How to Sharpen GIMP
The GNU Image Manipulation Program is a free and open-source alternative to commercial image editing software, such as Photoshop and Paint Shop Pro. GIMP can duplicate the majority of the effects available to users of its commercial counterparts, with new features being added over time by the open source community that continues to work on improving the program. One effect that can be created in GIMP is the ability to sharpen blurred images.
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Instructions
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Basic Sharpening
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1
Launch GIMP and open the image you wish to edit.
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Open the Filters menu and move your mouse over the "Enhance" entry. A submenu will open, displaying the GIMP image enhancement options. Click "Sharpen..." to activate the GIMP sharpening filter.
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3
Move the "Sharpness" slider in the sharpening filter window that opens, noting the changes that it makes in the image preview pane above the slider.
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Click the "OK" button to accept your change once you are satisfied with it.
Unsharp Mask
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Open your image in GIMP and select the "Unsharp Mask..." option in the enhancement submenu. The unsharp mask filter is an advanced sharpening option that gives you more control over the sharpening process.
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Move the "Radius" slider in the unsharp mask filter window to adjust the width of the sharpening effect, increasing it or decreasing it to achieve the desired amount of sharpness contrast around edges in the image.
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Adjust the "Amount" slider to control the actual amount of sharpening that occurs, an effect similar to the basic "Sharpen" filter.
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Move the "Threshold" slider to set the brightness level at which the filter ignores an edge. This eliminates the sharpening of bright "noise" in images that basic sharpening typically enhances.
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Click "OK" to accept the filter settings, and apply the unsharp mask to your image.
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Tips & Warnings
Move the scroll bars below and beside the preview pane in the "Sharpen" window to move the preview to different parts of your image.
Don't sharpen your image too much. Oversharpening makes an image look grainy and creates unattractive borders around objects. Increase the sharpness in small increments, making use of your preview to see the effect of each change as you make it.
