Sharpening in Adobe Photoshop cs6

I would like to improve my sharpening skills when using photoshop cs6. I currently use "smart sharpen" in cs6 as my last operation before closing the image. This method is OK however, can any one recommend a book that offers details (other than "unsharp mask") or sharpening software? Thanks for your help.

"The Digital Negative", by Jeff Schewe goes into great detail about sharpening, as does, "Real World Image Sharpening" by Bruce Fraser and Jeff Schewe. Edited November 9, 2020 by Glenn McCreery

Any book by Dan Margulis.

Thanks to both of you for your book recommendations. I will look at both for some additional insight.

Start here:

Out of Gamut: Thoughts on a Sharpening Workflow | CreativePro Network

Then go Schewe if you really want to get into the weeds.

Margulis and sharpening (or a workflow)? Not so much IMHO. How to fix ugly color images, much better.

"digitaldog" - thanks for your very good recommendations.

Have you tried blending in a (masked) 'High Pass Filter" version of the original in Overlay blending mode? This is my "go to" sharpening method.

Mike, Thanks for your comment - haven't tried using the high pass filter mode.

A high pass filter is a very effective way to sharpen when you have an image that would otherwise require a lot of masking.

 

I never use unsharp mask anymore for sharpening. (I do use it for local contrast.) Virtually all of my sharpening is using one of three methods: the sharpening tools in Lightroom/Adobe Camera Raw, Smart Sharpen, and a high-pass filter. If you are working mostly in LR/ACR on a given image, the sharpening tools included in the new versions are very flexible and powerful. Since you are still on PS 6, you are using an older version of ACR, and unfortunately, I don't recall the history of the development of those tools. With respect to smart sharpen and a high-pass filter: I often do both, one layer for each, comparing the two. It's a bit cumbersome--unless you work on a copy, you have to turn off one layer and turn on another, rather than viewing side by side. However, I often find that this is enough to show me clear differences between the two. More often than not, I end up choosing the high-pass filter, but that may be a function of the types of images I work with.

 

There's no substitute for experimenting hands-on. E.g., in the case of a high-pass filter, you have to choose the radius, the blend mode (overlay is most common, but you can also use soft light or hard light), and the opacity. Watching what happens as you change these is an essential part of mastering the tools, IMHO.

Edited November 13, 2020 by paddler4

I usually blend in just one HPF layer in overlay mode and apply any other filters on top of that. This PHLearn tutorial is probably the 'best practice' on using HPF for non-destructive, adjustable sharpening. It's focused on portaits, but the principles ae generally applicable to foreground/background, etc. PHLearn is IMHO one of the very best 'Learn Photoshop' channels.

 

 

Mike, Thanks for your comment - haven't tried using the high pass filter mode.

 

Iv been using this technique for a year now in landscape photography. It's a good way to sharpen without introducing noise. Admittingly I dont know much about sharpening and I should brush up on photoshops other sharpening features.

 

Check out the video tutorial I'm sure alot if you will find it cool to play about with.

Great to see that 'frequency separation' is gradually getting more traction outside of 'retouchíng'. Thanks for sharing this!

 

Mike

 

 

Iv been using this technique for a year now in landscape photography. It's a good way to sharpen without introducing noise. Admittingly I dont know much about sharpening and I should brush up on photoshops other sharpening features.

 

Check out the video tutorial I'm sure alot if you will find it cool to play about with.