Graduated Sharpening

S
Posted By
scb
May 31, 2005
Views
943
Replies
11
Status
Closed
Hi Gang …

Is it possible to sharpen on a gradient, so that, for example, the top part of a selection is @ 100% and gradually the effect of the sharpening is reduced as it moves towards the bottom of the selection? Any suggestions on how to do this?

Thanks,

shel (Win XP, PS CS)
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John_Bean_UK
May 31, 2005
Several ways spring to mind, depending on your needs. One easy way on a single layer is to go into quick mask mode, draw a gradient using the gradient tool, exit quick mask mode and apply the sharpening filter. Better to use layers with graduated transparency but the simple method will get you started.
MV
Mathias_Vejerslev
May 31, 2005
Duplicate layer, apply sharpening, apply layer mask as in Mathias Vejerslev, "How to make a gradual opacity fade on a layer" #, 30 Apr 2003 10:19 am </cgi-bin/webx?50>

Mathias
P
Phosphor
May 31, 2005
The thing about these methods, though, is that it really isn’t a graduation of the sharpening effect itself, but rather a graduation of the amount of sharpening you actually see.

The amount of sharpening is applied equally to the entire image and the opacity mask only serves to make that consistent amount of sharpening more—or less—visible, as determined by the grayscale value in each area of the mask.

The distinction may be one of subtle words, but great in effectual result.
MV
Mathias_Vejerslev
May 31, 2005
Agreed!
PC
Pierre_Courtejoie
May 31, 2005
Yes, but is it really a problem as sharpening as we know it is almost an artefact? (What I mean is that USM creates the illusion of sharpness with light and dark halos, it does not "unblur")
PC
Pierre_Courtejoie
May 31, 2005
Now that I think of it, one may try to use Raphael’s graduated blur method to do a graduated sharpening (one may need to use a low level of sharpening.
Create a selection where the sharpening will be the strongest. Feather this selection. Sharpen. Expand the selection. Sharpen, expand, etc…

More info about this technique (applied to Gaussian blur) in this thread: < http://photoshoptechniques.com/forum/showthread.php?t=169&am p;highlight=graduated>
P
Phosphor
May 31, 2005
I knew the old "Graduated Blur" debate would enter into this.

I was just waiting to see who’d do it first (besides me, that is).

🙂
S
scb
Jun 1, 2005
Thanks to all for the help!

shel
PC
Pierre_Courtejoie
Jun 1, 2005
Debate? you do not agree with that technique, Phoz?

If I knew how to do scripting, it is the sort of stuff that I’d like to automate: a field to choose the filter, one to choose the expansion amount, the number of iterations, and zap!
PC
Philo_Calhoun
Jun 1, 2005
I would sharpen a duplicate of the layer and add a gradient filled mask as mentioned above; but one can also create a channel, fill the channel with a gradient, load this channel as a selection and run USM on the original layer. Technically the second way is what you asked for, but the first way has the benefit of not destroying pixels if you get the USM settings wrong.
P
Phosphor
Jun 1, 2005
No, Pierre, not now.

I was only referring to the debate about graduated blurs when it first came up—what?—2 years ago at PST

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