before

after

Photoshop’s often overlooked filter High Pass is one every user should know. It can be either a unique luminosity contrast enhancer or a sharpener.

High Pass sharpening enhances edges with a softer halo and line and little or no accentuation of texture and noise. It bypasses many artifacts that trouble insensitive applications of Unsharp Mask.

High Pass sharpening requires layers so it’s only possible in Photoshop (not Lightroom or Camera Raw).

High Pass sharpening laid the foundation for Lightroom’s Print Sharpening, but in Photoshop it can also be used for creative sharpening, which can be combined with other sharpening effects and applied selectively.

Take these steps to apply High Pass sharpening.