Select the layer you want to sharpen in the Layers panel.
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Sharpen images with the unsharp mask
Last updated on
Oct 27, 2025
Learn how to enhance detail and improve clarity in Adobe Photoshop using the Unsharp Mask filter.
Before you begin
- Make sure your image is in RGB Color, CMYK Color, or Grayscale mode.
- To preserve the original image, work on a duplicate layer.
Select Filter > Sharpen > Unsharp Mask.
In the Unsharp Mask dialog box, adjust the following settings:
- Amount: Set the intensity of the sharpening effect. You can enter values from 1 to 500%.
- Radius: Set how many pixels around edges are affected. Enter a value between 0.1 and 250 pixels.
- Threshold: Set how different pixels must be from surrounding areas before sharpening is applied. Enter a value between 0 and 255.
Select OK to apply the filter.
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