The Unsharp Mask controls the amount of color difference between adjacent pixels. This has the effect of bringing out the edges in a scene. There are just three controls on the Unsharp Mask filter: Amount, Radius and Threshold. Here's how you use them:
This control is a percentage of how strongly the filter is to be applied. Values from 0% to 500% can be entered.
At low settings, this mainly affects edges, and leaves areas of similar pixels untouched. By increasing the radius, you affect pixels that are more similar.
This setting only allows pixels to be affected above a certain difference value (between adjacent pixels) to be affected. A higher setting only affects pixels with greater and greater difference.
Less is usually better, and applying the Unsharp Mask should be done after all your image editing is complete.
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This is the Unsharp Mask palette. You can get to it by going Filter>Sharpen>Unsharp Mask. |
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Original Image |
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Unsharp Mask applied at 100%, Pixel radius of 1.3, and at 0 Threshold |
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Unsharp Mask applied at 200%, Pixel radius of 1.3, and at 0 Threshold |
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Unsharp Mask applied at 400%, Pixel radius of 1.3, and at 0 Threshold |
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Unsharp Mask applied at 100%, Pixel radius of 20, and at 0 Threshold |
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Unsharp Mask applied at 500%, Pixel radius of 5, and at 0 Threshold |