Rob Cole wrote:

 

Other sharpening methods are more about separating and/or exagerating micro-tonal variations (the art of illusion...)..., where-as deconvolution is about constructing a more accurate image from a less accurate (convoluted) collection of data.

Yes, Rob.  Let me add a summary to my above description:

Deconvolution Summary:

What happens at each pixel on a camera's sensor when you snap the shot is a convolution (a rolling together) of light that belongs on that pixel and bits from neighboring pixels that don't actually belong there.  Deconvolution sharpening is an attempt to unroll (deconvolve) those elements in each pixel that don't belong there and put them back into the pixels to which they properly belong.

In short, deconvolution sharpening is an attempt, under reasonable assumptions, to infer from what's actually there what ought to be there.

grampus45

Andrew_Hart wrote:

 

Thank you very much grampus45.

 

Your explanation of deconvolution sharpening is beautifully put and it is much more helpful and concise than anything I could find on Wikepedia.

You're most welcome Andrew.  It's alway fun for me to try to make a messy subject unmessy -- and it's always possible.

With this new understanding of what is supposed to be happening with deconvolution sharpening, I am utterly amazed, and just a little incredulous, that Adobe is able to say that they can achieve this with the simple positioning of the Detail slider. 

I quite agree, and I second Jeff's comments below: the ACR/LR teams are super and have provided us with excellent tools.  I thank them with all my heart.

I would, however, still love a good answers to my original questions (there are two of them) about that Detail slider.  What shaprening method is being employed when the Detail slider is at 0?  and in what sense is there maximal halo suppression at that setting?  MadManChan (Eric, ma'love): are you there?