Sharpening adds crisp edges to a photo that is already well focused. Apply it near the end of editing, use a moderate amount, mask out smooth areas and check the result at 100 percent. Sharpening cannot fix a badly blurred picture, but it can restore the snap that is lost in capture and resizing.
What Sharpening Really Does
Software raises contrast along edges, so they look sharper. Too much produces bright halos along outlines and exaggerates noise. A good result looks natural, with detail visible but no obvious glow.
- Capture sharpening: a light pass on RAW files to offset softness from the sensor.
- Creative sharpening: extra emphasis on eyes, textures or product details.
- Output sharpening: a final pass sized for a screen or print.
Steps to Follow
- Zoom to 100 percent and look at an area with fine detail.
- Set the amount to a moderate value, then raise it until texture appears.
- Set the radius low, around 0.8 to 1.5 for most photos. Use smaller values for fine detail and larger for soft images.
- Adjust the detail control carefully. Higher values emphasize tiny textures and noise.
- Hold the masking key and drag the masking slider so that only edges are sharpened. Smooth skin and sky turn dark in the mask and stay untouched.
- Zoom out and compare before and after.
- Apply a final output sharpening when you export, choosing screen or print and the paper type if asked.
Match the Amount to the Subject
| Subject | Approach |
|---|---|
| Landscape | Moderate amount, small radius, mask the sky |
| Portrait | Light, focus on eyes and hair, avoid skin |
| Product | Higher detail, clean edges, watch halos |
| High ISO image | Reduce noise first, then sharpen lightly |
Avoid Common Mistakes
Do not sharpen before resizing, because the size change softens the result. Do not sharpen twice by accident, for example in both the editor and the export dialog without noticing. Judge sharpness on a screen at normal viewing size, not only zoomed in. If you see white edges around dark objects, back off. And remember that blur from camera shake or missed focus needs better technique next time, such as a faster shutter.
When in doubt, use less. A photo that is slightly soft still looks natural, while a heavily sharpened one looks brittle. Look at the result on another device before you publish it.
FAQ
Should I sharpen before noise reduction?
No. Reduce noise first, otherwise sharpening makes it more visible.
Why does my web upload look soft?
Resizing for the web softens detail. Apply screen output sharpening after reducing the size.
The Short Version
Sharpen late, with a moderate amount, a small radius and a mask. Reduce noise first, check at 100 percent, and finish with output sharpening for the size you use.
