{"id":4168,"date":"2016-07-13T20:50:04","date_gmt":"2016-07-13T20:50:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.apogeephoto.com\/?p=4168"},"modified":"2016-10-13T16:49:08","modified_gmt":"2016-10-13T16:49:08","slug":"sharpen-your-images-properly-in-photoshop-use-unsharp-mask","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.apogeephoto.com\/sharpen-your-images-properly-in-photoshop-use-unsharp-mask\/","title":{"rendered":"Sharpen Your Images Properly in Photoshop: Use Unsharp Mask"},"content":{"rendered":"

Purpose:<\/p>\n

Sharpening<\/strong> your images shows more detail and enhances focus in your image. Due to failures in digital technology, which tend to introduce \u201csoftness\u201d into your images, it\u2019s usually necessary to apply some sharpening.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m going to show you a method of sharpening, called the \u201cUnsharp Mask\u201d<\/strong> method, that\u2019s less destructive (with much better results) than the generic Photoshop sharpening tools. Give this method a try \u2013 you\u2019ll be amazed, ands it\u2019s much harder to \u201cover-sharpen\u201d.<\/p>\n

By the way, don\u2019t let the term \u201cUnsharp Mask\u201d<\/strong> deceive you \u2013 it really does sharpen your image! The term\u2019s a carryover from the analog\/film days.<\/p>\n


\nWhen to Use:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Sharpening<\/strong> is one of the last things that you\u2019ll do to an image.
\nNote: You should never sharpen your Master File (See my last column on \u201cMaster Files\u201d<\/a>).<\/em>
\nThe amount of sharpening that\u2019s necessary for a 16×20 is more than it would be for an 8×10. If you sharpen your Master File for a 16×20, your 8×10 will be over-sharpened. It\u2019s best to sharpen a duplicate of your Master File for the intended output size.<\/p>\n


\nSelective Sharpening: <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

This method involves creating a Background Copy<\/strong>. You can then selectively sharpen just part of your image by creating a Layer Mask on the Background Copy<\/strong> and \u201cpainting out\u201d those areas you don\u2019t want to sharpen (we\u2019ll cover this in future columns).<\/p>\n

\"Screen\"Screen
\n\u00a9 2011 John Watts. All Rights Reserved.<\/p>\n

How It Works:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Step 1:<\/strong>Create a New Background Layer<\/strong>. To create a Background Copy, simply drag the Background Layer to the \u201cNew Layer\u201d<\/em> button (just to the left of the \u201cTrash\u201d<\/em> button at the bottom).<\/p>\n

Step 2: Change the Blending Mode.<\/strong> Make sure that your Background Copy is active (highlighted) and then change the Blending Mode to \u201cLuminosity\u201d<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Step 3:<\/strong> Go to \u201cFilter\u201d<\/em> menu –> \u201cSharpen\u201d<\/em> –> \u201cUnsharp Mask\u2026\u201d<\/em>This brings up the Unsharp Mask Dialog Box<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Step 4:<\/strong> Apply the proper amount of \u201cUnsharp Masking\u201d<\/strong> (more on this in a minute). Click \u201cOK\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n

Some Pointers to Get Started<\/em><\/strong>:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Suggested starting points in the Unsharp Mask Dialog Box are:<\/strong>
\nAmount = 50 to 200
\nRadius = .9 to 1.2
\nThreshold = 1 to 3<\/p>\n

Typically, I leave the Radius at 1.0, Threshold at 3, and I\u2019ll increase the Amount until it looks over-sharpened, and back off a bit.<\/p>\n

How much is too much? <\/strong>Mostly you\u2019ll have to rely on a bit of trial and error at first, but the trick is to keep things looking natural and not too intense. You\u2019ll gain more experience at this as time goes on.<\/p>\n

By the way, if your image isn\u2019t fairly sharp to begin with, I wouldn\u2019t expect Photoshop to correct it completely. When it comes to sharpening, it\u2019s not a miracle program.
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Screen
\n\u00a9 2011 John Watts. All Rights Reserved.<\/p>\n

Previewing in the Unsharp Mask Dialog Box:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

1. You can \u201cpreview\u201d<\/strong> your sharpening in the Preview Window<\/strong> in the Unsharp Mask Dialogue Box<\/strong> by holding your cursor over it (the cursor changes to a \u201chand\u201d), then pressing your left mouse button – pressing it and holding it down is the \u201cbefore\u201d view, releasing the mouse button is the \u201cafter\u201d view. <\/em><\/p>\n

2. You can also put the cursor in the Preview Window<\/strong>, press and hold down the \u201cSpace\u201d bar on your keyboard, press and hold down your left mouse button, and drag the view of the preview pane to a more desirable location.<\/p>\n

3. With the Unsharp Mask Dialogue Box<\/strong> open, you can put the mouse cursor in your actual image (a small square \u201cbox\u201d will show up as your pointer), place it over an area that you\u2019d like to see in the Preview Window, and left-click: Voila! That area shows up in the Preview Window.<\/p>\n

How to View Your Image for Proper Sharpening<\/em><\/strong>:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

I normally judge the effects of my sharpening with my image at 25% magnification<\/strong> – this is \u201cactual size\u201d (or close to it) on my monitor if the image resolution is 300 PPI.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll also set the Preview Window<\/strong> in the Unsharp Mask Dialogue Box at 50%<\/strong> (default is 100% – press the \u201cminus\u2019 symbol to reduce).<\/p>\n

Between the two views \/magnifications, I get a real good feel for how the final image is going to look once sharpening is applied.<\/p>\n

Use the \u201cPreview\u201d<\/em> check box to judge the effects of the sharpening in your image (This does not \u201cpreview\u201d in the Preview pane).
\nUntil the next time, have fun and stay well!<\/p>\n

by John Watts, Watts Digital Imaging<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Purpose: Sharpening your images shows more detail and enhances focus in your image. Due to failures in digital technology, which tend to introduce \u201csoftness\u201d into your images, it\u2019s usually necessary [read more]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4185,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5],"tags":[198],"yoast_head":"\nSharpen Your Images Properly in Photoshop: Use Unsharp Mask - Apogee Photo Magazine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.apogeephoto.com\/sharpen-your-images-properly-in-photoshop-use-unsharp-mask\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Sharpen Your Images Properly in Photoshop: Use Unsharp Mask - Apogee Photo Magazine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Purpose: Sharpening your images shows more detail and enhances focus in your image. 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