Sharpening using high pass

[lblongs]

I have recently learned to sharpen parts of my photos using the high pass filter in CS4 and was wondering if anyone has any testament as to whether this is a desired way to selectively sharpen or not. I dont' seem to have had much luck selectively sharpening using unsharp mask but feel that I am doing it wrong. There are some frequent posters here on DPS that have made refernece to high pass filter and one day I just googled selective sharpening and that's where it pointed me. So, I tried it and love it.

[i speak in math]

Originally Posted by lblongs

I have recently learned to sharpen parts of my photos using the high pass filter in CS4 and was wondering if anyone has any testament as to whether this is a desired way to selectively sharpen or not. I dont' seem to have had much luck selectively sharpening using unsharp mask but feel that I am doing it wrong. There are some frequent posters here on DPS that have made refernece to high pass filter and one day I just googled selective sharpening and that's where it pointed me. So, I tried it and love it.

I don't use the high pass filter all that much because it tends to destroy some fine detail and when overused, creates nasty halos. That being said, there are ways to use it effectively. I have found this process works fairly well:

1.) create a copy of the image
2.) desaturate the layer (not sure if this matters all that much)
3.) apply high pass using a radius of 10 (I know its high)
4.) set the layer to overlay mode
5.) bring the layer opacity all the way down to 0, then raise it slowly till it looks good

I tend to sharpen in lab mode using the lightness channel and smart sharpen which give me really good results.

[teaking]

I love the highpass filter for sharpening the trick is to try different radius till you can see the details you want to sharpen in the high pass filter, then like the guy above said change the mode to overlay and adjust the opacity. Using a Layer mask is one way I like to selectively apply the sharpening and find it works great.

The only other way I know is to use a smart sharpen technique that basically uses a layer mask over an image that unsharp mask has been applied to. But I still prefer the ease and results from the highpass filter. Its all personal choice and what works for you.

[LeeR]

Put me in the the "love the high pass" group. I have been using it for years though I don't do a lot of selective sharpening. I just make a copy layer apply the high pass with a radius between 4 and 8 (set for 6.5 right now) and set the blending mode to "overlay." Simple and effective. If I want apply it selectively I can always add a layer mask and black out the areas I do not want sharpened.

[Samanax]

Advanced Sharpening in Adobe Photoshop

[i speak in math]

Originally Posted by Samanax

Advanced Sharpening in Adobe Photoshop

neat link, wish it went somewhere though

[Samanax]

Originally Posted by i speak in math

neat link, wish it went somewhere though

Sorry about that...got distracted by the dogs. Link works now.

[fletch]

You can always tweak how the High Pass filter affects the photo by changing the blend more. Soft light works quite well as an alternative to overlay.

[sk66]

Originally Posted by i speak in math

I tend to sharpen in lab mode using the lightness channel and smart sharpen which give me really good results.

+1, this is my "normal" method.

But I am going to be trying this method

[lynweber]

Originally Posted by LeeR

Put me in the the "love the high pass" group. I have been using it for years though I don't do a lot of selective sharpening. I just make a copy layer apply the high pass with a radius between 4 and 8 (set for 6.5 right now) and set the blending mode to "overlay." Simple and effective. If I want apply it selectively I can always add a layer mask and black out the areas I do not want sharpened.

Lee

I love your advice I was just looking for a quick way to sharpen. Do you advice to oversharpen for printing purposes>?