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Are you viewing the image at 100%?
To evaluate sharpness and noise, you have to view the image at 100%, where one image pixel is represented by one screen pixel.Any other magnification will be inaccurate and misleading because the image has been scaled.
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Is Smart Sharpen applied to your topmost layer?
What's your Layer's opacity & blend mode?
What's your smart filter's opacity?
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Thank you for your response Nancy.
Besides my background layer, I have one Adjustment layer open - Levels.
I create a duplicate background layer to preserve the original image, and do my Sharpening on the duplicate layer.
On top of the duplicate layer is my Levels layer, three layers in all.
I do not apply sharpening while on the topmost Levels layer, because from this layer the Preview screen does not show when I'm in the sharpening tool.
Instead of creating a duplicate Background layer I know that I can Convert to Smart Filter from the Filter menu to create a Smart object, but I instead use the duplicate layer - I don't know if this matters. I have tried both but the results don't seem to differ.
My blend modes are Normal and opacity at 100%.
My Smart Sharpen mode is at 100%, but it does not specify anything about opacity.
Your insights are appreciated.
Jennie
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For best results, you should perform all retouching & adjustments BEFORE you sharpen.
Then create a Stamp Visible layer on top with Ctrl + Alt + Shift + E (Win) or Cmd + Option + Shift + E (Mac).
This new topmost layer is the one you will duplicate and sharpen.
See this 11 min tutorial.
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Are you viewing the image at 100%?
To evaluate sharpness and noise, you have to view the image at 100%, where one image pixel is represented by one screen pixel.Any other magnification will be inaccurate and misleading because the image has been scaled.
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Thank you Per. This simple solution has helped. It would appear that when I sharpen an image which I am viewing at less than 100%, what I am adjusting is not translating across 100%. Makes sense!