sharpening

[Willy wombat]

What is the difference between the sharpen filter, sharpen edges filter, the sharpen more filter and unsharp mask?

I tend to use sharpen edges if i want the image to stand out, and the sharpen filter if i need to do a lot of sharpening.

I dont fully understand the unsharp mask but i have also used it on occasion to get good results.

Please help! And thanks in advance

WW :-D

[meriadoc]

sharpen sharpens everything
sharpen more does just that, sharpens more than the sharpen tool
sharpen edges I would assume determines areas where there are defined edges (usually goes by contrast), and sharpens those areas
unsharpen mask gives full control over the amount of sharpening.

I usually only ever use the unsharp mask tool

[hir0]

i know some might consider this cheating, but i like to sometimes use this (http://www.atncentral.com/Zip_Actions/Sharpening_Actions.zip) Photoshop action for sharpening. i like the "edge sharpening" action and it's easy to use with a few adjustments (most importantly the amount of sharpening - default is 200 which i find is too high).

[Ibn]

Usually just use the unsharp mask myself. Made an action for it and just batch process my pictures.

The action is pretty simple. USM @ 100% @ .2 radius (up to x4) and then USM at 10% @ 40 radius. Threshold stays at zero.

[Schnauzer]

i know some might consider this cheating, but i like to sometimes use this (http://www.atncentral.com/Zip_Actions/Sharpening_Actions.zip) Photoshop action for sharpening. i like the "edge sharpening" action and it's easy to use with a few adjustments (most importantly the amount of sharpening - default is 200 which i find is too high).

hirO,
Which folder in CS do you install it in . I would like to try it . I need all the help I can get .

[Ibn]

Actions are pretty easy to create by yourself. It's just another word for macro (similar to MS Word), and there's a create action button on the toolbar (sits in the middle right hand corner).

[jjtink]

Some reading...

http://www.creativepro.com/printerfriendly/story/11242.html

http://www.creativepro.com/printerfriendly/story/12189.html

http://www.fredmiranda.com/article_3/index.html

[paradise]

Have any of your used the Fredmiranda action (the paid one?) Of all of them, the first one (http://www.creativepro.com/printerfriendly/story/11242.html) seemed quite impressive. I have been using USM, and never really knew (until I read this article) about how to choose the diameter and the amount. Always did 1.0 and used the amount to change the sharpening amount. I am still not 100% sure on what diameter works for what, but at least now I have some clue. (i.e. big subject in front = large diameter, busy photo w/lots of subjects and detail = small diameter). Great stuff.

[328iGuy]

Have any of your used the Fredmiranda action (the paid one?) Of all of them, the first one (http://www.creativepro.com/printerfriendly/story/11242.html) seemed quite impressive. I have been using USM, and never really knew (until I read this article) about how to choose the diameter and the amount. Always did 1.0 and used the amount to change the sharpening amount. I am still not 100% sure on what diameter works for what, but at least now I have some clue. (i.e. big subject in front = large diameter, busy photo w/lots of subjects and detail = small diameter). Great stuff.

Very interesting article! Thanks for sharing!

[hir0]

Ron, you just drag the action and dop it in your actions list. it's tabbed behind the history list. to use actions, you just click on the action you want to run, and hit the "play" button. also, be sure you have the right layer selected on the bottom right - or it won't work.

[Schnauzer]

Thanks hirO .

[hir0]

anytime.