Results: (Saved as .jpg 90% compression)


Raw (Too Soft)
Schewe Method (Best Method)

Based on my subjective opinion, the Schewe Method, while taking the longest is the best way because you have the most control and precision. A close second is Ultra-Sharpen 5 Pro which allows automated selective sharpening, but only allows one level of sharpening. This is much faster than the Schewe Method, though. My recommendation is to use the Schewe Method for your most important projects, and Ultra-Sharpen for everything else if you've got $25 and just plain old PhotoShop Unsharp Masking otherwise. Save your money on Nik Sharpener Pro - the worst method of all. Below is a table listing my opinion of the various methods.

Method
Avg. Time (m:s)
Effectiveness
 Artifacts? Destructive Price
Silverfast Sharpening
0:25
yes* yes free
PhotoShop Unsharp Masking
0:10
yes* yes** free
PhotoShop "Hard Light" Sharpen
0:45
no no free
nik Sharpener Pro!
0:30
yes yes** $329.95
Ultra-Sharpen 5 Pro
0:45
no no $20
Jeff Schewe Method
3:00+
no no free
* If you use these tools conservatively, you will not get any sharpening artifacts
** If applied to a separate layer, these are not destructive

Results: (Other Methods)
In order from best to worst(based on my subjective opinion)


Schewe Method (Best Method)
Ultra-Sharpen 5 Pro (Very Good - slight halo artifacts around nostrils and lashes, pupils not as sharp)
PhotoShop Unsharp Masking (Good, but halo artifacts around pupils)
Silverfast Unsharp Masking (Good, but not sharp enough)

PhotoShop Hard Light Method (Still too blurry)
Nik Sharpener Pro! (To harsh - too much noise)



Questions or Comments