Sharpen

Enhance image clarity using unsharp masking

Overview

The Sharpen node applies unsharp masking to enhance edges and fine details in an image. It works by creating a blurred version of the image, comparing it to the original, and amplifying the differences to make edges appear crisper and more defined.

Usage Tips

• Use moderate sharpening (amount: 1.0) for most images to improve clarity
• Higher amounts (2.0+) create dramatic effects but can introduce artifacts
• Adjust radius to control the size of edges being enhanced (typical: 0.5-3.0)
• Great for improving photos that appear slightly soft or out of focus
• Avoid over-sharpening as it can create halos around edges

Common Pairings

• Resize - Sharpen after resizing to restore detail lost during scaling
• Gaussian Blur - Use blur first, then sharpen for creative effects
• Image from URL - Sharpen user-uploaded photos that need enhancement
• Output - Final step before output for crisp, professional results

Gotchas

• Over-sharpening creates visible halos and noise in the image
• Very high radius values can produce unnatural results
• Works best on images with actual detail - can’t create detail that isn’t there
• Amount of 0 means no sharpening effect