1. Open your image.
This image looks as it is out of focus. If we sharpen it as it is shown on the previous page,
it may look flat and overfiltered. Let's try the other way.
2. Duplicate Background layer [Ctrl+J] 
3. Select the boy's head with Lasso 
or Polygonal
Lasso 
Tool.
4. Feather selection by 20 or so px (shortcut [Alt+Ctrl+D]).
5. Call Unsharp Mask dialog (Filter > Sharpen > Unsharp Mask) and adjust the Amount and Radius (sharpening range) to get the best possible result. Then use the Threshold slider to reduce the noise.
6. Deselect all [Ctrl+D].
7. Sharpen eyes, lips or other details to your choice with Sharpen 
Tool.
8. Sharpening may cause such side-effects as noise, border stripes, etc. Reduce those
with Blur 
Tool.
9. Also, you can fade the sharpening effect by changing the opacity of Layer 1 in the Layers palette (movie).
Since 1999, Andrei has run the digiCollage – an online image editor's shop. Having edited all kinds of customers' images, he has vast Photoshop experience that he willingly shares with you in this course. You are invited to look over an expert's shoulder and see Photoshop in action.
