Make your Photo Sharp like Nirvana

After photo shooting or photo walking or whatever you say, then you will edit the result. Ok, i am not a purist, i always edit my photo before print it or publish them on the web. So i have to make sure my photos will be sharp like nirvana, well... sharpening using Photoshop.

Which photos need to be sharpened? all of them!

1. Open photoshop. go to top menu: filter > Sharpen > Unsharp mask...
Don't be confused, Unsharp Mask is not filter to make your photos look blury, just opposite.
2. New unsharp mask window appear. There is three parameters to set. And here is i have experimented to give best result.

• For people: Amount 150%, Radius 1, threshold 10
• For travel or cityscapes photography: Amount 65%, Radius 3, threshold 2
• For daily use: Amount 85%, Radius 1, threshold 4

3. Dont forget to click "Ok" or the result dont affect to your photograph.

That is, and now you may spread your photograph to the whole of the world...

...But, your photo still look blurry? Ok, here is another tip to make your Photo look very sharp like Super Nirvana ( This technique only done with full version of Photoshop )



1. Go to top menu and click Image > Mode > Lab Color
2. Go to Channel Palette on the right side of the screen. If it is not there then go to top menu; Window > click "channel"
3. On the channel pallete click lightness. It will make your photo black and white and all of setting that you will make will affect the detail, not the color. Thats why you will get really sharp photo without halo effect or mixing strange color on your photo.
4 Now apply Unsharp Mask filter like above. Do it 2 times. If your photo appear too sharp, go to Edit > fade Unsharp Mask. In the dialog window turn the Opacity slider to 50%.
5. Go to top menu, choose Image > Mode > RGB Color... and you're done.

Are your Photos still not sharp enough? I think you have forgotten the first step of this technique: Always use your tripod! Whenever and to whatever you take photograph...

Don't have Photoshop? follow this link to download trial version:Creative Suite 4 Trial Version. (Photoshop inside)
Or purchase directly from their shop:
- Photoshop Element 7
- Photoshop CS4 Extended – Student Edition