Adjusting Image Sharpness And Blur; Sharpening Recommendations; Sharpen Using Smart Sharpen - Adobe Photoshop CS6 User Manual

Adjusting image sharpness and blur

Sharpening recommendations

Sharpen using Smart Sharpen

Sharpen using Unsharp Mask
Sharpen selectively
Add lens blur
Blur image areas
Sharpen image areas
Sharpening recommendations
Sharpening enhances the definition of edges in an image. Whether your images come from a digital camera or a scanner, most images can
benefit from sharpening. The degree of sharpening needed varies depending on the quality of the digital camera or scanner. Keep in mind that
sharpening cannot correct a severely blurred image.
Tips for better sharpening:
Sharpen your image on a separate layer so that you can resharpen it later to output to a different medium.
If you sharpen your image on a separate layer, set the layer's blending mode to Luminosity to avoid color shifts along edges.
Sharpening increases image contrast. If you find that highlights or shadows are clipped after you sharpen, use the layer blending controls (if
you sharpen a separate layer) to prevent sharpening in highlights and shadows. See
Reduce image noise before sharpening so that you don't intensify the noise.
Sharpen your image multiple times in small amounts. Sharpen the first time to correct blur caused by capturing your image (scanning it or
taking it with your digital camera). After you've color corrected and sized your image, sharpen it again (or a copy of it) to add the appropriate
amount of sharpening for your output medium.
If possible, judge your sharpening by outputting it to the final medium. The amount of sharpening needed varies among output media.
Use the Unsharp Mask (USM) filter or the Smart Sharpen filter for better control when sharpening your images. Although Photoshop also has the
Sharpen, Sharpen Edges, and Sharpen More filter options, these filters are automatic and do not provide controls and options.
You can sharpen your entire image or just a portion using a selection or mask. Because the Unsharp Mask and Smart Sharpen filters can be
applied to only one layer at a time, you might need to merge layers or flatten your file to sharpen all image layers in a multilayered file.
Note: The name Unsharp Mask comes from a darkroom technique used in traditional film-based photography. The filter sharpens images rather
than the opposite.
Sharpen using Smart Sharpen
The Smart Sharpen filter has sharpening controls not available with the Unsharp Mask filter. You can set the sharpening algorithm or control the
amount of sharpening that occurs in shadow and highlight areas.
1. Zoom the document window to 100% to get an accurate view of the sharpening.
2. Choose Filter > Sharpen > Smart Sharpen.
3. Set the controls in the Sharpen tabs:
Amount Sets the amount of sharpening. A higher value increases the contrast between edge pixels, giving the appearance of greater
sharpness.
Radius Determines the number of pixels surrounding the edge pixels affected by the sharpening. The greater the radius value, the wider
the edge effects and the more obvious the sharpening.
Remove Sets the sharpening algorithm used to sharpen the image. Gaussian Blur is the method used by the Unsharp Mask filter. Lens Blur
detects the edges and detail in an image, and provides finer sharpening of detail and reduced sharpening halos. Motion Blur attempts to
reduce the effects of blur due to camera or subject movement. Set the Angle control if you choose Motion Blur.
Angle Sets the direction of motion for the Motion Blur option of the Remove control.
More Accurate Processes the file more slowly for a more accurate removal of blurring.
Specify a tonal range for blending
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layers.
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