Cant put unsharp mask on new layer

[larry45]

Never seen this before, any ideas?  I do notice the new layer indents to the left of the adjument layers above. Usallly they have been flush.  Otherwise clueless, never had issue before, thanks.

[Semaphoric]

Could you post a screen shot of the Layers panel?

[larry45]

Thanks it's this

Then add a new layers and it's this

I could move that new layer to top or wherever, but still that that cannot complete the unsharp mask becuase has no content.

Ah, do have to do a merge visible first of all layers.. maybe rusty.. 

Pity they dont have some feature to just let that new layer, some button, ,so PS knows you want everything or at least the layer right below to sharpen.

Or better an unsharp mask adjustment layer above that effects what have below...

[Bojan Živković · Accepted solution]

You cannot now use a filter on an empty layer because there are no pixels to modify. Adjustment layers do not contain any data or pixels, so you cannot apply a filter to them. If you want non-destructive sharpening, select all layers in the Layers panel and convert them to a Smart Object, or convert the Background layer to a Smart Object, then apply sharpening to the Smart Object.

[Conrad_C]

Yeah, there are a number of applications that let you insert an effect as a layer similar to an adjustment layer, affecting all layers below. Adobe has some apps that can do it (such as Premiere Pro) and some photo editors from other companies can do it…but oddly, Photoshop is not one of those apps.

In Photohsop, Smart Objects is the workaround for this. Not perfect, just a workaround.

[larry45]

Thanks Bojan and Conrad! . ok will try the smart object idea later today, and if issue let you know...

[larry45]

Sorry for delay. jUst used smart object.  Never used them before. I've always done in past, merge visible at top and put unsharp mask there.  I think smart object (coverting the background) is even quicker/elegant.  I now have a layer below the bg called smart filter and below that called unsharp mask.  The UM turns on and off, and even when you double click it - can change settings. So far seem like an easier way than merge visible at top.   

Question:

I see disable smart filters, deltee filter mask, clear filters. Even if persist, delete smart filter.. yet oddly even after delete smart filer. I see that tell tell smart filter icon in the bg layer still -- you know the white page icon lower right with top right of page dog earled down. That never goes away?

Ah.. maybe scenarious where you want all the layers merged before sharpeing...... my adjustment layers are usually level for exposure, and color balance.. or not really.. U Mask on background would always be ok?

Also:  Cannot add a mask to the U mask in smart object?  (sometimes one like to paint out the sharpness in part of image)

[Stephen Marsh]

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@larry45 wrote:

yet oddly even after delete smart filer. I see that tell tell smart filter icon in the bg layer still -- you know the white page icon lower right with top right of page dog earled down. That never goes away?

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Smart objects (embedd or linked) are not the same thing as a smart filter, so removing the smart filter (which is dependent on a smart object) doesn't undo the smart object. The smart object is the parent, the smart filter is the child. You can convert an embedded smart object layer back to a normal layer, which will become a group containing the various elements applied “inside” to the edited embedded smart object.

https://helpx.adobe.com/au/photoshop/using/create-smart-objects.html

[larry45]

Stephen, thanks!

This is part of why I've never gotten into smart objects. So confusing to learn.  Do you agree, in this case/ scenario.. (read thread), maybe i'm best just adding a new merge visible to the top of all alwyers for the unsharp mask?