The great Unsharp mask thread (-:

[netguru717]

Which values do you use for the USM ?
I guess different ones for dfferent kinds of photos, objects in it ?

 

[Shay Stephens]

My typical values are 50 to 75% for the amount, .5 for the radius, and 0 to 3 for the threshold.

I mainly vary the % amount to keep the effect from becoming too strong (50%-75% for a web sized image and 100% to 200% for a full size image), and use the threshold to suppress sharpening the noise. If the image is basically noise free, then I use 0. But if there is noise I bump it up until I don't see the noise being effected. For a web sized image, 3 is usually tops, for a full size imge I may go up to 6.

I have not found the need to vary the radius.

--
Shay

My Sony F707 & F717 Gallery: http://www.shaystephens.com/portfolio.asp
My F717 Observations: http://www.shaystephens.com/f717.asp

 

[radamo107971]

Which values do you use for the USM ?
I guess different ones for dfferent kinds of photos, objects in it ?

--
Rich Adamo
DSC-F707
Long Island, NY

 

[Gordon W]

Which values do you use for the USM ?
I guess different ones for dfferent kinds of photos, objects in it ?

I seldom use USM but when I do I apply it to the Lightness channel in LAB mode and the Amount varies widely depending on the softness of the image but ranges from 100% to as much as 500% in some extreme cases, with Radius of typically 0.3 pixels, Threshold almost always at 0.

However, my choice of sharpening techniques is High Pass sharpening because it leaves the original image untouched and because it works on stacked layers without having to merge them first. For this technique I use a radius of 0.5 pixels and adjust the amount of sharpening by grouping a Levels adjustment layer with the High Pass layer and pulling the black and white points toward the center by equal amounts until I've attained the amount of sharpening I want, which is usually more than most people use.

Gordon
--

 

[Holty]

How do these terms match with PhotoShop?

ie
PSP = PS
------------------
radius(100) = radius (250)
strength(500) = amount (500)
cliiping(100) = threshold (255)

I noticed that the ranges vary ... very confusing when trying to do things in between applications!

Ian

Which values do you use for the USM ?
I guess different ones for dfferent kinds of photos, objects in it ?

 

[Ann McRae]

How do these terms match with PhotoShop?

ie
PSP = PS
------------------
radius(100) = radius (250)
strength(500) = amount (500)
cliiping(100) = threshold (255)

Hi. I "borrowed" these values from Shutter, who posted them in a sharpening thread several months ago.
Radius = 0.65
Strength = 165
Clipping = 1
for web images.

It seems like the magic number, and I rarely vary them. Of course, try it for yourself on a variety of images and see if its right for your taste.

ann
--
Canadian Ann
http://www.pbase.com/canadian_ann
http://www.stfchallenge.com
http://www.cs.duke.edu/~parr/photography/faq.html

 

[scorch]

hi.

http://www.imaging-resource.com/TIPS/SHARPEN/SHARP1.HTM

Which values do you use for the USM ?
I guess different ones for dfferent kinds of photos, objects in it ?

 

[Ken Albro]

Which values do you use for the USM ?
I guess different ones for dfferent kinds of photos, objects in it ?

Here is a good web site tutorial that may answer some questions and gives good advise.
http://www.creativepro.com/story/feature/11242.html?cprose=I39

 

[Kevin H]

I have found this website to be very useful for a full explanation of USM for the desired output (print or screen).

http://epaperpress.com/psphoto/index.html

K

Which values do you use for the USM ?
I guess different ones for dfferent kinds of photos, objects in it ?

 

[Peter iNova]

Which values do you use for the USM ?
I guess different ones for dfferent kinds of photos, objects in it ?

A hint: sub-pixel values at under 100% crisp images without adding visible artifacts. When reducing images to web-size, 0.3 pixel radius by 80% is my rule of thumb. Leave Threshold out of it.

But there is a HUGE other use for USM. As a local area contrast enhancer. For this you want big radius numbers --60 might do-- and small percentages. Like 15.

The same principle is involved, but in a very, very different way.

[Ad:]
There's more in the Sony eBook.

-iNova
--
http://www.itssony.com

 

[Kostya]

I rarely use USM on entire image. Most of the time I use selective USM by following simple steps below. I found this somewhere on the web and I can't remember where. This method is superior to USM on entire image, because it does not introduce noise in the areas that do not need sharpening. Here are the steps for PS:

1. Duplicate the layer with your image (to preserve the original). Rest of the steps will be performed on this copy of the layer.

2. In the duplicate layer switch to Channels view and find the channel that has the most contrast by looking at Red, Green and Blue channels separately. Most of the time it will be Red channel.
3. Duplicate the channel you found in step 2.
4. Select channel you have just created by duplicating.
5. Filters - Stylize - Find Edges.
6. Invert. (Ctrl+I or Image - Adjust - Invert)
7. Filters - Blur - Blur More.
8. Filters - Other - Maximize. (value of 4 works good)
9. Filters - Blur - Gaussian Blur at 5.
10. Filters - Blur - Gaussian Blur at 3.
11. Filters - Blur - Gaussian Blur at 2.
12. Switch back to normal (color) image view.

13. Load your duplicate channel as selection. (Ctrl+Alt+4 or via load selection menu).

14. Optional. I usually hide selection before the next step, so I can see the effect of sharpening. Running ants of selection outline is very destructing.
15. USM to your liking.

Please note that usually you can use much higher sharpening values in USM with this method because there is no large areas of noise to worry about.

I hope this helps someone.

Kostya.

 

[57HotrodVW]

Not only does it contain some good stuff on USM, but it also contains lots of other great image editing info/techniques.

http://epaperpress.com/psphoto/index.html

Thanks for the link, Kevin!

http://epaperpress.com/psphoto/index.html

K

Which values do you use for the USM ?
I guess different ones for dfferent kinds of photos, objects in it ?