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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> Sharpen vs unsharp mask
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 06/09/2012 12:17:45 PM · #1
What is the difference btw sharpen and unsharp mask? In my workflow, I always sharpen last (after resizing my image) and I always use unsharp mask. Are there times when one should be used in preference to the other? Do you always sharpen images?
 06/09/2012 12:35:37 PM · #2
First of all -- USM is not allowed in Minimal Editing.

I normally use USM for contrast and Smart Sharpen after resizing. I'm not an expert on sharpening tools, but that's the way I use them.
 06/09/2012 01:08:57 PM · #3
Unsharp mask is a more fine grained and controllable tool. It's origins are in film, where a blurred copy of a negative was overlaid and used to help enhance edges.Here is a pretty good explantion ow how USM works.

For an 800 pixel image, I start with settings of Amount:
Radius: .35
Amount: 150
Clipping/Threshhold: 4

Then I adjust the amount as needed for the image, often down a little. How much I need to use varies based on the image. The clipping/threshhold setting affects how much difference there needs to be between adjacent pixels before it will increase contrast between them. This way you sharpen the visible edges and not everything.

I think regular sharpen just adjusts edge contrast in a less refined manner, but I'm not totally sure what the difference is. I've been exclusivley using USM since I learned about it. (Except in minimal editing challenges)

Message edited by author 2012-06-09 13:10:31.
 06/09/2012 02:28:28 PM · #4
my wk flow is usually (not always) - I'm talking Basic/Advanced Editing

these are all on low settings...just so I can see a "little" change in the pre-view

Adjust Sharpness
Topaz InFocus
Topaz DeNoise
Resize
High Pass Filter (Advanced Editing)
USM
Resize
SAVE for WEB

bear in mind this is what I usually do with "sharpening" only - not my Conversion from RAW, Curves/Levels/Brightness
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