I really appreciate how concise your tutorials are. Super clear. No fluff. Even though I've been using photoshop for decades it's nice to revisit tricks and see how others achieve similar effects with different methods. Great stuff.
High Pass has been always my favorite which I combine with a Luminosity mask to target only the dark areas, kind of similar to your approach when you used blending options.
I personally use high pass as a smart filter and I mask it, so I can sharpen the image only where I want, and stay away from the skys and clouds for example, and also I can change the value if needed. Great tip on the blending mode with unsharp mask.
Many years ago, I learned about the method of converting to LAB format and applying the sharpening to the Lightness channel. Is that similar to the High Pass method? Also, on the Blend If adjustments, why are you not splitting the sliders with Option-Click to soften the transition?
I’m a long time PS user (since V1 in 1990) but never too old to learn new tricks. A method I use for USM is to first apply USM then go to edit > Fade USM and change the mode to Luminosity. Then move the slider to 0 then back up to the desired level. The way this works is that the color management engine “under the covers” actually operates on the imported RAW file in Lab mode then converts to RGB per the RGB colorspace profile selected for editing (e.g., Abobe RGB). If looking at the channels in Lab mode you notice that all the detail information is in the L (Luminance) channel and changing the mode of the Edit > Fade USM to it does a cleaner job of sharpening. Another sharpening trick I use for fur and feathers is to add a second dupe layer and over sharpen, then do the same Edit>FadeUSM (Luminosity) step to taste visually with the slider. Fur and feather both have microscopic flat facets which reflect a million 3D shape defining specular highlight the digital capture / de-mosaic process turns to mush. Selectively blending in the over sharpened layer with a mask over the normally sharpened one restores the sparkle, especially in black fur where the specular highlights are the primary clue for 3D shape in a 2D image.
I follow your content for, I don't know, lots of years (if you have some sort of way to see it, you can check it out, but 10 or more years, I guess, at least the newsletter), and for quite some time that, you or any other youtuber that I was watching, gave me much pleasure to see something so easy that encapsulates so much value in a «tiny» video. Congrats! Keep them coming! Stay safe!
The Threshold setting in Unsharp Mask is a great way to prevent noise sharpening, and is often overlooked. That makes it my favorite, usually combined with a blend-if and/or some additional masking
Love your tutorials and this is another good one. A few months ago I thought I'd never learn Photoshop but your thorough, reasonably paced tutorials have allowed me to at least explore the possibilities. Thank you Colin!
For sharpening portraits I have incorporated various effects into an action, mainly High Pass, then masking, inverting the mask and then highlighting eyes and mouth and it seems to work quite well. I've just tried the blending options effect after this and, to be honest there is very little difference IMHO. Unsharp mask with blending mode works well on my landscape example as does Smart Sharpen. The Blending Option is a revelation. Thanks Colin.
Awesome blend - if tip 👍 I use USM and High Pass - masks on both to be more selective. Started experimenting with LAB colour for sharpening as well (from another PSC video) Thanks Colin
The threshold in unsharp mask limits the sharpening to hi contrast and edge areas, I generally go between 1 and 5 so it doesn't effect soft areas like sky. Nice video,,,thanks!
Lots of really cool stuff to play with! I really like the combination of those filters. I'm going to spend some time playing around with that! Thanks, Colin!
I have used High Pass quite a bit, but I haven't used Smart Sharpen or Unsharp Mask very much at all. I will definitely be experimenting with SS and USM moving forward. Thanks for the great tutorial, as always!
I once used the high pass because it gives me more control but since I discovered the Lr and Ps (in camera raw) way with the masking slider I find it equally effective and quicker. Thank you good to know the fx trick too.
Great video. Because of the subtleties you just described, I avoid AI sharpening programs, at least until they get better at discerning what method works best for a particular image. I also have to agree with the comment by DjC4.
Hi there, thanks for your videos, I ask ... How can I distinguish or calculate how much sharpening should I use on the photo depending on the size of the print? For example, I understand that an 8 × 10 "needs less sharpening than a 50x60", how can I know how much to use in it? Thank you!!
Did not know of these secret tools, Colin. how many tools to unearth in PS, is a quandary for beginners like myself. Thanks for it. Do not know if I will be able to accomplish this task, but shall try.
I generally use High Pass Sharpening and alternate between Blend Modes of Overlay and Soft Light depending on the amount of high pass Ive added, and reduce the opacity to suit.
Colin, thanks for all you do! I practiced your sharpening techniques and found them all helpful but one. When I use High Pass and accept, the grey that filled the subject (layer) will not go away. I feel I am missing a step but can't figure out where. Any advice?
Very useful information on these sharpening methods. thank you. I have been using high pass filter for sharpening myself for a while. I found what works best for me is to convert the layer to black and white first then fun the high pass filter, then set the blending mode to linear light since it doesn't mess with the tones or hues.
@@photoshopcafe Not usually. I adjust fill rather than opacity to adjust. i can also use blend if to remove/reduce sharpening from the light and/or dark areas as needed. (I guess i should have added that bit in my original comment :D)
The Blend-If technique is brilliant. However, the HPS method has long been demonstrated to do virtually the same as what the USM does. The SS does something similar to the Blend-If, but I think the Blend-If is less complex and just as powerful.
I hate oversharpened images so tended to be a bit too gentle. No need to anymore! Thanks for brilliantly useful video. Which one? Well, image dependent so "horses for courses"!
Everyone is of course entitled to do as they please but unsharp mask (as Colin shows) is vastly superior though. Putting a layer mask on the copied and unsharped layer lets you selectively sharpen your image as well.
@@TheDavveponken I'm not saying that my way is the right or only way, far from it, however if I want to selectively sharpen area's on an image in Camera Raw, I just chose the brush tool, paint the required area's and then use the sharpen slider, same thing really.
I normally leave sharpening to the end user as they know the final use of the image. For my portraits, model shoots etc I do not sharpen, which model do you know that wants all her skin texture really sharpened. Maybe light sharpening on the eyes only may be required.
Another video where you give incorrect info... High Pass Sharpen did not leave the sky alone... see slide at exactly 7:15 the sky is "wormy" Only Smart Sharpen and Unsharp Mask has the hidden trick with rolling back the halos. Good info, tnx.
Unsharp mask is my go to...and has been for a lot of years. But the tip about blend if is pure gold.
I really appreciate how concise your tutorials are. Super clear. No fluff. Even though I've been using photoshop for decades it's nice to revisit tricks and see how others achieve similar effects with different methods. Great stuff.
High Pass has been always my favorite which I combine with a Luminosity mask to target only the dark areas, kind of similar to your approach when you used blending options.
I personally use high pass as a smart filter and I mask it, so I can sharpen the image only where I want, and stay away from the skys and clouds for example, and also I can change the value if needed. Great tip on the blending mode with unsharp mask.
so you use an inverted mask?
@@bassplayer60 yes! And I "paint" the effect only where os needed.
awesome... i always wondered about the unsharpen mask how much the hightlights popped afterwards.... thanks for the info... cheers!!
Thank you, Colin! These settings are incredible and I appreciate your explanation of the different sharpening tools. You are a Photoshop virtuoso!
Would you recommend sharpening in Luminosity Blend Mode so you don't alter the colours slightly when sharpening?
I've used the darker blend mode to remove halos; hadn't thought of blend-if. Great tip, thanks.
I often use the High Pass method. Never knew or even thought to use Blend If. I like it and will be trying it out. Thanks!
Thanks for such a clear description of different approaches and effects
Many years ago, I learned about the method of converting to LAB format and applying the sharpening to the Lightness channel. Is that similar to the High Pass method? Also, on the Blend If adjustments, why are you not splitting the sliders with Option-Click to soften the transition?
I’m a long time PS user (since V1 in 1990) but never too old to learn new tricks. A method I use for USM is to first apply USM then go to edit > Fade USM and change the mode to Luminosity. Then move the slider to 0 then back up to the desired level.
The way this works is that the color management engine “under the covers” actually operates on the imported RAW file in Lab mode then converts to RGB per the RGB colorspace profile selected for editing (e.g., Abobe RGB). If looking at the channels in Lab mode you notice that all the detail information is in the L (Luminance) channel and changing the mode of the Edit > Fade USM to it does a cleaner job of sharpening.
Another sharpening trick I use for fur and feathers is to add a second dupe layer and over sharpen, then do the same Edit>FadeUSM (Luminosity) step to taste visually with the slider. Fur and feather both have microscopic flat facets which reflect a million 3D shape defining specular highlight the digital capture / de-mosaic process turns to mush. Selectively blending in the over sharpened layer with a mask over the normally sharpened one restores the sparkle, especially in black fur where the specular highlights are the primary clue for 3D shape in a 2D image.
Thanks for the explaining and showing the differences.
High Pass is certainly the way to sharpen images. Thank you
I follow your content for, I don't know, lots of years (if you have some sort of way to see it, you can check it out, but 10 or more years, I guess, at least the newsletter), and for quite some time that, you or any other youtuber that I was watching, gave me much pleasure to see something so easy that encapsulates so much value in a «tiny» video. Congrats! Keep them coming! Stay safe!
Thank you for that tutorial - never really understood those sharpening tools.
The Threshold setting in Unsharp Mask is a great way to prevent noise sharpening, and is often overlooked. That makes it my favorite, usually combined with a blend-if and/or some additional masking
Thanks Colin, I learned something new today!
Awesome tip colin. Thanks for it
I LIKE this method... Very nice and I never thought to use the blend mode!!! Very effective!!!
I learned about high pass sharpening a couple of years ago and was able to selectively sharpen just the area's I wanted!
Have a nice day!
Love your tutorials and this is another good one. A few months ago I thought I'd never learn Photoshop but your thorough, reasonably paced tutorials have allowed me to at least explore the possibilities. Thank you Colin!
For sharpening portraits I have incorporated various effects into an action, mainly High Pass, then masking, inverting the mask and then highlighting eyes and mouth and it seems to work quite well. I've just tried the blending options effect after this and, to be honest there is very little difference IMHO. Unsharp mask with blending mode works well on my landscape example as does Smart Sharpen. The Blending Option is a revelation. Thanks Colin.
Excellent Colin going to have to give them all a go thank you
I use only High Pass since last 10-12 years. I find better control and simple operations. But was good to see all the 3 methods simultaneously. Thanks
They all have their uses, but I also mainly use HP
Thank you, Colin. That helped me a lot!
I've always used high pass for output sharpening, but used the Hard Light blend mode. I will now try Overlay.
Hi Colin, great overview about these different methods. I will try them all, especially for my Fuji files. Until Lfl tonight. 😎👏👏👏👏
Wonderful ! Thanks a lot.... this will help me a LOT!
Awesome blend - if tip 👍 I use USM and High Pass - masks on both to be more selective. Started experimenting with LAB colour for sharpening as well (from another PSC video) Thanks Colin
Thanks Colin.
You mentioned you got your Sony A1 when are you doing a review?
Are you suffering with the blackout issue on the viewfinder?
The threshold in unsharp mask limits the sharpening to hi contrast and edge areas, I generally go between 1 and 5 so it doesn't effect soft areas like sky. Nice video,,,thanks!
excellent explanation. Well done
Lots of really cool stuff to play with! I really like the combination of those filters. I'm going to spend some time playing around with that! Thanks, Colin!
Just saved my favorite photo. Thank you!!!
Fantastic, tips, people don't always notice those little things so it is good to know.
I have used High Pass quite a bit, but I haven't used Smart Sharpen or Unsharp Mask very much at all. I will definitely be experimenting with SS and USM moving forward. Thanks for the great tutorial, as always!
I once used the high pass because it gives me more control but since I discovered the Lr and Ps (in camera raw) way with the masking slider I find it equally effective and quicker. Thank you good to know the fx trick too.
Great video. Because of the subtleties you just described, I avoid AI sharpening programs, at least until they get better at discerning what method works best for a particular image. I also have to agree with the comment by DjC4.
dark blend works great but High Pass is amazing!
Very informative video. It is so easy to ruin a photo with sharpening. Your sharpening tip will be very helpful. Much appreciated. Thanks Colin.
awesome pic sharpening trick
thx
Great Technique! Thanks a Lot!
Awesome explanation
Fantastic tips!
Very informative! Thanks for a great lesson.
Another great video. Filling my "toolbox" with all kinds of tricks and techniques. Thanks.
yay
thank you very helpful. do I sharpen only at final print size or is that old school ?
It depends, but thats definitely still a good option
Thanks man i learn a Lot best regard
Hi there, thanks for your videos, I ask ... How can I distinguish or calculate how much sharpening should I use on the photo depending on the size of the print? For example, I understand that an 8 × 10 "needs less sharpening than a 50x60", how can I know how much to use in it? Thank you!!
Is it correct to say that the oversharpened "sizzle" is due to jpg artifacts being created? Good tutorial!
Did not know of these secret tools, Colin. how many tools to unearth in PS, is a quandary for beginners like myself. Thanks for it. Do not know if I will be able to accomplish this task, but shall try.
Ill keep putting out tutorials each week
2:20 does anyone know what this layer is called/called in affinity? its not adjustments>levels is it?
I generally use High Pass Sharpening and alternate between Blend Modes of Overlay and Soft Light depending on the amount of high pass Ive added, and reduce the opacity to suit.
Colin, thanks for all you do! I practiced your sharpening techniques and found them all helpful but one. When I use High Pass and accept, the grey that filled the subject (layer) will not go away. I feel I am missing a step but can't figure out where. Any advice?
Set the layer to soft light x
Can these adjustment be applied to selections too?
Sure, if you use masks
Colin how can I create a sharpening preset in ps 2022 for ease of batch editing etc
create an action
Thanks, this was really helpful!
Very useful information on these sharpening methods. thank you.
I have been using high pass filter for sharpening myself for a while. I found what works best for me is to convert the layer to black and white first then fun the high pass filter, then set the blending mode to linear light since it doesn't mess with the tones or hues.
Nice tip
Do you find Linear light makes the effect6 a little too strong though compared to overlay?
@@photoshopcafe Not usually. I adjust fill rather than opacity to adjust. i can also use blend if to remove/reduce sharpening from the light and/or dark areas as needed. (I guess i should have added that bit in my original comment :D)
How do these methods compare to Topaz AI sharpen?
Thank you - really useful
I always use high pass sharpening. If I do get a noise problem in the sky I add a layer mask and delete the sharpening from the affected area.
Great TIP 4 SURE !
Awesome tips
Doing mostly solar images, I've found High Pass to be the one I choose most often. Thanks for the video.
great, Need more tips
Great tips
Great video. Thanks 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
Thanks
The Blend-If technique is brilliant. However, the HPS method has long been demonstrated to do virtually the same as what the USM does. The SS does something similar to the Blend-If, but I think the Blend-If is less complex and just as powerful.
I've always used High Pass + linear light. What do you think of this, Colin?
haha...you got me Colin....I used to sizzle...lol...thank you so so much =D
Nice zoom in
high pass and linear light @ 0.2px for my birding images.
What you didn’t cover is advantages / disadvantage to sharpen in Camera Raw. If you do sharpen in Camera Raw what settings do you recommend,
Same question except using the masking tool in Lightroom Classic’s sharpening panel.
Nice "Bracelet" 😉
I hate oversharpened images so tended to be a bit too gentle. No need to anymore! Thanks for brilliantly useful video. Which one? Well, image dependent so "horses for courses"!
I learned to sharpen from a Hollywood matte painter and I have to say, your better at than him! Thank you so much.
nice one
I prefer smart sharpen with a luminosity mask made by using the threshold adjustment
Put an inverted mask on and make targeted adjustments
I've never used any of the PS sharpening options, I prefer to sharpen my images in Camera Raw.
Everyone is of course entitled to do as they please but unsharp mask (as Colin shows) is vastly superior though. Putting a layer mask on the copied and unsharped layer lets you selectively sharpen your image as well.
@@TheDavveponken I'm not saying that my way is the right or only way, far from it, however if I want to selectively sharpen area's on an image in Camera Raw, I just chose the brush tool, paint the required area's and then use the sharpen slider, same thing really.
@@davebrown2047 Ah, didn't know about that feature. It's been a while since I was in the habit and up to date.
I will try
thank u
Thanks sir i am a big fan sir
From india
Grazie! ))
From the video, the blend if method seems to make the image muddy with less contrast.
Nice video
High Pass
Brill 👍🏻
I normally leave sharpening to the end user as they know the final use of the image.
For my portraits, model shoots etc I do not sharpen, which model do you know that wants all her skin texture really sharpened. Maybe light sharpening on the eyes only may be required.
Thank you! I hate the sizzle!
I never use any sharpen tool. When I edit images from LR, all unsharp images go to the trash first.
hi
Another video where you give incorrect info... High Pass Sharpen did not leave the sky alone... see slide at exactly 7:15 the sky is "wormy"
Only Smart Sharpen and Unsharp Mask has the hidden trick with rolling back the halos. Good info, tnx.
Why it is called UNSHAPRED MASK while it's SHARPENING things??? Adobe logic
Oh, so that's a bracelet
Way too complicated, besides, most people like me sharpen in Lightroom, not Photoshop.
Thanks