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New to Photoshop; help sharpening


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SamSpade

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I am having a problem in applying a sharpen layer. I am using CS2 and Windows XP.

Here is what I have done: I created a duplicate layer of the Background layer. It is located just above the Background layer. (there are several other layers above the Background and duplicate Background layer) With the duplicate layer highlighted, I went to Filter>Sharpen>unsharp mask. This makes a box appear on the screen with controls for sharpening. The problem is, no matter how I set the sliders for the unsharp mask, the large image on the screen does not change (I have the preview selected). However, the small image in the unsharp mask does change.

How do I get the whole image to change with the sharpening controls in the unsharp mask?

Thanks for your help.
 
Make sure you don't have a selection somewhere that's active because it will only apply to that selection. Also make sure you're viewing the image at 100% magnification... USM wouldn't look like much if you're zoomed way out from the photo. Also, if this is a really large photo, you might be straining your system and it's just taking it's time in displaying the change.

Welcome to PSG.
 
Mindbender,

Thanks for the help. Since the copy of the Background is highlighted, after clicking on it, how can I tell if another selection is active?

The way I got around this problem was to create a new layer, and then Layer>visible. All of the layers merged into one, and the sharpen tool worked fine. The problem with this approach is I am not able to go back to any of the merged layers and make adjustments. Also, has this technique altered the data in the original Background layer?

Is there a better way to sharpen an image other than 1. make a Background copy; 2. Filter> sharpen> unsharp mask applied to the Background copy?

Thanks again.
 
Since the copy of the Background is highlighted, after clicking on it, how can I tell if another selection is active?
Click to expand...

I was referring to selections made using selection tools like the rectangular marquee et al. Making sure you have the layer you want to work on highlighted on the layers palette is important too... as well as making sure that there aren't any layers above that layer which are visible that might hide what you're doing.

What method are you using to make a "copy" of the background layer. Can you describe what you're doing step by step, there might be something in the process that's causing the problem.
 
Thank you for responding to my posts.

While I am very new to Photoshop, I have taken a couple of Photoshop workshops. They have emphasized the use of layers when making changes to an image so that the original image is not permanently altered.

Following this advice is no problem when I use the Layer>New Adjustment Layer>curves, e.g. This automatically creates a new layer and all the changes I make are in the adjustment layer.

The problem I am having is creating a layer when I want to sharpen or apply the healing brush tool, for example. (All those techniques work fine if I make the Background layer the active layer ?but, that is what I am trying to avoid.)

The technique I have been using is to create a copy of the background layer via the following: highlight the background layer (i.e. make it turn blue) and then select: Layer>duplicate layer. This creates a layer called the Background Copy and is just above the Background layer, but below the other layers I have created. Next, I click on the Background Copy layer (i.e., it turns blue). To sharpen, I then: Filter>Sharpen>unsharp mask.

The problem with my approach is the sharpening does not change the sharpness of the image.

So, my basic question is: how do I create an empty retouching layer that I can use to apply sharpening, or use the Healing Brush tool, etc, but not alter the underlying image?
 
Make sure that the layer isn't locked. At the top of the layers palette are four types of locking methods. Make sure none of them are checked. Background layers are automatically locked against movement... sometimes when you duplicate them, other locking methods carry along with it.

As I said before, make sure that you're viewing your artwork at 100% magnification... sharpening can be subtle even at high degrees if you're using something like USM and if this is a very large photograph you might not see it without being zoomed in.

Don't discount subject matter. Sometimes you just can't see certain kinds of sharpening because the subject matter doesn't sharpen well.
 
Welcome! 8))

SamSpade said:
So, my basic question is: how do I create an empty retouching layer that I can use to apply sharpening, or use the Healing Brush tool, etc, but not alter the underlying image?
Click to expand...

As for sharpening try either one of the following methods. One is high pass sharpening, which is explained here: http://veerle.duoh.com/index.php/blog/comments/enhance_your_photos_by_using_the_high_pass_filter/

There is, and only for CS3, smart filters, which can be used with any sharpening filter and will also not damage the original in any way.

As for the healing brush tool; add anew layer and with the healing brush active select in CS2 in the option bar Use all layers or in CS3 select in the option bar Sample: All Layers; this will put all your corrections on a separate layer.
 
Thanks to all of you who have responded to my post. After reading your responses and all of the links, I now have workable solutions to creating an empty retouching layer and how to sharpen without impacting the original image. Your comments have also motivated me to order the upgrade from CS2 to CS3.

This is my first posting on your Forum and I appreciate the time and effort of so many to answear such a fundamental question. (I especially appreciate the lack of sarcasm in educating a newcomer to Photoshop.)

Sam
 
Glad things worked out for you Sam, hopefully we'll see you around posting some more. :)
 
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