS2 RAW. "Most every RAW file requires some degree of sharpening to counter the blurring that occurs automatically at some stage of image capture or image processing. But when do you apply the sharpening? In Adobe Camera Raw, or later, in Photoshop CS2? The answer isn't as straightforward as you might think. The fact is, there are compelling reasons to apply some sharpening to your RAW file using Camera Raw. There are also compelling reasons to turn sharpening off in Camera Raw, wait until your RAW file is open in Photoshop CS2, and then apply sharpening via the new Smart Sharpen filter or one of the many third-party sharpening tools. It really depends on what you want: optimal workflow or ultimate flexibility and user control. This article will help you help you take your sharpening skills to the next level so you can produce the best possible image." Digital Photography How-To: The Pros and Cons of Lens Flare
Lens flare - whether it's in the form of bright streaks, random polygons, or an overall washed-out look - is a hazard when you're shooting photos near a bright light source. From the intro: "Lens flare is created when non-image-forming light enters the lens and subsequently hits the camera's film or digital sensor. This often appears as a characteristic polygonal shape, with sides that depend on the shape of the lens diaphragm. Lens flare can lower the overall contrast of a photograph significantly and is often an undesired artifact; however, some types of flare may actually enhance the artistic meaning of a photo. Understanding lens flare can help you use it - or avoid it - in a way that best suits how you wish to portray the final image."