You choose the way to sharpen the image depending on the image quality, the composition and personal preferences. With the help of Photoshop filters (Sharpen, Sharpen Edges, Sharpen More, Smart Sharpen, Unsharp Mask) you can make your image more distinct. However, if the image contains noise or blurry details, you can decrease image quality if use those filters. That is why I very rarely use “pure” sharp filters.

   Combination of those filters and blending mode variation, sharpness increasing in channels greatly result in the image appearance and quality. In this lesson and the following ones, we will review eight different ways to sharpen your images. In every case, you should adjust filter parameters and opacity values in your own way, but if they are specified in the tutorial, please follow them. The main thing is not to overdo.))))

   The first way to review is done by means of High Pass Filter. I find this way a lot better than usual Photoshop sharp filters as it’s quite easy and not very long to do. Moreover, you’ll have very high control over your sharpening and you’ll be able to sharpen certain details while leaving the rest of the area as it is.

   So, are you ready? Here we come…

1. Open the image that requires sharpening

   

2. Duplicate the background layer (Ctrl + J). Let it be Layer 1 (but you can name it whatever you like)

   

3. Apply High Pass Filter. Go to Filters – Others – High Pass. Your image will become of gray color. Do not be alarmed, that is quite normal. In the appeared dialog box set the radius approx 1-2 pixels.

   

4. Then change Blending mode to Overlay.

   

5. Duplicate the Layer 1. By this, you can fine-tune the sharpening effect. If you see that your sharpening effect is too much, decrease it by lowering the Opacity values of that Layer to your liking. When finished sharpness regulation, merge all the layers (Ctrl + E)

   before   after

   Here is another “smart” way to sharpen your image

1. Open the image. Duplicate the background layer

   

2. Apply High Pass Filter with radius approx 1,5-2 pixels

   

3. Apply Gaussian Blur Filter with Amount 5 pixels

   

4. Fade the effect of Gaussian Blur filter in the blending mode Darken

   

5. Change the blending mode to Hard Light. Play with Opacity values until you are satisfied with results. Apply Mask layer to hide sharpness effect on the skin

   before   after

   In next lesson, we will continue our talk about different ways of image sharpening. If you’d like to know how to sharpen your image in Lab Mode, get back to us soon.

   To be continued…

Written by Brenda Kollins, photo retouching expert from HundredPics studio.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 5th, 2008 at 9:09 am and is filed under Designer's tricks. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.