How To Sharpen Your Photos: A Tutorial

It's good to have sharp photos. But there will always be times when your in  a tight schedule and you take that photo and when you think that you already got the shot, but by the time you import it in your computer you then realize that its not as sharp as you expected it to be. There are two ways you can correct this: first, you can redo the shot, or second, you can fix it in Photoshop. And I know you'd rather correct it in the shop right? So let me share a couple of techniques I use to sharpen my photos:

1. High Pass Sharpening

2. Manny Librodo's Sharpening Technique

HIGH PASS SHARPENING

1. Open your image in Photoshop.
2. Edit your photo as desired until done. Personally, I like to do the sharpening last.
3. When done with all the editing make sure you have merged all layers together by pressing CTRL E in PC.
4. After all layers have been merged, make another copy of the layer by pressing CTRL J.
5. On the copied layer, go to the Filter menu, drop down to Other, then click on High Pass.
6. On the High Pass pop up control, choose a radius amount where you can just almost see the edges of the subject you want to sharpen. Do not over do this step. Personally, I use a radius amount of .5 to 1 depending on my image. Press OK.
7. Notice that your copied image will now turn grey. Go to your Blending Modes and choose Hard Light.
8. Finally, adjust the sharpness by playing with the Opacity. For me, I often go for 70% to 100% opacity again depending on the image. Merge all layers by again pressing CTRL E.

Before Sharpening

After High Pass Sharpening



MANNY LIBRODO'S SHARPENING TECHNIQUE

1. Open your image in Photoshop.
2. Edit your photo as desired until done.
3. When done with all the editing make sure you have merged all layers together by pressing CTRL E in PC.
4. After all layers have been merged, make another copy of the layer by pressing CTRL J.
5. Make sure you have selected the copied layer.
6. Unsharp Mask ( Filter - Sharpen -Unsharp Mask...) and enter Amount 18, Radius 40, Threshold 0 - press OK
7. Unsharp Mask ( Filter - Sharpen - Unsharp Mask...) and enter Amount 150, Radius 0.3, Threshold 0 - press OK 
8. Edit - Fade Unsharp Mask: Opacity 100% and select Darken in the Mode dropdown list - press OK
9. Unsharp Mask ( Filter - Sharpen - Unsharp Mask...) and enter Amount 150, Radius 0.3, Threshold 0 - press OK [you can simply press CTRL F or Filter - Unsharp Mask (the one on top)]
10. Edit - Fade Unsharp Mask: Opacity 50% and select Lighten in the Mode dropdown list - press OK
11. Flatten Image (Layers - Flatten image) by pressing CTRL E.

Too much? No worries, you can download the Photoshop action HERE

Before Sharpening

After Manny Librodo's Sharpening Technique


So those are the techniques I use to sharpen my images. But keep in mind that in order to get really sharp photos, always start with your camera. Make sure you have your settings right and never think of "let me just correct it in Photoshop", don't be that idiot and I'm quoting Zack Arias.

Hope this helps! Happy Editing!


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