Question on unsharp mask setting

The USM filter is not applied until you open the filter and click on it. By the way, it’s smarter to duplicate the layer (or layers) that you wish to apply the USM filter to, then apply the filter to the duplicate layer. Then you can adjust that layer’s opacity and/or layer blend mode to achieve the optimum effect. I generally set the USM filter to about 50% and adjust Radius between 50 & 200 pixels, depending on the overall contrast in the subject. Then vary blend mode & opacity to optimize the image. The histogram is a good reference to insure that shadow detail isn’t blocked up nor highlights blown while optimizing.
Regards, David "Routemeister" Thompson
http://picasaweb.google.com/david.routemeister
http://home.rochester.rr.com/backroads/

"Satoshi" wrote in message

I set USM (unsharp mask) at 20% /50 px/ 0 px for my Photoshop CS2, . When I set the USM numbers, the numbers remain there the same and forever until WinXP is reformatted.
So I thought that this USM number was set as default.
My question is whether this USM number was already applied or not whenever new images were opened.
I thought that it would be practical if no USM was applied unless I click OK in the USM dialog box.
I am not sure about this. So I am posting this question. Please advise me. Craig

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it’s smarter to duplicate the layer (or layers)

Thanks for this forgotten tip. I appreciate it.
I will try our USM setting.
Thanks again.
Craig

"Routemeister" wrote in message

The USM filter is not applied until you open the filter and click on it. By the way, it’s smarter to duplicate the layer (or layers) that you wish to apply the USM filter to, then apply the filter to the duplicate layer. Then you can adjust that layer’s opacity and/or layer blend mode to achieve the optimum effect. I generally set the USM filter to about 50% and adjust Radius between 50 & 200 pixels, depending on the overall contrast in the subject. Then vary blend mode & opacity to optimize the image. The histogram is a good reference to insure that shadow detail isn’t blocked up nor highlights blown while optimizing.
Regards, David "Routemeister" Thompson
http://picasaweb.google.com/david.routemeister
http://home.rochester.rr.com/backroads/

I have a related question on USM setting. This is about setting threshold (0 – 255).
What is the difference between 0 and 1 for threshold?
If it is set at 1, the setting would sharpen lots of pixels. If it is set at 0, that could possibly mean "no sharpening". I am a little confused on this one.
Craig

"Routemeister" wrote in message

The USM filter is not applied until you open the filter and click on it. By the way, it’s smarter to duplicate the layer (or layers) that you wish to apply the USM filter to, then apply the filter to the duplicate layer. Then you can adjust that layer’s opacity and/or layer blend mode to achieve the optimum effect. I generally set the USM filter to about 50% and adjust Radius between 50 & 200 pixels, depending on the overall contrast in the subject. Then vary blend mode & opacity to optimize the image. The histogram is a good reference to insure that shadow detail isn’t blocked up nor highlights blown while optimizing.
Regards, David "Routemeister" Thompson
http://picasaweb.google.com/david.routemeister
http://home.rochester.rr.com/backroads/

In article <ei2k7j$n62$>,
"Satoshi" wrote:

I have a related question on USM setting. This is about setting threshold (0 – 255).
What is the difference between 0 and 1 for threshold?
If it is set at 1, the setting would sharpen lots of pixels. If it is set at 0, that could possibly mean "no sharpening". I am a little confused on this one.

No. You don’t understand the settings in the dialog.

Unsharp masking works by finding edges, and then enhancing those edges by making the dark side of an edge darker and the light side lighter.

The Amount controls how much lightening or darkening is applied.

The Radius controls how wide the "halo" created around edges is. From the original post you left, the Amount you are using is very low, and the Radius is way, way, way to high. For most purposes: a Radius of 1 to
1.5 is appropriate for images intended to be viewed on screen; for
images intended for professional printing on a printing press, an appropriate Radius amount is dependent on the halftone screen you are using and the resolution of the image, but for images whose resolution is twice the halftone frequency, an appropriate Radius is the halftone screen divided by 100 (so, for example, you would use a setting of 1.5 for a 150-line screen).

The Threshold is how you set what Photoshop calls an "edge." The higher this number is, the more difference there must be between two adjacent pixels before Photoshop considers it an "edge" and enhances it.

—
Art, photography, shareware, polyamory, literature, kink: all at http://www.xeromag.com/franklin.html
Nanohazard, Geek shirts, and more: http://www.villaintees.com

tacit, thanks for your comments on USM. I have a related question for you. I printed (on Canon i9900 printer) 4 x 6 size pictures with different USM settings (collected from a photo forum) in PS CS2.
All picture looked great and very similar to my untrained eyes. Could you please tell me where to took at the picture to define the optimal USM setting?
Thanks. Cobras

..

"tacit" wrote in message

In article <ei2k7j$n62$>,
"Satoshi" wrote:

I have a related question on USM setting. This is about setting threshold
(0 – 255).
What is the difference between 0 and 1 for threshold?
If it is set at 1, the setting would sharpen lots of pixels. If it is set at 0, that could possibly mean "no sharpening". I am a little
confused on this one.

No. You don’t understand the settings in the dialog.

Unsharp masking works by finding edges, and then enhancing those edges by making the dark side of an edge darker and the light side lighter.
The Amount controls how much lightening or darkening is applied.
The Radius controls how wide the "halo" created around edges is. From the original post you left, the Amount you are using is very low, and the Radius is way, way, way to high. For most purposes: a Radius of 1 to
1.5 is appropriate for images intended to be viewed on screen; for
images intended for professional printing on a printing press, an appropriate Radius amount is dependent on the halftone screen you are using and the resolution of the image, but for images whose resolution is twice the halftone frequency, an appropriate Radius is the halftone screen divided by 100 (so, for example, you would use a setting of 1.5 for a 150-line screen).

The Threshold is how you set what Photoshop calls an "edge." The higher this number is, the more difference there must be between two adjacent pixels before Photoshop considers it an "edge" and enhances it.
—
Art, photography, shareware, polyamory, literature, kink: all at http://www.xeromag.com/franklin.html
Nanohazard, Geek shirts, and more: http://www.villaintees.com

tacit schreef:

In article <ei2k7j$n62$>,
"Satoshi" wrote:

I have a related question on USM setting. This is about setting threshold (0 – 255).
What is the difference between 0 and 1 for threshold?
If it is set at 1, the setting would sharpen lots of pixels. If it is set at 0, that could possibly mean "no sharpening". I am a little confused on this one.

No. You don’t understand the settings in the dialog.

Unsharp masking works by finding edges, and then enhancing those edges by making the dark side of an edge darker and the light side lighter.
The Amount controls how much lightening or darkening is applied.
The Radius controls how wide the "halo" created around edges is. From the original post you left, the Amount you are using is very low, and the Radius is way, way, way to high. For most purposes: a Radius of 1 to
1.5 is appropriate for images intended to be viewed on screen; for
images intended for professional printing on a printing press, an appropriate Radius amount is dependent on the halftone screen you are using and the resolution of the image, but for images whose resolution is twice the halftone frequency, an appropriate Radius is the halftone screen divided by 100 (so, for example, you would use a setting of 1.5 for a 150-line screen).

The Threshold is how you set what Photoshop calls an "edge." The higher this number is, the more difference there must be between two adjacent pixels before Photoshop considers it an "edge" and enhances it.

I’m using USM as follows :
Just to sharpen just THAT little bit, which makes your picture DONE :

Radius : 0,4 – 0,6 % (YES, very LITTLE Radius !!)
Amount : 100 – 300 % (YES, very MUCH Amount !!) Treshold : 0%

No halo’s !
Very nice results
Try it.

-=Rob

Thanks.

My question is not about to get the setting but how to tell "visually" to determine an optimal USM.

Craig

"-=Rob" wrote in message

tacit schreef:

In article <ei2k7j$n62$>,
"Satoshi" wrote:

I have a related question on USM setting. This is about setting threshold (0 – 255).
What is the difference between 0 and 1 for threshold?
If it is set at 1, the setting would sharpen lots of pixels. If it is set at 0, that could possibly mean "no sharpening". I am a little confused on this one.

No. You don’t understand the settings in the dialog.

Unsharp masking works by finding edges, and then enhancing those edges by making the dark side of an edge darker and the light side lighter.
The Amount controls how much lightening or darkening is applied.
The Radius controls how wide the "halo" created around edges is. From the original post you left, the Amount you are using is very low, and the Radius is way, way, way to high. For most purposes: a Radius of 1 to 1.5 is appropriate for images intended to be viewed on screen; for images intended for professional printing on a printing press, an appropriate Radius amount is dependent on the halftone screen you are using and the resolution of the image, but for images whose resolution is twice the halftone frequency, an appropriate Radius is the halftone screen divided by 100 (so, for example, you would use a setting of 1.5 for a 150-line screen).

The Threshold is how you set what Photoshop calls an "edge." The higher this number is, the more difference there must be between two adjacent pixels before Photoshop considers it an "edge" and enhances it.

I’m using USM as follows :
Just to sharpen just THAT little bit, which makes your picture DONE :
Radius : 0,4 – 0,6 % (YES, very LITTLE Radius !!)
Amount : 100 – 300 % (YES, very MUCH Amount !!) Treshold : 0%

No halo’s !
Very nice results
Try it.

-=Rob

In article <ei5cc1$f0o$>,
"Criag" wrote:

tacit, thanks for your comments on USM. I have a related question for you. I printed (on Canon i9900 printer) 4 x 6 size pictures with different USM settings (collected from a photo forum) in PS CS2.
All picture looked great and very similar to my untrained eyes. Could you please tell me where to took at the picture to define the optimal USM setting?
Thanks. Cobras

Rather than print, do this:

open your unsharpened picture
open unsharp mask
set amount to 300%
set radius to 4
set threshold to 0

now click the preview button on and off.
the edges being effected will jump out at you.
adjust the amount and radius to taste.
check for noise, raise the threshold to reduce
the noise enhancement.

apply and print, now you know where to look.
don’t be surprised if the effect is less noticeable
in the print.

Thanks rebus,

don’t be surprised if the effect is less noticeable
in the print.

That’s what I saw. That was the reason why I posted this question. Thanks again.

Craig

"rebus" wrote in message

In article <ei5cc1$f0o$>,

Rather than print, do this:

open your unsharpened picture
open unsharp mask
set amount to 300%
set radius to 4
set threshold to 0

now click the preview button on and off.
the edges being effected will jump out at you.
adjust the amount and radius to taste.
check for noise, raise the threshold to reduce
the noise enhancement.

apply and print, now you know where to look.
don’t be surprised if the effect is less noticeable
in the print.

In article <ei5cc1$f0o$>,
"Criag" wrote:

tacit, thanks for your comments on USM. I have a related question for you. I printed (on Canon i9900 printer) 4 x 6 size pictures with different USM settings (collected from a photo forum) in PS CS2.
All picture looked great and very similar to my untrained eyes. Could you please tell me where to took at the picture to define the optimal USM setting?

Unsharp masking is part art, part science. There is no set way to use it which works for all images.

Generally speaking, however:

The Unsharp Mask filter works by exaggerating areas of high contrast–ie, edges. This gives the appearance of sharper edges, and increases the apparent overall sharpness of the image. While it can’t make a blurred or out-of-focus image sharp, it can dramatically increase the perception of sharpness. And unsharp masking is a requirement to get good-looking images in print.

The Amount slider dictates how much edges are increased in contrast. If the value in this slider is too high, the image will appear to have "halos" around the edges.

The Radius slider determines how wide the area of enhanced contrast is around edges. In general, the amount you put in the Radius field depends on the resolution of the image; the higher the resolution in pixels per inch, the wider the Radius.

A good place to start is (image resolution/200). If the image is screen resolution–100 pixels per inch or less–try a Radius of 1. Increasing the Radius may also create undesireable halos around edges.

The Threshold command determines how far apart two neighboring pixels must be in tonal value in order to be sharpened. I usually start with a Threshold of 3. Lower Threshold values exaggerate noise along with edges; higher values don’t sharpen noise, but also produce more muted sharpening overall.

Note that if your image is intended for print, you should set the Amount value so that the image looks slightly over-sharpened on your screen! This is because the process of halftoning the image for print decreases the apparent sharpness of the image (which is why all images should have USM applied if they are going to be used for print).

—
Art, photography, shareware, polyamory, literature, kink: all at http://www.xeromag.com/franklin.html
Nanohazard, Geek shirts, and more: http://www.villaintees.com

Unsharp masking is part art, part science. There is no set way to use it which works for all images.

That makes sense. That’s why I am trying to learn one of the most important art to produce sharp pictures.
Another question is this. What magnification of preview would be better while applying UMS setting?
The default setting is 100% that was not enough to see the effect of UMS.. If increased to 200% – 300%, the preview images seem to get blurring. What is your recommendation?
Thanks. Craig

"tacit" wrote in message

In article <ei5cc1$f0o$>,

Unsharp masking is part art, part science. There is no set way to use it which works for all images.

Generally speaking, however:

The Unsharp Mask filter works by exaggerating areas of high contrast–ie, edges. This gives the appearance of sharper edges, and increases the apparent overall sharpness of the image. While it can’t make a blurred or out-of-focus image sharp, it can dramatically increase the perception of sharpness. And unsharp masking is a requirement to get good-looking images in print.

The Amount slider dictates how much edges are increased in contrast. If the value in this slider is too high, the image will appear to have "halos" around the edges.

The Radius slider determines how wide the area of enhanced contrast is around edges. In general, the amount you put in the Radius field depends on the resolution of the image; the higher the resolution in pixels per inch, the wider the Radius.

A good place to start is (image resolution/200). If the image is screen resolution–100 pixels per inch or less–try a Radius of 1. Increasing the Radius may also create undesireable halos around edges.

The Threshold command determines how far apart two neighboring pixels must be in tonal value in order to be sharpened. I usually start with a Threshold of 3. Lower Threshold values exaggerate noise along with edges; higher values don’t sharpen noise, but also produce more muted sharpening overall.

Note that if your image is intended for print, you should set the Amount value so that the image looks slightly over-sharpened on your screen! This is because the process of halftoning the image for print decreases the apparent sharpness of the image (which is why all images should have USM applied if they are going to be used for print).

—
Art, photography, shareware, polyamory, literature, kink: all at http://www.xeromag.com/franklin.html
Nanohazard, Geek shirts, and more: http://www.villaintees.com

In article <ei7pgm$5ca$>,
"Criag" wrote:

Another question is this. What magnification of preview would be better while applying UMS setting?
The default setting is 100% that was not enough to see the effect of UMS.. If increased to 200% – 300%, the preview images seem to get blurring. What is your recommendation?

Always work at 100%; you do not get a realistic view of the effect of USM at any other magnification.

—
Art, photography, shareware, polyamory, literature, kink: all at http://www.xeromag.com/franklin.html
Nanohazard, Geek shirts, and more: http://www.villaintees.com

tacit wrote:

In article <ei7pgm$5ca$>,
"Criag" wrote:

Another question is this. What magnification of preview would be better while applying UMS setting?
The default setting is 100% that was not enough to see the effect of UMS.. If increased to 200% – 300%, the preview images seem to get blurring. What is your recommendation?

Always work at 100%; you do not get a realistic view of the effect of USM at any other magnification.

That’s debatable. At 100% the effect is much more pronounced than it will be in print. I often check both at 100% and at 50%. At 50% it is much more like the effect in print.

—
Johan W. Elzenga johan<<at>>johanfoto.nl Editor / Photographer http://www.johanfoto.nl

On Tue, 31 Oct 2006 15:41:40 -0500, tacit wrote:

In article <ei7pgm$5ca$>,
"Criag" wrote:

Another question is this. What magnification of preview would be better while applying UMS setting?

….

Always work at 100%; you do not get a realistic view of the effect of USM at any other magnification.

I believe you also want to do the unsharp mask step last, after all other adjustments, and especially after any changes to resolution that involve resampling. If you need your image in multiple different sizes (different pixel counts), you need to sharpen each one separately at its own 100% view; they will need different settings. Probably obvious to some people, but we all had to learn it somewhere…

Loren