Posted by Doug Koepsel on April 12, 2010 at 5:15 PM
What would be the advantages and disadvantages of USM sharpening by 20%, 70 pix radii, 0 threshhold vs. contrast adjustments?
Posted by Paul DeCesare on April 12, 2010 at 5:49 PM
I watched the Printing Video series from Luminous Landscape, and one of the presenters knows Thomas Knoll (PS creator) and said that Thomas uses 20/50/0 as a local contrast adjustment quite often, so you are on the right track. I vary the Radius between 10 and 50 depending on detail, and that works well. You can always fade the edit if it's too strong also. The only disadvantage is that it's a destructive edit being there isn't an adjustment layer for USM, but honestly, the image gains a lot from it, I've never had to undo it.
"The only disadvantage is that it's a destructive edit being there isn't an adjustment layer for USM"
This is true. However, you can apply USM to a copy of the Background Layer via Layer>Layer Via Copy. If you don't like the results, simply delete the layer and try again. BTW: I use this method when applying USM. I also set the Blending Mode on my 'USM layer' to 'Luminosity'. Setting the blend mode to luminosity does not affect the color when the USM filter is applied.
.
--P
They have very different effects, so using USM based contrast enhancement is not better than or worse than straight contrast adjustments (like through curves), it's just different. I've found it works well on highly textured images, but it's really easy to go overboard with it. If you're not careful it can introduce some nasty halos too, so watch out.
Also, if any parts of the image are on the edge of overexposure, this method pushes those areas right off of the edge! I use this method on a separate layer so I can incorporate layer masking for targeted adjustments where needed, rather than a global approach. I also have control over opacity strength, as well.
I try this on all of my images. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
Posted by Doug Koepsel on April 13, 2010 at 10:31 AM
Thanks all for your information.
Posted by Adam Schallau on April 13, 2010 at 11:23 PM
you can apply USM to a copy of the Background Layer via Layer>Layer Via Copy
You could also avoid the duplicate layer by opening your image as a Smart Object and applying USM. Working with the Background image as a Smart Object allows you to change the USM settings as you edit the image and to change the settings as often as you like. You can even mask areas that you don't want to apply USM to.
Discussion
6 repliesThis is true. However, you can apply USM to a copy of the Background Layer via Layer>Layer Via Copy. If you don't like the results, simply delete the layer and try again. BTW: I use this method when applying USM. I also set the Blending Mode on my 'USM layer' to 'Luminosity'. Setting the blend mode to luminosity does not affect the color when the USM filter is applied.
.
--P
I try this on all of my images. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
You could also avoid the duplicate layer by opening your image as a Smart Object and applying USM. Working with the Background image as a Smart Object allows you to change the USM settings as you edit the image and to change the settings as often as you like. You can even mask areas that you don't want to apply USM to.