Simple Sharpening Tutorial: Photoshop
A tutorial on three different methods of sharpening your images that give you a lot of control over the image. Showcasing difference between closeups and distance shots.
HOW TO SHARPEN CLOSE-UPS
Close up images have less edges between colors (which is how PS decides where to sharpen), so you can use more sharpening than on distance shots.
Our Base:
Pretty, but somewhat blurry.
Running "Filter">"Sharpen":
See the jagged edges on her jawline and the overall pixelly look? Not pretty.
Your three choices:
1) Immediately after sharpening go to "Edit">"Fade Sharpen" and lower the opacity to around 85% for close-up shots. That will give you this result:
Less jagged, and her face is more precise.
2)Before sharpening duplicate your base layer. Sharpen your duplicate. Now lower the opacity of your sharpened layer to around 85%. It will give you basically the same result as "Fade Sharpen":
3)Do not use the sharpen filter at all. Instead go to your tool panel and select the sharpen tool:
. Now change the brush to a soft round brush at around 21 pixels in size. Change the strength to 50%. These can be adjusted on the Options panel below your navigation bar. Now click twice on her eyes and twice on her lips. Depending on your picture you may have to click more or less times. This lets you control exactly what you want sharpened, and is my preferred method. You'll end up with something like this:
Now you can use these same methods on distance shots, however you want to sharpen LESS than on closeup shots.
Our Base:
Same image, further away.
Sharpen Filter:
Goodness, gracious, she is a pixelly mass.
1) Immediately after sharpening use the fade sharpen option, but adjust the fade to 50%. Your result:
2) Duplicate your base layer, sharpen the duplicate, then lower that layer's opacity to 50%. Your result:
Not oversharpened, but her face is still kinda blurry =/
3)Again, do not use the sharpen filter, instead use the brush on the same settings as above, and click once or twice over the center of her face. Your Result:
Any questions?
HOW TO SHARPEN CLOSE-UPS
Close up images have less edges between colors (which is how PS decides where to sharpen), so you can use more sharpening than on distance shots.
Our Base:
Pretty, but somewhat blurry. Running "Filter">"Sharpen":
See the jagged edges on her jawline and the overall pixelly look? Not pretty. Your three choices:
1) Immediately after sharpening go to "Edit">"Fade Sharpen" and lower the opacity to around 85% for close-up shots. That will give you this result:
Less jagged, and her face is more precise. 2)Before sharpening duplicate your base layer. Sharpen your duplicate. Now lower the opacity of your sharpened layer to around 85%. It will give you basically the same result as "Fade Sharpen":
3)Do not use the sharpen filter at all. Instead go to your tool panel and select the sharpen tool:
. Now change the brush to a soft round brush at around 21 pixels in size. Change the strength to 50%. These can be adjusted on the Options panel below your navigation bar. Now click twice on her eyes and twice on her lips. Depending on your picture you may have to click more or less times. This lets you control exactly what you want sharpened, and is my preferred method. You'll end up with something like this:Now you can use these same methods on distance shots, however you want to sharpen LESS than on closeup shots.
Our Base:
Same image, further away. Sharpen Filter:
Goodness, gracious, she is a pixelly mass. 1) Immediately after sharpening use the fade sharpen option, but adjust the fade to 50%. Your result:
2) Duplicate your base layer, sharpen the duplicate, then lower that layer's opacity to 50%. Your result:
Not oversharpened, but her face is still kinda blurry =/3)Again, do not use the sharpen filter, instead use the brush on the same settings as above, and click once or twice over the center of her face. Your Result:
Any questions?