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.