Canon 1D Mark II CSpro™ plugin - Custom Sharpen Pro

The 1D Mark II CSpro Plugin is a new sharpening technology specific designed to accommodate Canon 1D Mark II SLR files. This plugin is compatible with JPEG files straight from the camera or TIFF/JPEG files converted from RAW files.
Although 1D Mark II CSpro's interface appears simple and intuitive, complexity makes this plugin very smart: It provides everything from haloless sharpening, edgesharpening, luminance sharpening, mode sharpening, and more with just the press of a button. With this plugin you can choose from low or high ISO settings. Other options allow you to sharpen fine detail. There are pre-designed intensity levels, and options to reduce color noise from high ISO files. You can even create your own sharpening settings, preview settings and tweak intensity results.

*This plugin will work with 8-bit and 16-bit files when using Photoshop CS. When using Photoshop Elements 1 and 2, Photoshop 6.0 or 7.0, it will only work with 8-bit files.

The Canon 1D Mark II CSpro Plugin is compatible with Photoshop Elements 1 and 2, Photoshop 6.0, 7.0 and Photoshop CS.

 

PC Version Inteface:

 

Mac Version Inteface:

NOTE: PC and MAC FM plugins are offered as separate packages. Make sure to download the correct one for your operation system.

 

After agreeing to the license agreement "EULA", the installer will automatically detect compatible versions of Photoshop installed on your system

 

Learning the 1D Mark II CSpro plugin interface:
Full instructions included in the Canon 1D Mark II CSpro User Manual PDF file

Image Type options: The 1D Mark II CSpro plugin works with most common file extensions including 8-bit TIFF and JPEG files. Under Photoshop CS, it will work with both 8-bit and 16-bit files. Under "Image Type", you will be able to select from "Low ISO File" or "High ISO File".

  • Low ISO File: This option should be used with clean files. It was tested with 1D Mark II ISO 50, 100, 200 and 400 images. It works best with your landscape and studio work.
  • High ISO File: This option should be used with "grainy" files. (ISO 800 and up). It also works best with portrait work. (It's not recommended to combine "Sharpen fine detail" with this setting).

 

Sharpening Level: You have the option of choosing from Level 1 to Level 5. (Level 3 is the default sharpening intensity.)

 

 

Level 1 provides the lightest custom sharpening effect and Level 5 the highest. If more strength is desired, you could always run the plugin again. For example: Run Level 5 followed by another run of Level 1. (However, this is NOT recommended for optimal results since the pre-selected intensities were carefully designed for the 1D Mark II.)

After choosing your desired sharpening intensity, you will be able to "preview" the results on your original file by clicking on the Apply button. When you finish running the plugin you will see the results of the selected intensity. At that point you also have an option to tweak the intensity of the sharpening effect by decreasing from 100 to 0. (Zero will be the original state of the image before applying the plugin and 100 is the result after applying the plugin -- so you have all of the options in between to work with). For example, if you would like to see half of the sharpening effect, move the "Intensity Tweak" slider from 100 to 50 and you will be able to preview the tweaked results on your file.

If you desire to experiment with different intensities, click on Undo and your file will be brought to the original state. Otherwise, click on the OK button if you are happy with the results.

Sharpen fine detail (slower): This setting can be used with any Intensity level and will sharpen very fine detail in your images. However, it will make the plugin run slower (especially with 16-bit files), but is recommended when maximum sharpening is desired. It works great with landscape images but it's not recommended to be combined with the "High ISO File" setting.

Halo Settings: The default halo setting is "Normal Halo" and it's the best compromise between detail sharpening and halo size. Under "Normal Halo", the plugin will already provide minimal halo around high contrast areas and therefore it's my recommended setting. However, if you would like to tweak this setting and sacrifice some sharpening for an even smaller or non-existent halo, select "Low Halo" or even the 0% halo option.

 

 

Reduce color noise: Check this setting if you desire to reduce color noise from your files during sharpening. This setting is recommended when editing High ISO files but can be used with Low ISO files as well.

"Reduce color noise" is included with this custom sharpening plugin because in some cases it will improve the sharpening results.

 

Levels and sharpening Tweak option: The Levels and sharpening Tweak option is for advanced users only. It provides photographers with the flexibility to fine tune a pre-selected 1D Mark II CSpro intensity.

 

Intensity Tweak slider: The Intensity tweak slider is a powerful and flexible option included with this plugin.

 

As mentioned earlier, after selecting any intensity level and clicking on the Apply button, the Intensity Tweak slider will be available to tweak the results you see on screen. As you move the slider from 100 (default) to your desired level, you will see the results changing on your image.

You may choose from 100 to 0 within the selected intensity level. The intensity you choose will bring you closer to the desired effect works best with your files.
Example: When clicking on the Apply button to preview level 4 (High), you will be able to move the Intensity Tweak slider from 100 down to 50 ---by doing that, half of the level four sharpening effect will be applied and shown on your image.

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Below is an example comparing a 1D Mark II RAW file with no sharpening as camera parameter against a basic USM setting and the new Canon 1D Mark II CSpro plugin.
1D Mark II file (no sharpening parameter)

Photoshop's USM (Unsharp mask)

Canon 1D Mark II CSpro plugin

Notice the accentuated halo effect from the Photoshop's USM setting compared to the 1D Mark II CSpro result. Also pay attention to the amount of noise created by USM. The 1D Mark II CSpro does not increase noise or artifact and sharpens only what needs to be sharpened.

It's worth noting that 1D Mark II CSpro can be used with any type of images, from portraits, landscape, still-life and especially with HIGH ISO files. It sharpens your 1D Mark II files without adding noise or artifacts.

Purchase the Canon 1D Mark II CSpro plugin:

PC version | MAC version