Canon 30D CSpro™ plugin - Custom Sharpen Pro

The Canon 30D CSpro Plugin is a new sharpening technology specific designed to accommodate Canon 30D SLR files. This plugin is compatible with JPEG files straight from the camera or TIFF/JPEG files converted from RAW files.

Although 30D 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 and CS2. When using Photoshop Elements 1, 2 and 3, Photoshop 6.0 or 7.0, it will only work with 8-bit files.

The Canon 30D CSpro Plugin is compatible with Photoshop Elements 1, 2 and 3, Photoshop 5.5, Photoshop 6.0, 7.0, Photoshop CS and CS2. (Not yet compatible with Phtotoshop Elements 4.0)

PC Version Inteface shown below:

 

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

Canon 30D CSpro plugin interface:
Full instructions included in the Canon 30D CSpro User Manual PDF file. New with Canon 30D CSpro is the ability to work with layered files. Previous CSpro plugins only worked with flattened files (files without layers).
Due to numerous requests we were able to overcome this limitation and are now able to run the plugin while keeping layers intact. After the plugin runs, the resulting image will be added to your file as a new layer.

Settings: Canon 30D CSpro allows photographers to save and load their own custom settings. You will be able to create as many settings as desired to ease your workflow. In the example below, you can see that I have saved settings for landscape, portrait, Epson 2200 printing, Lab printing, etc...

 

Image Type options: The 30D CSpro plugin works with most common file extensions including 8-bit TIFF and JPEG files. Under Photoshop CS and CS2, it will work with both 8-bit or 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 30D ISO 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 30D)

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 30D 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, 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.

When moving the Intensity Tweak slider to choose the perfect sharpening strength, make sure to view your photograph at 100% magnification. Inspecting your images at the actual pixel magnification is always the best way to edit your files.

This can be accomplished by either using the Control+Alt+0 shortcut or by using the plugin's Image Zoom.

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Below is an example comparing a RAW file with no sharpening as camera parameter against a basic USM setting and the CSpro plugin series.
No Sharpening

Typical Photoshop's USM (Unsharp mask)

CSpro plugin

Notice the accentuated halo effect from the Photoshop's USM setting compared to the CSpro result. Also pay attention to the amount of noise created by USM. The 30D CSpro does not increase noise or artifact and sharpens only what needs to be sharpened.

It's worth noting that 30D CSpro can be used with any type of images, from portraits, landscape, still-life and especially with HIGH ISO files. It sharpens your 30D files without adding noise or artifacts.