My 3 Favorite Ways To Sharpen A Photo

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This week I am going to show you exactly how I sharpen photos. There are tons of ways to sharpen between Photoshop and Lightroom and in this video, I am going to let you in on a look at my workflow and show you exactly how I go about sharpening photos.

One important point I didn’t mention in the video that I wanted to share with you is when to sharpen when you are using textures. I ALWAYS sharpen BEFORE I add any textures. The goal of sharpening is to sharpen your subject – not sharpen every little bit that might be added when you add a texture to your photo. If you feel like you still need to do a sharpen at the end when you are all done adding textures – then I’d add a stamped layer and do a highpass filter on the top. I’d use that sharpening. I really prefer all my sharpening to be done before I add textures.

Someone in one of my groups mentioned that he: “Sets the Sharpen tool’s ‘Sample All Layers’ option to paint to a blank layer – that keeps you from having to use a duplicate layer for small adjustments.” and I thought that was a great tip if you wanted to give that a try! Thanks, Scott!

Do you have a favorite way you love to sharpen? Share it in the comments! šŸ™‚

19 Comments

  1. Steve

    Great tip. Thank you!

    Reply
  2. donnap1

    Thank you so much for all of your tips and showing your workflow. I have been a PhotoShop user for over 20 years, and all of your tips are a great help to me. I am realizing how many tools I have not been utilizing, or never really understood what they did, or how they worked. The way you explain things makes it so easy to understand. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Denise Love

      Thank you so very much! So glad you found the tips helpful! Really makes my day šŸ™‚

      Reply
  3. Pat

    Lots of great info in this video. Pretty new to PS so I learned a great deal today. Many thanks Denise.

    Reply
    • Denise Love

      So very glad! Thank you šŸ™‚

      Reply
  4. Gerry

    Thanks so much for the sharpening information. Very helpful

    Reply
    • Denise Love

      So glad it was helpful! Thank you šŸ™‚

      Reply
  5. Becky

    Thank you so much for the tips! Do you use all three together on a photo?

    Reply
    • Denise Love

      So glad they were helpful. Sometimes I use all three if the photo needs it. For sure the sharpening in Lightroom and the high pass filter on every photo.

      Reply
      • Becky

        Thanks so much!

        Reply
  6. Marietjie du Toit

    Thank you for sharing these tips. I have always used just one or two, but using them all together really creates that special kick.

    Reply
    • Denise Love

      So glad it was helpful! Thank you šŸ™‚

      Reply
  7. Sarah S

    Super helpful! I have not used the sharpening tool before. Thanks for sharing your workflow!

    Reply
    • Denise Love

      So very glad it was helpful! Thank you šŸ™‚

      Reply
  8. Helen James

    Thank you- great tutorial.

    Reply
    • Denise Love

      So glad it was helpful! Thank you šŸ™‚

      Reply
  9. Tina

    Denise, do you apply the sharpening after you add a texture, in other words is the sharpening the very last thing you do? Do all your other editing first….

    Reply
    • Denise Love

      I do all my editing and sharpening before I get to adding textures. I want my subject sharp – not necessarily the extras I’m adding with textures. I rarely do a sharpen after I add the texture.

      Reply

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