Sharpening a photograph may enhance parts, and degrade other parts.
Many photographs benefit from the selective application of different amounts of sharpening.
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Levels 1 |
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Andy Warhol |
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Old car |
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Background copy |
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Background |
Be sure to check off as you go along.
A composite layer contains all of the layers of your photograph.
Do the following.
a) Deselect the eye icons on the layers you don't want to merge.
b) Make sure the top layer is active (highlighted).
c) Go to Select > All.
d) Go to Edit > Copy Merged.
e) Go to Edit > Paste.
f) Press Ctrl + j to copy the composite layer.
If you haven't already done so, go to Composite Layer.
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Layer 2 |
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Layer 1 |
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Levels 1 |
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Andy Warhol |
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Old car |
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Background copy |
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Background |
2) Rename one of the composite layers as Low, and the other, as High.
The High layer must be above the Low layer.
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High |
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Low |
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Levels 1 |
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Andy Warhol |
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Old car |
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Background copy |
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Background |
3) Select the High layer (highlighted), go to Filter > Sharpen > Unsharp Mask, and set a large amount of sharpening.
4) Hide the High layer by deselecting its eye icon.
5) Select the Low layer (highlighted), go to Filter > Sharpen > Unsharp Mask, and set a small amount of sharpening.
6) Make the High layer visible by selecting its eye icon.
7) Make sure the Low layer is active (highlighted).
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High |
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Low |
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Levels 1 |
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Andy Warhol |
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Old car |
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Background copy |
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Background |
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High |
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Layer 1 |
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Low |
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Levels 1 |
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Andy Warhol |
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Old car |
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Background copy |
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Background |
9) Label Layer 1 as Brush here to make High appear.
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High |
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Brush here to make High appear |
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Low |
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Levels 1 |
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Andy Warhol |
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Old car |
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Background copy |
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Background |
10) Make sure the High layer is active (highlighted).
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High |
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Brush here to make High appear |
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Low |
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Levels 1 |
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Andy Warhol |
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Old car |
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Background copy |
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Background |
11) Press Ctrl + g to group the High layer with the Brush-here-to-make-High-appear layer.
If you haven't already done so, go to How to Group.
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↓ High |
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Brush here to make High appear |
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Low |
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Levels 1 |
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Andy Warhol |
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Old car |
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Background copy |
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Background |
You've created a clipping mask.
12) Make sure the Brush-here-to-make-High-appear layer is active (highlighted).
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↓ High |
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Brush here to make High appear |
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Low |
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Levels 1 |
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Andy Warhol |
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Old car |
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Background copy |
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Background |
13) Select the Brush tool.
Most often, use a feathered brush.
If you haven't already done so, go to Feathered Brush.
14) Make sure the foreground color is black.
If you haven't already, go to Foreground & Background Colors.
At this point, you're only seeing the sharpening done by the Low layer.
The High layer is hidden by the Brush-here-to-make-High-appear layer.
15) Paint where more sharpening is needed.
Where you paint:
• The sharpening on the High layer becomes visible.
• The sharpening on the Low layer becomes hidden.
If you brush an area by mistake, click Undo or erase the mistake with the Eraser tool.
Why does Unsharp Masking Sharpening have unsharp in its name?
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