I opt to sharpen my images,just recently I have noticed the some only use the Unsharp mask. I am now confused about which is best. Your thoughts please.

If you want to keep it simple, then use unsharp mask.
If you want to go one step further, then after applying it, go to Edit>Fade, and set to Luminosity Blend Mode. That way you won't have any color shifts on the edges.

It's possible to create a real edge mask (I describes how a while ago) but that may be a bit complex for now.

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i like to use high pass.....

I will use the high pass filter to add some zap to the image with generally overlay blend at a farily low fill then apply "sharpening" one way or the other.

I do not use in-camera sharpening and on my cameras sharpen is turned off.  Sometimes in camera sharpening will leave halos on images and I simply prefer to do my own degree of sharpening on the pc.

The more complicated method Tanchelyn mentions is one I have used and it works quite well.

Using CS1, I still use Unsharp Mask. I never use regular Sharpen or Sharpen More...well, once in a blue moon, to see how it looks, but usually undo it. A similar method to the high pass method is to take fairly light image, copy the layer, set it to multiply, then fade the opacity to where it looks nice and rich, then heavily sharpen that layer, until you get it where it looks good to you. I look forward to CS3 or above and the Smart Sharpen filter...

Kort Kramer - Kramer Kreations

CS2 has smart sharpen too..... ive used it fairly often.... but i still like the high pass (personal choice )......

Quote - i like to use high pass.....

Ditto, high pass filter rocks.

Just gave it a try...I do like it too. Never played with it before, heheh. That is one of the things I like about this place, people get you to try new things...

Kort Kramer - Kramer Kreations

 I like the high-pass, but at times it gives me chromatic-abrasion problems. 

I'm using a 1.5 on the filter, then despeckle, using photoshop 7.0 and CS. 

Anyone have anything better?

Unsharp mask gives a better look, in darker areas, but Its hard for me to control.  

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1.5 pixel radius? I would do that only on the full size image before downsizing for the web. For web resolution images, try .5. Be careful the despeckle doesn't eat up too much of your fine detail too.

Kort Kramer - Kramer Kreations

Try using high pass not on your composite image but on each channel separately.
If you apply it to your composite, you lose colour where you need it most: in the shadows. When you use it on every channel separately, you get more colour in the shadow areas.
Aditionally, you can use levels on ech channel to limit the range and get even more colour.

Hint: other blend-modes than hard-light give some very special effects.

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Lately I'm using Unsharp Mask on every image (I also set in-camera sharpening off, like Tom).
Just to be a bit special, I apply six consecutive Unsharp Masks on a duplicated layer of the full-size image:

1.  10% at 100 pixels
2.  10% at 50 pixels
3.  10% at 12 pixels
4.  20% at 4 pixels
5.  30% at 2 pixels
6.  40% at 1 pixel

That leaves the image somewhat over-sharpened, but since it's on a separate layer, I can adjust the opacity, normally to about 40% in the Luminosity blend mode.
Oh, it's about the most satisfying method I've tried (I also tried the High Pass filter for a while). Not only does it sharpen images, it also increases the mid-tone contrast. To streamline the sharpening process, I made a Photoshop action out of all this.

After downsizing for the web, I usually apply Unsharp Mask at 40% and 0.3 pixels, and 50% at 0.2 pixels (if needed).

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My mistake about the radius, i thought you were speaking about Unsharp. Can you give any examples Tanchelyn of some of these effects? :') EDIT: Interesting approach Geert, thanks for sharing.

Kort Kramer - Kramer Kreations

The top one has been sharpened with high pass applied to all three channels individually. Apart from sharpening, colours have become richer in hue and contrast.

The bottom one was the same technique but with the high-pass layer inverted, the range limited with the bottom slider from levels and set to overlay. It's a nice softener that is much better than blurring.

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Great example. So many options, so little time.

Kort Kramer - Kramer Kreations

Attached Link: http://www.photo-plugins.com/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&Itemid=43&gid=68

I prefer the “High Pass” method myself. At the attached link, download the free “High Pass Sharpening” filter. It uses Photoshop’s High Pass filter, but with the advantage that you can see the final results first (as opposed to looking at an embossed gray image and guessing at what radius is best).

 All the filters on that page are a good treat for photos, but I am particularly fond of the “Local Contrast Enhancement” filter.
Once again it is based on PS’s High Pass filter, but works more on local areas and not the edges …which sometime is a better solution to sharpening.

 

Chuck (SWAMP)

 

Here is an old image of a vulture against a gray sky.  In camera sharpening gave the halo.   Sure, this does not happen with every image but with some it is extreme, as in this case.  The second shot is the histogram of the shot, showing the strange lighting in action.

Note, the image is blown up a lot from the original.

This is one reason I do not use in-camera sharpening.   When sharpening, using any of the methods mentioned thusfar depending on the software you have, I recommend playing with the settings a bit and seeing the results. Extreme can mean extreme images...unsightly stuff.

I generally start with mimimal settings and work from there.  Now, I have a relatively set parameter for unsharp mask and also use high pass at no more than perhaps 28% fill.

Histogram

I stopped using the PS native sharpening options... as some site's have their own embedded optimizing scripts which 9/10 play havoc with your images, as Im under the impression they use some sort of Bilinear sharpening script when re-sizing... which means it usually gets sharpened twice... the end product looks like you took the shot using a mobile phone :(
So I inevitably use Noise Ninja PS plugin to smoothe and sharpen if neccesary... this way, whatever you use the image for, whether its uploading or printing, the end results are completely satisfactory...

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Some great tips in this thread about sharpening. I've started using the high pass filter method lately and like it alot. FWIW, Neat Image also has sharpening tools that I make use of when de-noising an image.

Kort Kramer - Kramer Kreations

what way ar you using high pass?

i duplicated image.. high pass the duplicated image ,the slider allows fine adjustment..

then set overlay .....

Duplicate the image, overlay and then run HP.

Kort Kramer - Kramer Kreations

I does use, Unsharp Mask, I be liking it...

No serious I think if you want control over your work you have to get out of the sharpen or sharpen more tool and learn how to use 'smart sharpen' or unsharp mask'. You'll have a few hit and misses but you'll soon know what every option does.

That's just me I learn by trial and error.

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i find it sharpens better the other way round

I don't see that it should effect it either way. I can see how much it is sharpening with even with the Overlay when I run the Unsharp mask filter, allowing me to fine tune at that stage. I'll have to try it in your sequence as well. Unsharp Mask is great, I use both. :o)

Kort Kramer - Kramer Kreations