MicrostockGroup

I have a question about the "Clarify" adjustment in camera raw. 

Do y'll think it may cause artifacting?

I like the effect it creates and tend to use it quite a bit.  But I've been wondering lately if maybe I shouldn't use it as much as I do.  My monitor is not the greatest, and I have a hard time seeing the artifacts that reviewers see.  I also have a hard time picking out the examples of artifacting that have been posted on this forum.  Therefore I'm kinda in the dark, so to speak, on this so I'm hoping some of you can help me.

Is clarify accessible in PSE 5??

to my knowledge (and I havent gone into it a lot) it is unsharp mask with clarify is amount, radius is somewhere around 80 and threshold 0 and it has the equivalent of the blend if sliders in photoshop set so that it reduces in strength in the dark and light areas.  So by that thinking it would introduce artifacts but if it makes your image look better and they are being accepted then its good

My experience is different, with the 'kit' L lens, and even more with my 100-400 IS, sadly.

@ ShadySue:

Weird.  I am using the L "kit" lens too with crazy-sharp results.  

Is it possible you got a camera with a front or back focus issue?  

Spending that kind of money you should not have to put up with inferior results.  Might be worth sending to Canon service and having the lenses and camera checked out and maybe calibrated...

Actually, most sharpening algorithms work by increasing edge contrast.  Of course you can't make a picture "sharper" than it was at capture,  just increase contrast so they appear sharper.

Also, FWIW, the 5DII with the 24-105 L IS produces images that are both sharp and also "contrasty".   Some lenses are very definitely more contrasty than others.  It's one of the reasons people pay 1k and up for good L glass.  Here's a very informative article you can read about it:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/understanding-series/lens-contrast.shtml

If she is getting consistently unsatisfactory results there is something wrong with her kit.

Of course Sue, I know that. I'm talking about amount of contrast that you cannot make with lens.

I'm confused now.  I thought you were responding to my post, not Sue's.

Oh HAHA Sorry! Looks like I am the one who was confused. I am a bit distracted these days...

Again...It's about contrast that you can never achieve without post processing. For example, this image was taken with Nikkor 60mm Micro lens, which is known as pretty sharp lens, and the same image after increasing local contrast (It's not sharpened, it just has increased local contrast)

Pardon my ignorance, but what is "local contrast"?

Adelaide,
Perhaps this link helps:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/contrast-enhancement.shtml

Adelaide, I don't believe there is a difference except in the ratios of radius, threshold, and amount.  The ratios determine whether the effect will look more like sharpening or increased local contrast.

This link, especially section "In Practice" gives some useful values and more details:
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/local-contrast-enhancement.htm