How can you sharpen an image using a high pass filter in Photoshop?

Starting with image sharpening in Photoshop, first things first – duplicate the layer with the image you want to point. This is a neat trick to apply edits while keeping the original safe. Head over to the Layers panel, right-click on the layer you're working with, and select 'Duplicate Layer.' Or, if you're all about shortcuts, hit Ctrl+J on Windows or Command+J on a Mac. This creates a copy of your layer, setting you up perfectly to work on sharpening without altering the original image. It's like having a safety net, ensuring you can always return to the start if needed.

To sharpen an image with a high-pass filter in Photoshop: 1. Open your image in Photoshop. 2. Duplicate the background layer (Layer > Duplicate Layer or Ctrl+J). 3. Desaturate the new layer (Image > Adjustments > Desaturate or Shift+Ctrl+U). 4. Apply the High Pass filter (Filter > Other > High Pass). Adjust the radius to define edges without haloing. 5. Set the layer blending mode to ‘Overlay’ or ‘Soft Light’ for a more subtle effect. 6. Adjust the opacity to fine-tune the sharpness. 7. Flatten layers (Layer > Flatten Image) to merge, if satisfied. This method emphasizes texture and edge details for sharpness.

1. Duplicate Layer: Duplicate your image layer. 2. High Pass Filter: Go to Filter > Other > High Pass. Adjust the radius for the desired detail. 3. Blend Mode: Change layer blend mode to "Overlay" or "Soft Light." 4. Opacity Tune: Fine-tune sharpness with layer opacity adjustment. 5. Save: Save your sharpened image!

Before diving into the sharpening process, it's crucial to create a duplicate layer of the image you want to sharpen. This non-destructive approach ensures that the original image remains intact, allowing you to adjust the sharpening effect without compromising the original data. To duplicate the layer, simply right-click on the layer in the Layers panel and select "Duplicate Layer."

You can easily duplicate a layer in Photoshop easily. Press control/Command+J to duplicate the original layer. Now you can apply a high pass filter to the copy. In this way, the original layer will remain preserved.

The next step in your image-sharpening journey is transforming that duplicated layer into a bright object. Why a brilliant thing, you ask? It's like putting your image in a protective bubble. It keeps the original data safe, letting you apply filters and adjustments without permanently changing the image. Here's how to do it: head back to the Layers panel, right-click on that duplicated layer, and choose 'Convert to Smart Object.' You'll notice a little icon appears on the layer thumbnail – that's your cue that it's now a bright object. This step sets you up for some non-destructive editing magic, allowing you to experiment without any worries.

Smart objects in Photoshop offer enhanced flexibility when applying filters. They maintain the original image quality and allow you to resize, transform, and adjust filter settings without affecting the underlying pixels. To convert the duplicated layer into a smart object, right-click on it and choose "Convert to Smart Object."

The next step you have to change your layer to the smart object. A smart object is a layer that preserves the original image data & it allows you to apply non destructive filters and other adjustments. Select the layer, right mouse click & you will see an option to change it to the smart object.

In this step, you have to apply the high pass filter to the smart object. Go to Filter > other > High pass. A new window will appear & here you can adjust the radius filter. The high pass filter will enhance the edges and contrast of the image.

With the smart object in place, it's time to unleash the sharpening magic of the high pass filter. Go to Filter > Other > High Pass. A new window will appear, where you can adjust the radius of the filter. The radius determines the extent of the sharpening effect. Higher values will sharpen more aggressively, while lower values will provide a subtler effect.

Besides a high pass filter you can also use the sharp mask and add a filter to your photo layer that's duplicated. If you have that layer as a smart object, this is nondestructive as you can always go back and edit this. I also consider sharpening photos instead with Lightroom as I love their sharpening more vs Photoshop.

Adjust the radius value in the High Pass dialog box. A lower radius value will produce subtle sharpening, while a higher value will create more pronounced sharpening. You can preview the effect in real-time. Click "OK" to apply the High Pass filter. Change the blending mode of the duplicated layer to "Overlay" or "Soft Light" in the Layers panel. This will blend the sharpened layer with the original image.

The high pass filter, when applied directly to an image, can create an overly harsh effect. To achieve a more natural and balanced sharpening, it's essential to change the blend mode of the high pass layer. Select the Overlay blend mode from the drop-down menu in the Layers panel. This blend mode will selectively sharpen edges and details without affecting the overall brightness and contrast of the image.

Change the blending mode of the duplicated layer to "Overlay" or "Soft Light" in the layers panel. This will blend the sharpened layer with the original image. If the sharpening effect is too strong, you can reduce the opacity of the duplicated layer to fine-tune the overall effect

Adjusting the opacity: The opacity of the high pass layer controls the intensity of the sharpening effect. Adjust the opacity slider to achieve the desired level of sharpness. Masking specific areas: If you want to sharpen certain areas of the image more than others, you can use a layer mask to selectively apply the high pass filter. Fine-tuning the effect: Experiment with different radius settings and blend modes to find the combination that best suits your image.

Avoid excessive sharpening, as it can introduce unwanted artifacts and make the image look unnatural. Subtle adjustments often yield better results. Sometimes, it's beneficial to perform other adjustments before or after sharpening, for instance, noise reduction or color correction before sharpening. Always compare the sharpened version with the original to ensure you're achieving the desired effect without compromising image quality.