Hey guys, I was bored this evening and decided to write up a very simple but effective tutorial on how to make your photos just that little bit more crispy using Photoshop CS3 (You can do it in any version of Photoshop).
I'm not sure if there is one on here like it, I couldn't find one, so I posted this up. =D

Alrighties, there are not that many steps involved.
I just used a photo I took at the 2008 Australian Drift Nationals - with my $179 Canon digicam from BIG W.
(all photos resized to 800x640)

BEFORE:


AFTER:


Alrighties, lets get started by opening the picture of your choice.
After that, proceed to step 1.


STEP 1: In your layers palette right-click the "Background" layer, select Duplicate Layer.
Proceed to step 2.


STEP 2: Leave it named "Background copy", click ok.
Proceed to step 3.


STEP 3: Select - in the layers palette - layer "Background copy", then select "Filter > Other > High Pass".
Proceed to step 4.


STEP 4: Now move the slider until you can just make out what the picture is.
(Make sure you have the 'preview' tickbox ticked)
Proceed to step 5.


STEP 5: Make sure the layer "Background copy" is still selected, then in the top of the layers palette you will see a dropdown list that says "Normal", that is the layers blending mode, now open the dropdown list and go down the "Linear Light", choose that.
Proceed to step 6.


STEP 6: Now, we are all done... Hopefully this tutorial worked for you!
If it didn't... Please tell me. This is my first tutorial. =D

i honestly cant tell a difference

It just makes the photo more crisp/sharp.

I can see the difference.

Great work mate.

you can def see a difference, stands out on the tyre for instance.

I too can see the difference.

However I feel that when properly set up the USM function is just as good. And a shitload quicker/easier

i pretty much always use this on static car shots.

awsome wish there was more tis like these

www.good-tutorials.com or something

heaps of tutorials on photoshop, just google

That is called High-Pass sharping.

Sharpening?

im with kyle.. i dont see the sharpening effect?

Kyle wasn't saying he can't see, was asking if the poster above him meant that.


Really, I see, i use it all the time now, makes your photos much crisper.

Thanks Kuddz. I just used this on a photo I took tonight which didn't seem to look nice to me - this fixed it up perfectly.

Great and simple tut!

Agreeing with this, doesn't sharpen at all. Just brings out detail in the shadows which is still a great thing.

Good thread though, I've never used a High pass filter, I generally just use the recovery tool or fill light tool when processing the raw.

i can notice a difference. heres non-photoshop
[attachmentid=734501]

heres photoshopped
[attachmentid=734502]

High pass sharpening is actually a very effective technique.
When you say that it doesn't sharpen at all, what do you think its doing if its "bringing out" detail after sharpening it. That's why you sharpen don't you? That "bringing out the detail" is called sharpening.

Everyone has this thing, that sharpening should only be done once, and it should be done LAST. In fact there are 3 steps to sharpening mostly.

Capture sharpening takes place at the beginning, and brings back any sharpness that was lost in capturing a photograph, e.g. because of the AA filter.
Creative sharpening takes place during PP and is used to do things such as accentuate features such as eyes and control contrast locally.
Output sharpening takes place at the very end, and what happens here depends entirely on your final display medium.

I do my capture sharpening in ACR, I use the masking and detail sliders and by holding down the option/alt key, you get a great amount of control in ACR alone.
I also use smart sharpen instead of USM on a separate layer (so I can make layer masks or reduce opacity) as my preferred output sharpening method over the high pass method.

Hope i've helped you understand sharpening a bit more.

yeah that looks good