Photoshop’s High Pass filter: how to sharpen and soften portraits

Other uses for the Photoshop High Pass filter

The High Pass filter opens up a whole range of creative possibilities, including making gritty portraits and faux HDR

DEPTH OF FIELD
Use High Pass softening on the background of an image and High Pass sharpening on the foreground to get a depth of field effect.

GRITTY PORTRAIT
Apply the High Pass filter to multiple duplicate image layers with varying opacities, then convert to Black & White with an Adjustment Layer to get a gritty portrait effect.

SHARPEN UP
Use the High Pass filter on a duplicate layer, blend it with the Hard Light Blend Mode, and then invert it to apply heavy sharpening to  a soft image.

FAUX HDR
Create a faux HDR effect with the High Pass filter applied using a large Radius to multiple duplicate image layers. Blend the layers with the Overlay Blend Mode.

DRAWING EFFECT
Apply a High Pass filter, apply a Threshold adjustment, and then blend it into the original image using the Soft Light Blend Mode.

« 1 2 »

This entry was posted on Monday, October 22nd, 2012 at 9:00 am and is filed under Tutorials. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a comment. Pinging is currently not allowed.