Clarity

Being quite familiar with the clarity function in raw, adding that soft option to your photos, something comes to mind. Is there a way to adjust clarity in the same way under photoshop elements.

Comon guys....no ideas out there?????

I'm not really sure what you mean.

The clarity slider in PSE ACR adds "punch" to your picture.

Nor me!

Unless the OP is asking if there's a similar adjustment in PSE *after* you've opened the image. But I have no idea what he means by 'soft option'.

I think people are usually very willing to answer questions, but if the question isn't clear, it's not easy to answer.

[quote="Gwyn"]
The clarity slider in PSE ACR adds "punch" to your picture.[/quote]Does anyone know what it actually does, though?

Visually, it seems to make it look a little clearer - but not actually sharper. In fact I can sometimes get a sharper image eventually if I reduce the Clarity setting to less then 0, and then bring the contrast and sharpness up after opening the image up.

So I'd guess it's some manipulation of contrast, but quite what it does (or why it needs a separate control for it), I don't understand at all.

I read the question as 'does anyone know if there is a way within elements to soften a picture, (say) when taking portraits when this might provide a more pleasing result, to an otherwise 'sharp' image. Although I could be wrong, and I don't know if this is possible within elements either.

When you open a raw file in elements there is a clarity slider third from the bottom before you go into the main editing programme.

Once you go into the PSE editor it is possible to soften a photo, but afaik not in PSE ACR - Clarity is set to 0 and can only make things clearer - hence the name .

My pictures are normally soft anyway so I have never needed it

mine too .

Clarity, Vibrance and Saturation are all sliders with +/- 100 available in the ACR that comes with CS5. Also Elements 9 I think, though I haven't installed that on the new 'puter yet, so can't confirm..

Just checked my Elements 9 (again) and yes it is +/-

Try looking under the "Quick" edit menu it may be in there.

I haven't used it lately so I couldn't remember.

Makes the OP's question seem even odder though.

Sorry guys, I havent made myself very clear at all. I do apologise. I thought i would bring up a subject that other people would be interested in, but instead.... Basically what the questions is, in photoshop elements 8 you can reduce the clarity setting when opening a RAW file, to soften images for portraits and typical wedding shots that are so popular, however if you have taken a shot in JPEG and want to achieve the same results how would you go by doing so. Does that make sense to anyone

Well you could open it in ACR and play with the clarity.
Not near my PSE at the me to try and remember how to do it in the editor but there are several ways.

One which springs to mind is a duplicate layer, Gaussian blur and change of blending mode and/or opacity.