Skip to main content
areohbee
Legend
June 20, 2011
Open for Voting

P: Focus mask / image sharpness

  • June 20, 2011
  • 45 replies
  • 4027 views

Like a topographical map, except instead of showing altitude, show sharpness/in-focus-ness.Would allow one to see at a glance where the focal plane lies, and how well focused is the photo at the focal plane (and everywhere else), and what is the depth of field.PhaseOne took a whack at this in CaptureOne. I think their implementation has some weaknesses: shows focal plane, but no indication of how well focused at the plane, and gives no sense of depth of field, but is still quite useful.See http://feedback.photoshop.com/photosh... for a related idea, that would go nicely with this one.If you like this idea, please remember to click the '+1' button below.

45 replies

Participating Frequently
December 12, 2017
When I was looking at capture1 as an alternative to lr ( due to performance) the focus mask was a great new tool. Loved it. They also have a "fill mask" feature.. you outline the mask and then do an area fill .

Example..u use spitcadjustmentvwith Autodesk and work around the subject's edges. Once done u then want the outline filled.
Inspiring
December 12, 2017


I downloaded a trial of Capture One Pro to have a look and found this great feature called "Focus Mask"
Issentially images are brought into Capture One, lets say 80 portrait images which you are trying to get down to the best ones.
The "Focus Mask" feature allows an overlay in say yellow to highlite the parts of the image that are in focus great say for portraits when you can see that maybe one eye is NOT in focus at this point you can mark the image as a delete.

link to the feature

https://blog.phaseone.com/find-the-best-focused-images-in-no-time/
Inspiring
October 31, 2017
This plugin do not work in the new version of LR Classic CC. Please update it 🙂 
Todd Shaner
Legend
October 30, 2017
I totally understand "It's not the same thing" and was only offering this as an expedient solution for culling and rating images with sharpness issues using the currently available tools. It was posted over six-years ago and still marked 'No Status.' Considering the recent LR roll-out changes I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for it to be implemented. Peace
 
Inspiring
October 30, 2017
Great Todd, but it's not the same thing. Being able to see the sharpest area of all images in the thumbnail view would drasticaly improve the filter speed of images. That way, at a glance, you see all images, not one by one.
Todd Shaner
Legend
October 30, 2017
LR Classic now offers the ability to use the raw file's embedded preview or sidecar JPEG that are immediately available for reviewing and culling images at 1:1 view in the Library module.  This should allow you to very quickly find, flag, and rate images that have motion blur and focus plane issues. This allows quick culling of images for composition (Fit view) AND quality (1:1 view) issues all in one-step. Normally this is performed as two separate passes. There's no need to create 1:1 previews until after you have applied develop settings.
Inspiring
October 30, 2017


I NEED a Tool in LR gallery module for selection/identification of unsharp photos so I dont have to waste my time doing this in compare view all the time
Known Participant
September 24, 2017


It would be great if Lightroom could generate a mask based upon what's
in focus in the image. The determined amount of what's considered in focus could be
determined by a slider. For example you may have a back-lit subject
where the subject is in focus (inside the depth of field) and the background blurred, and you only
want to brighten the subject. In generating a focus mask you could
then apply say exposure or shadows to just the masked area.
Known Participant
September 24, 2017

It would be great if lightroom could generate a mask based upon what's in focus in the image. The determined amount of what's in focus could be determined by a slider. For example you may have a backlit subject where the subject is in focus and the background blurred, and you only want to brighten the subject. In generating a "in focus" mask you could then apply say exposure or shadows to just the masked area.

johnrellis
Legend
September 24, 2017

This is primarily a user-to-user forum. If you want to influence Adobe, please add your me-too vote and detailed opinion to this feature request in the official Adobe feedback forum: Lightroom/Camera Raw: Sharpness topography (focus peaking, focus mask) | Photoshop Family Customer Community

fionngrosse
Known Participant
May 1, 2017
I take sometimes photos in dark situations without a flash. So I can't go faster... Yeah, good idea with the file size, but that is just a workaround and doesn't work in every situation I guess.

I hope Adobe implements a sharpness measuring tool!