In PI-10, I'm confused with the aforementioned filters. Are they all basically related, but is, say, the Focus filter like an 'Unsharp Mask for Dummies', or something like that? I'm not sure which one to use to get the best effect, although USM seems to have the most flexibility and when I fiddle with those settings I can get the results I want more easily.
Also, similar confusion with the Clone brush and the Touch-up brush--they seem to do very similar things.
And still similar confusion with the Hue/Saturation, which has a Lightness slider, how does this differ from the Brighness/Contrast Brightness slider. Also Level, which seems to be similar to Contrast and/or the Highlight Midtone/shadow, (and possibley others!)
I guess I'm mainly wondering if I'm on the right track in thinking that these things are at least very closely related, if not identical but just repackaged versions of one another.
Thanks for any information on this,
--Jim
Please explain difference: Focus, Sharpen, and Unsharp mask
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keenart
No Offense meant but you really need to Read your Owners manual for clarification. PI is still one of the few GA progs that provides a really good explanation and examples of the use of PI.
As you said, without writing a chapter on the subject, Focus is preset and simple, a standard filter, which sharpens and softens the image at the same time. While Unsharp the Mask has two effects, it unmasks the softening effect that is usually used when an image is scanned into the computer so that you will not notice the small imperfections or scan lines. It has the capability to change individual pixels and sharpen the properties similar to Brightness and Contrast, and Hue and Saturation combined. This is a very basic explanation, it is far more complex. Correctly used, UnSharp the Mask is probably the most efficient filter of all.
As I state without going in to a great bit of detail all of the Tools and Effects are designed to accomplish a specific look or end result. The way in which this is done may be very subtle, but they are not repackaged clones. One person may use the Clone tool another the Touchup, depending on the amount of work and the complexity of the area to be altered. i.e. the difference between a spot and a crack, black and white or color. If a pro photographer, you would understand more fully why the Tools were designed in the manner they are and what the Tools do.
If you are really interested in the subject and how to use GA Tools, try the book Photoshop 7 Artistry, or Photoshop CS Artistry, by Haynes and Crumpler, www.barryhaynes.com it is applicable to any GA Program.
"The True Master, is One who can use his Tools Successfully."
Now that I have had my coffee, I can think a little straighter, more on the subject.
Clone Tool: The Clone tool takes a sample of an image, which you can then apply (paste) over another image or part of the same image.
TouchUp Tool: The TouchUp tool samples the area of an image, then blends the pixels to match the surrounding areas in the image.
Based on the human perception of color, the HSB model describes three fundamental characteristics of color:
Hue is the color reflected from or transmitted through an object. It is measured as a location on the standard color wheel, expressed as a degree between 0° and 360°. In common use, hue is identified by the name of the color such as red, orange, or green.
Saturation, sometimes called chroma, is the strength or purity of the color. Saturation represents the amount of gray in proportion to the hue, measured as a percentage from 0% (gray) to 100% (fully saturated). On the standard color wheel, saturation increases from the center to the edge.
Brightness is the relative lightness or darkness of the color, usually measured as a percentage from 0% (black) to 100% (white).
The Brightness/Contrast command lets you make simple adjustments to the tonal range of an image. Unlike Curves and Levels, this command makes the same adjustment to every pixel in the image. The Brightness/Contrast command does not work with individual channels and is not recommended for high-end output, because it can result in a loss of detail in the image. More simply put, a Tint represents the addition of the color White, and a Tone the addition of Black.
As you said, without writing a chapter on the subject, Focus is preset and simple, a standard filter, which sharpens and softens the image at the same time. While Unsharp the Mask has two effects, it unmasks the softening effect that is usually used when an image is scanned into the computer so that you will not notice the small imperfections or scan lines. It has the capability to change individual pixels and sharpen the properties similar to Brightness and Contrast, and Hue and Saturation combined. This is a very basic explanation, it is far more complex. Correctly used, UnSharp the Mask is probably the most efficient filter of all.
As I state without going in to a great bit of detail all of the Tools and Effects are designed to accomplish a specific look or end result. The way in which this is done may be very subtle, but they are not repackaged clones. One person may use the Clone tool another the Touchup, depending on the amount of work and the complexity of the area to be altered. i.e. the difference between a spot and a crack, black and white or color. If a pro photographer, you would understand more fully why the Tools were designed in the manner they are and what the Tools do.
If you are really interested in the subject and how to use GA Tools, try the book Photoshop 7 Artistry, or Photoshop CS Artistry, by Haynes and Crumpler, www.barryhaynes.com it is applicable to any GA Program.
"The True Master, is One who can use his Tools Successfully."
Now that I have had my coffee, I can think a little straighter, more on the subject.
Clone Tool: The Clone tool takes a sample of an image, which you can then apply (paste) over another image or part of the same image.
TouchUp Tool: The TouchUp tool samples the area of an image, then blends the pixels to match the surrounding areas in the image.
Based on the human perception of color, the HSB model describes three fundamental characteristics of color:
Hue is the color reflected from or transmitted through an object. It is measured as a location on the standard color wheel, expressed as a degree between 0° and 360°. In common use, hue is identified by the name of the color such as red, orange, or green.
Saturation, sometimes called chroma, is the strength or purity of the color. Saturation represents the amount of gray in proportion to the hue, measured as a percentage from 0% (gray) to 100% (fully saturated). On the standard color wheel, saturation increases from the center to the edge.
Brightness is the relative lightness or darkness of the color, usually measured as a percentage from 0% (black) to 100% (white).
The Brightness/Contrast command lets you make simple adjustments to the tonal range of an image. Unlike Curves and Levels, this command makes the same adjustment to every pixel in the image. The Brightness/Contrast command does not work with individual channels and is not recommended for high-end output, because it can result in a loss of detail in the image. More simply put, a Tint represents the addition of the color White, and a Tone the addition of Black.
