Apply sharpen effects

The Sharpen category features the Sharpen and Sharpen luminance effects.

Sharpen an image#

Sharpen effects can be applied directly to a single layer or, using an effects layer, to multiple layers in a composition.

1. Select the layer or layers you want to edit.
2. Do any of the following:
   

   
   

   Apply effects to a currently selected layer:

   • Click Effects in the Tools sidebar, then click Add Effect and select an effect from the Sharpen collection.
   • Choose Format > Effects > Sharpen and choose an effect.
   • Press F on your keyboard, click Add Effect, and select an effect from the Sharpen collection.

   Apply effects to multiple layers:

   • Choose Insert > Effects from the Insert menu at the top of your screen, click Add Effect, and select an effect from the Sharpen collection.
   • Click Insert a layer at the top of the Layers sidebar, choose Effects, click Add Effect, and select an effect from the Sharpen collection.
   • Press Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + F on your keyboard, click Add Effect, and select an effect from the Sharpen collection.

Sharpen effect#

The Sharpen effect improves image detail and clarity by increasing the contrast near any edges in the image.

• Drag the Radius slider to the right to increase the strength of the sharpening effect, or to the left to decrease it. You can also enter a value from 0.0 px to 100.0 px.
• Drag the Intensity slider to the right to increase the contrast near any edge, or to the left to decrease it. You can also enter a value from 0% to 100%.

Sharpen Luminance effect#

The Sharpen Luminance effect increases image detail and clarity without affecting the intensity (saturation) of the colors in the image.

• Drag the Sharpness slider to the right to increase the strength of the sharpening effect, or to the left to decrease it. You can also enter a value from 0% to 200%.
• Drag the Radius slider to the right to increase image detail near any edge, or to the left to decrease it. You can also enter a value from 0% to 2000%.

Show before and after or reset effects#

Show Original: Click the Show Original button or press Control ⌃ + M on your keyboard to see what the image looks like without any effects.

Show Split Comparison: Option ⌥ – click the Show Original button, press Control ⌃ + C on your keyboard, or force-click the canvas.

To reset all effects, click Reset at the bottom of the Tool Options pane.