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<ul class="navigation"><li class="prev"><a accesskey="p" class="prev" href="WSB5D75388-8DC6-4c2d-B274-D311CE624673a.html" title="Adjusting image sharpness and blur"><img src="images/blank.gif" alt="Previous" width="17" height="17" /></a></li><li class="next"><a accesskey="n" class="next" href="WS53AAF857-B3B3-49e6-99FF-56E162336590a.html" title="Sharpen using Smart Sharpen"><img src="images/blank.gif" alt="Next" width="17" height="17" /></a></li></ul><div class="hierarchy" id="hierarchy"><a href="WSfd1234e1c4b69f30ea53e41001031ab64-763ea.html">Retouching and transforming</a> /
     <a href="WSB5D75388-8DC6-4c2d-B274-D311CE624673a.html"><b>Adjusting image sharpness and blur</b></a> 
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                <h1>
                    Sharpen images
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                <div><p>Sharpening enhances the definition
of edges in an image. Whether your images come from a digital camera
or a scanner, most images can benefit from sharpening. The degree
of sharpening needed varies depending on the quality of the digital
camera or scanner. Keep in mind that sharpening cannot correct a severely
blurred image. </p>
<p>Notes and tips about sharpening:</p>
<ul><li><p>Sharpen your image on a separate layer so that you can
resharpen it later if you need to output it to a different medium. </p>
</li>
<li><p>If you sharpen your image on a separate layer, set the layer’s
blending mode to Luminance to avoid color shifts along edges. </p>
</li>
<li><p>Sharpening increases image contrast. If you find that highlights
or shadows are clipped after you sharpen, use the layer blending
controls (if you sharpen a separate layer) to prevent sharpening
in highlights and shadows. See <a href="WSfd1234e1c4b69f30ea53e41001031ab64-789ca.html">Specify a tonal range for blending layers</a>.</p>
</li>
<li><p>If you need to reduce image noise, do so before sharpening
so that you don’t intensify the noise.</p>
</li>
<li><p>Sharpen your image multiple times in small amounts. Sharpen
the first time to correct blur caused by capturing your image (scanning
it or taking it with your digital camera). After you’ve color corrected
and sized your image, sharpen it again (or a copy of it) to add
the appropriate amount of sharpening for your output medium.</p>
</li>
<li><p>If possible, judge your sharpening by outputting it to the
final medium. The amount of sharpening needed varies among output
media.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>For
greatest control use the Unsharp Mask (USM) filter or the Smart
Sharpen filter to sharpen your images. Although Photoshop also has
the Sharpen, Sharpen Edges, and Sharpen More filter options, these
filters are automatic and do not provide controls and options. </p>
<p>You can sharpen your entire image or just a portion defined by
a selection or mask. Because the Unsharp Mask and Smart Sharpen
filters can be applied to only one layer at a time, you might need
to merge layers or flatten your file to sharpen all image layers
in a multilayered file.</p>
<div class="note"><span class="notetitle">Note:  </span>Don’t be misled by the name Unsharp Mask, which comes from
a darkroom technique used in traditional film‑based photography.
The filter sharpens images rather than the opposite.</div>
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