A Closer Look at Sharpening: High Pass vs Unsharp Mask

The two main methods of sharpening in Affinity Photo (and other editors) are High Pass and Unsharp Mask. Two strange titles for very useful tools. Here, we get in close with these, looking at how they affect pixels, what all the sliders do, how they affect blurred vs sharp pictures and even which tool suits what types of pictures.
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[@mtntopviking]

Excellent tutorial. I always learn a lot from your videos! Thank you so much!

[@Eigil_Skovgaard]

In these AI times I can recommend the DxO PureRAW 2 noise reduction and sharpening software for RAW files. Even though this handy software isn't cheap, it's worth the money for initial raw denoising and sharpening or denoising without sharpening. It creates the best result on the market per late January 2023 with high ISO images - rather impressive actually, especially when the noise level is out of reach with traditional denoising and sharpening methods - like HP and USM. Lens recognition and correction for distortion and chromatic aberration is available. The result is without halos and for that reason - another is natural surfaces without a synthetic look - it is superior to e.g. the Topaz Photo AI software. DxO can output a DNG file, which acts and responds like the original raw file. It's typically double the size of the original raw file, but half the size of the similar DNG from Photo AI (both with default noise reduction only).

[@edlondon3717]

Excellent! Always learn something from Dave.

[@johnchilver536]

This seems to be a more controlled way of managing sharpness

[@JohnCollins-iy1pw]

Back in April I downloaded the sharpening Macro set from James Ritson,which in my opinion work really well.I point more to the multiband passing method,there are in all 12 methods to pick from,all giving some very interesting results.

[@inaffinityforaffinityphoto3220]

Interesting. Thank you. I've also covered a wide range of sharpening methods, as here: changingminds.org/disciplines/photography/affinity_photo/categories/ap_sharpening.htm

[@jed1947]

Gray = not sharpened: excellent point!

[@Mousyfox]

Hello David, I came across another way of sharpening the other day, here on KZbin and thought I'd see what your reaction to it is, and if you already know about it or not? You begin by making a duplicate of your bg image and putting it in a group. Inside the group you duplicate it again and invert the image, and give it a blend mode of vivid light. You then give the group a blend mode of Overlay and control the strength with the Opacity slider. It is then recommended to apply this wherever you want it with the mask. I'm interested in knowing what you think. I tried it on one of my images and was surprised by the result. Just a little something to play with, if you like. (Nigel)

[@inaffinityforaffinityphoto3220]

Yes, vivid light sharpening is a distinct method. I've done several videos on this, as indicated here: changingminds.org/disciplines/photography/affinity_photo/categories/ap_sharpening.htm

[@tomaswilde5481]

Thank you so much David. I never stop learning from you ! I find the comment of Mousyfox. interesting. I would like to read your reaction.