PHOTOSHOP

UNSHARP MASK & BLUR FILTERS

Sharpen using Unsharp Mask

The Unsharp Mask sharpens an image by increasing contrast along the edges in an image. The Unsharp
Mask does not detect edges in an image. Instead, it locates pixels that differ in value from surrounding
pixels by the threshold you specify. It then increases the contrast of neighbouring pixels by the amount you
specify. So, for neighbouring pixels the lighter pixels get lighter and the darker pixels get darker.
In addition, you specify the radius of the region to which each pixel is compared. The greater the radius,
the larger the edge effects.
The degree of sharpening applied to an image is often a matter of personal choice. However, over
sharpening an image produces a halo effect around the edges.
Over sharpening an image produces a halo effect around the edges.
The effects of the Unsharp Mask filter are more pronounced on-screen than in high-resolution output. If
your final destination is print, experiment to determine what settings work best for your image.
1.

2.

(Optional) If your image is multilayered, select the layer containing the image you want to
sharpen. You can apply Unsharp Mask to only one layer at a time, even if layers are linked or
grouped. You can merge the layers before applying the Unsharp Mask filter.
Choose Filter > Sharpen > Unsharp Mask. Make sure the Preview option is selected.
Click the image in the preview window and hold down the mouse to see how the image looks
without the sharpening. Drag in the preview window to see different parts of the image, and click
+ or to zoom in or out.
Although there is a preview window in the Unsharp Mask dialog box, its best to move the dialog
box so you can preview the effects of the filter in the document window.

3.

Drag the Radius slider or enter a value to determine the number of pixels surrounding the edge
pixels that affect the sharpening. The greater the radius value, the wider the edge effects. And the
wider the edge effects, the more obvious the sharpening.
The Radius value varies according to the subject matter, the size of the final reproduction, and the
output method. For high-resolution images, a Radius value between 1 and 2 is usually
recommended. A lower value sharpens only the edge pixels, whereas a higher value sharpens a
wider band of pixels. This effect is much less noticeable in print than on-screen, because a 2-pixel
radius represents a smaller area in a high-resolution printed image.

4.
5.

Drag the Amount slider or enter a value to determine how much to increase the contrast of pixels.
For high-resolution printed images, an amount between 150% and 200% is usually recommended.
Drag the Threshold slider or enter a value to determine how different the sharpened pixels must be
from the surrounding area before they are considered edge pixels and sharpened by the filter. For
instance, a threshold of 4 affects all pixels that have tonal values that differ by a value or 4 or
more, on a scale of 0 to 255. So, if adjacent pixels have tonal values of 128 and 129, they are not
affected. To avoid introducing noise or posterization (in images with flesh tones, for example),
use an edge mask or try experimenting with Threshold values between 2 and 20. The default
Threshold value (0) sharpens all pixels in the image.

If applying Unsharp Mask makes already bright colours appear overly saturated, choose Edit > Fade
Unsharp Mask and choose Luminosity from the Mode menu.

Blur filters
The Blur filters soften a selection or an entire image, and are useful for retouching. They smooth transitions
by averaging the pixels next to the hard edges of defined lines and shaded areas in an image.
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Before (left) and after (right) using the Lens Blur filter; the background is blurred but foreground stays
sharp
Note: To apply a Blur filter to the edges of a layer, deselect the Lock Transparent Pixel option in the
Layers palette.
Average
Finds the average colour of an image or selection, and then fills the image or selection with the colour
to create a smooth look. For example, if you select an area of grass, the filter changes the area into a
homogeneous patch of green.
Blur and Blur More
Eliminate noise where significant colour transitions occur in an image. Blur filters smooth transitions
by averaging the pixels next to the hard edges of defined lines and shaded areas. The effect of the Blur
More filter is three or four times stronger than that of the Blur filter.
Box Blur
Blurs an image based on the average colour value of neighbouring pixels. This filter is useful for
creating special effects. You can adjust the size of the area used to calculate the average value for a
given pixel; a larger radius results in greater blurring.
Gaussian Blur
Quickly blurs a selection by an adjustable amount. Gaussian refers to the bell-shaped curve that is
generated when Photoshop applies a weighted average to the pixels. The Gaussian Blur filter adds
low-frequency detail and can produce a hazy effect.
Lens Blur
Adds blur to an image to give the effect of a narrower depth of field so that some objects in the image
stay in focus and others areas are blurred.
Motion Blur
Blurs in the specified direction (from 360 to +360) and at a specified intensity (from 1 to 999). The
filters effect is analogous to taking a picture of a moving object with a fixed exposure time.
Radial Blur
Simulates the blur of a zooming or rotating camera to produce a soft blur. Choose Spin to blur along
concentric circular lines, and then specify a degree of rotation. Choose Zoom to blur along radial
lines, as if zooming into or out of the image, and specify a value from 1 to 100. Blur quality ranges
from Draft (for fast but grainy results) or Good and Best for smoother results, which are
indistinguishable from each other except on a large selection. Specify the origin of the blur by
dragging the pattern in the Blur Centre box.
Shape Blur
Uses the specified kernel to create the blur. Choose a kernel from the list of custom shape presets, and
use the radius slider to adjust its size. You can load different shape libraries by clicking the triangle
and choosing from the list. Radius determines the size of the kernel; the larger the kernel, the greater
the blur.
Smart Blur
Blurs an image with precision. You can specify a radius, a threshold, and a blur quality. The Radius
value determines the size of the area searched for dissimilar pixels. The Threshold value determines
how dissimilar the pixels must be before they are affected. You also can set a mode for the entire
selection (Normal) or for the edges of colour transitions (Edge Only and Overlay). Where significant
contrast occurs, Edge Only applies black-and-white edges, and Overlay Edge applies white.
Surface Blur
Blurs an image while preserving edges. This filter is useful for creating special effects and for
removing noise or graininess. The Radius option specifies the size of the area sampled for the blur.
The Threshold option controls how much the tonal values of neighbouring pixels must diverge from
the centre pixel value before being part of the blur. Pixels with tonal value differences less than the
Threshold value are excluded from the blur.

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