sharpening caps
Okay, so I browsed through the memories -- actually, I think I read all the full tutorials and about half the PS ones, largely because they make for some good reading -- but I was hoping for a concise answer on a specific question:
How do you sharpen/clarify images from blurry caps? I mean, not atrociously blurry caps, because sometimes things are just too far gone to work with -- but basic DVD cap-style caps -- if someone could talk me through a good method for sharpening the image (beyond just filter >> sharpen >> sharpen or even filter >> sharpen >> unsharp mask [though if you could explain to me what unsharp mask does, exactly, I'd be thrilled) that would be enormously cool.
I find when I sharpen too much I get pixellated and/or the image edges get white, and sometimes even then the image isn't as sharp as I'd like it.
Some icons I find delightfully "sharp":
by 
saava
by _jems_
by isabel0329
Thanks!
How do you sharpen/clarify images from blurry caps? I mean, not atrociously blurry caps, because sometimes things are just too far gone to work with -- but basic DVD cap-style caps -- if someone could talk me through a good method for sharpening the image (beyond just filter >> sharpen >> sharpen or even filter >> sharpen >> unsharp mask [though if you could explain to me what unsharp mask does, exactly, I'd be thrilled) that would be enormously cool.
I find when I sharpen too much I get pixellated and/or the image edges get white, and sometimes even then the image isn't as sharp as I'd like it.
Some icons I find delightfully "sharp":
saava_jems_isabel0329Thanks!