Unsharp Mask Revisited

[Elaine]

I agree with most on the thread. My unsharp mask very often looks like it has metallic edges. Are their standard settings that any of you use that you would care to share.

[Cassie Jones (1gr8muggle)]

These are some settings from Scott Kelby's Photoshop CS2 Book for Digital Photographers (a HIGHLY recommeded book . . . these are the basics . . . he goes into some SERIOUS detail on other sharpening techniques):

Using the Unsharp Mask filter:

Sharpening Soft Subjects:

Amount: 150%
Radius: 1.0 pixels
Threshold: 10 levels

Sharpening Portraits:

Amount: 75%
Radius: 2 pixels
Threshold: 3 levels

Moderate Sharpening:

Amount 225%
Radius: 0.5 pixels
Threshold: 0 levels

Maximum Sharpening:

Amount: 65%
Radius: 4 pixels
Threshold 3 levels

All-Purpose Sharpening:

Amount: 85%
Radius: 1 pixel
Threshold: 4 levels

Web Sharpening (72 dpi):

Amount: 400%
Radius: 0.3 pixels
Threshold: 0 levels

Now . . . this is not in the book, and I don't remember where I learned it, but I know some other girls here use it, too:

Defogging an Image:

Amount: 20%
Radius: 65 pixels
Threshold: 0 or 1 level

[DebbieHodge]

thanks, Cassie!

[quilter422]

printing this to keep my my computer right now. thanks, Cassie!

[Scrapbird]

Will these settings work for Photoshop Elements?

[Cassie Jones (1gr8muggle)]

Yes, they should work for PSE the same.

[HeidiKnight]

Thanks, Cassie! I love all those settings. I sharpened a photography postcard for email (web) using 400/0.3/0 earlier and it looked awesome! So glad you read everything I don't and then share it here!

[katrinak]

Thanks for these Cassie!

Originally Posted by 1gr8muggle

Defogging an Image:

Amount: 20%
Radius: 65 pixels
Threshold: 0 or 1 level

These are my go to numbers too! I typically use a Radius of 60 pixels but otherwise all the same

[Cassie Jones (1gr8muggle)]

Originally Posted by katrinak

Thanks for these Cassie!
These are my go to numbers too! I typically use a Radius of 60 pixels but otherwise all the same

Now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure I use 60, too.

[Elaine]

Wow Cassie,

Thanks a bunch. I have the original Scott Kelby book but didn't find these in it. What a fast and complete response.

Your the best!

Elaine

[lwarren]

Wow, thanks Cassie! I can't wait to play with these settings!

[Island scrap]

When i need to add a little sharpness to a photograph I use 'High Pass'=
Duplicate layer
filter/other/highpass
Slide it to somewhere between 7 to 14 depending on the photograph.
Choose 'Hard light' in the blending modes
adjust opacity of the layer to get the desired sharpness.

it's a bit of a process but I get really nice results that I prefer to the unsharp mask.

[Elaine]

Is High Pass a PSCS options but not in Elements?

[Elaine]

I found Hi Pass and did some amazing things with it today.

WOO HOO l I love new techniques.

[beehive50]

Originally Posted by Elaine

Is High Pass a PSCS options but not in Elements?

Elaine... I haven't used it at all, but happened to have PSE5 open at work! And, yes... PSE5 does have a "high pass" option right where IslandScrap said she found it: Filter/Other/High Pass

Something else for us to try!

[Elaine]

But Debi, you have cool pictures and tha is what matters.

[hguenthe]

YAY! I figured with all of the talented photographers and scrappers around here, there would be this info somewhere in the post archives.

I haven't picked up the Scott Kelby PS book yet but after his digital photography ones, it is next in line to show up at my door! Learning about the unsharp mask filter had me oooooing and awwwing yesterday that I thought I would give this fabulous post a bump for anyone else interested in the numbers. I loved using it along with the Noiseware filter to give my photos that extra omph.

PS. If you have the ability to make actions, I would recommend making a set and putting these all in there so you don't need to keep on hand the different settings for the different photo uses. Actions rock!

[deanie]

For those of us with PSE , all of that information is also in his book, The Photoshop Elements 5 Book for Digital Photographers. Sooo many other wonderful things as well, including some ways to make PSE work like the full version of photoshop. (One of these days, though, PSE is going to be replaced at my house!)

[hguenthe]

He only goes briefly into them in his Digital Photography book but the results from just that was great. I am really excited to see what all goodies he has in his CS book!

[beehive50]

Originally Posted by hguenthe

He only goes briefly into them in his Digital Photography book but the results from just that was great. I am really excited to see what all goodies he has in his CS book!

Originally Posted by deanie

For those of us with PSE , all of that information is also in his book, The Photoshop Elements 5 Book for Digital Photographers. Sooo many other wonderful things as well, including some ways to make PSE work like the full version of photoshop. (One of these days, though, PSE is going to be replaced at my house!)

Well, I do have Scott's book for PSE (Which is sadly sitting by my computer, but not hardly touched! My bad!). But I don't have the photography one yet... I'm now thinking that it's a must-have! Then, with both of them, I SHOULD churn out way better pics, right?

[hguenthe]

Originally Posted by beehive50

Then, with both of them, I SHOULD churn out way better pics, right?

I like how he makes it fun to read and yes, I think that everyone following his suggestions will see way better results in some form or another. I thought my photos were pretty sharp to begin with but this showed me how to take it up another notch which you don't really notice until you try it... he shows you just how much making tiny adjustments can make to the end result from sharpening things to adjusting your angle of shots, use of light, etc.

[BillieBee]

Thanks for bumping this thread! I printed those numbers out and hope to play tonight

[beehive50]

Originally Posted by hguenthe

I like how he makes it fun to read and yes, I think that everyone following his suggestions will see way better results in some form or another. I thought my photos were pretty sharp to begin with but this showed me how to take it up another notch which you don't really notice until you try it... he shows you just how much making tiny adjustments can make to the end result from sharpening things to adjusting your angle of shots, use of light, etc.

Sounds like I should order that from Idea Books 4U this weekend! Thanks, Heather!

[colleenstearns]

Thanks Cassie! Thanks also to Deanie. I am going to look for the PSE 5.0 book today.

[Kimbe]

Hi all,
I'm trying to find the best way to save my 12x12 (300 res) psd file for the gallery. I did reduce the image size to 700x700 pxls (72 res) and see what folks mean about it being blurry. I tried the unsharp mask but it still doesn't look quite right. Am I on the right track or no?...thanks, KimBe

[hguenthe]

Try just adjusting the res up first and see if that fixes your problem. You don't need to take it all the way down to 72 dpi. If you are on a Windows PC, your screen resolution is likely 96 dpi actually and not 72 dpi so that will make it look blurry because you are going below its resolution.

Think of it as comparing a 1 megapixel 8X10 photo next to a 10 megapixel 8X10 photo - you see the difference because your eye has a larger resolution of detail than the 1 megapixel photo when viewed up close.

[Kimbe]

Thanks!