best way to sharpen images in Photoshop CS2

I see alot of unsharp images on these forums and some people have been IM'ing me asking what I do to sharpen mine. Here's an easy technique I use on every picture to make them pin sharp and it's done like this to prevent color noise and halos.

1. open color image
   
2. make sure you have the channels palette shown in the window menu at the bottom of PS
   
3. under image menu, under mode choose lab color
   
4. in the channels palette it changes from color tabs to "lab, lightness, a, b" click on the lightness tab
   
5. in filter drop down menu select unsharp mask filter and use these settings: amount 85%, radius 1 pixel, threshold 4 levels
   
6. if you need a little more sharpening select unsharp mask again and use the same settings one more time or bring down the amount slider to your liking.
   
7. go back to image menu, mode and choose RGB

Thanks for the advice!

More: Post Processing #3 - Sharpening & Saving

Interesting! I'll try this, thank you.

PhotosGuy wrote in post #6517506
More: Post Processing #3 - Sharpening & Saving

I looked at the link and that way seems overdone to me.

Here is the original pre processed shot from that link and what that person did to sharpen it

This one on top is again the original and the one below it is one I did using the labcolor instructions I posted above

now his finished sharpened inage ontop and my finished sharpened image below. You can see a difference in the trees and on the roof top.

now this last image I applied the velvia vision plug in to my sharpened image

While I appreciate taking the effort of making a tutorial, you cannot post other peoples images if they haven't set "Image Editing Okay"

The original images you refer to are in the above linked thread. You can link to your versions if you like here (or there), but you cannot attach them.
Please follow image posting rules in https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=194511

sorry didn't even notice

shutterbugcrazy wrote in post #6517193
I see alot of unsharp images on these forums and some people have been IM'ing me asking what I do to sharpen mine. Here's an easy technique I use on every picture to make them pin sharp and it's done like this to prevent color noise and halos.

1. open color image
   
2. make sure you have the channels palette shown in the window menu at the bottom of PS
   
3. under image menu, under mode choose lab color
   
4. in the channels palette it changes from color tabs to "lab, lightness, a, b" click on the lightness tab
   
5. in filter drop down menu select unsharp mask filter and use these settings: amount 85%, radius 1 pixel, threshold 4 levels
   
6. if you need a little more sharpening select unsharp mask again and use the same settings one more time or bring down the amount slider to your liking.
   
7. go back to image menu, mode and choose RGB

now you just only sharpened the lightness in the photo while not tweeking the colors therefore avoiding noise and halos. If you have too much noise (color or ISO) before you sharpen this step will make them worse, but if you start with an image that isn't noisy then these steps will greatly improve your image.

Looks good. Any reason this couldn't be done as an action? Thanks for the tutorial.

Appreciate your tutorial. However, there are known issues using this method such as potential color shifts when moving to print.

Here is a good tutorial on sharpening. Near the bottom is a section (Lab Color Sharpening Using the Luminosity Data) that specifically addresses these issues.

After much experimentation with different methods as well as sharpening applications, I personally have found that the TLR sharpening tools (using advanced modes and fine tuning) works best at achieving the level of sharpening desired without crossing the threshold into the destructive haloing effect.

I may be mistaken, but the OP's method comes out of one of Kelby's books. I have this set as an action on my office PC and often use it when I'm trying to improve poor quality real estate photos.

ChasP505 wrote in post #6521912
I may be mistaken, but the OP's method comes out of one of Kelby's books.

Yes, so?

Here is the article CannedHeat meant to link: Click

I also recommend the TLR scripts.

René Damkot wrote in post #6522978
Yes, so?

So thanks to shutterbugcrazy for sharing! It's a good method for applying gentle, subtle sharpening.