This filter makes the design look sharper by increasing the intensity and contrast of tones and colours. It works on both images and layers.
Instructions
- Open the Filter Browser, and add a new filter set using the small + icon located in the middle of the browser. This will create a new ‘untitled’ filter set for you. This will appear in the top section of the Filter Browser. If you already have filter sets created, clicking the + button will duplicate the selected filter set.
- Select Sharpen… from the list of available filters in the lower section of the Filter Browser.
- Double click on the name of the new filter set in the top section of the browser, and name it appropriately.
- Edit the variables to achieve the result you need.
- Radius - enter a number between 0.3 and 50, or use the slider to try different settings. The higher the number, the sharper the effect created.
Note: If Sharpen is set too high on an image, the number of colours will be reduced and it may end up looking blocky.
In the snapshot below, the original data is on the left, and the filtered data is on the right.
Applying the filter
There are several ways to apply a filter:
- Click Apply - this will apply the filter to the active layer(s), and within a selection if there is one present in your file
- Click Make Layer - this will make a new layer in your file containing the filtered effect, leaving the original layer untouched
- Apply the filter using the Brush Tool - when you have finished building your filter set, simply close the Filter Browser. Then, open the Brushes Library, and select the filter you have just made from the drop down menu shown in the snapshot below. You can now paint with your filter.
Note: The default setting for the Brush Tool is ‘Brush”, located at the top of this drop down menu. To prevent you from becoming confused between the default setting and a filter setting, do not name any filters ‘Brush’. When you have finished painting with your filter, set the drop down menu back to the Brush setting, otherwise the Brush Tool may not behave as you would expect later on.