An alternative sharpening approach

Hi,
The beauty of this alternate approach to sharpening is that not only is it entirely nondestructive, eliminating the need for any intermediate layer merging, but it also allows for a lot of control and is also so simple. 😉
Here is the album:
http://picasaweb.google.com/ronviers/Sharpen

First notice there is only one group with a single mask. This group, called ‘Sharpen’, contains everything. The mask on the
‘Sharpen’ group determines what is not to be sharpened, i.e. this is contains the inverted surface mask. You can see this group here: http://picasaweb.google.com/ronviers/Sharpen/photo#499022995 9926546450

Inside the ‘Sharpen’ group are groups called coarse sharpen and fine sharpen. The coarse sharpen group handles the sharpening of the coarse detail and its mask determines what will not have coarse sharpening applied to it. Same for the fine sharpen group and its respective mask. You can see those groups here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/ronviers/Sharpen/photo#499023016 4172374034

Then inside each of those groups are two other groups. These groups are called ‘Up contour’ and ‘Down contour’. These groups work as enhanced edge masks. Also in these groups are base layers that blend with the groups above them. You can see these groups and layers here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/ronviers/Sharpen/photo#499023037 3567561746

Each of these groups contains layers that are value shrink VS layers and value grow VG layers. The only difference in the up contour and down contour is the order of the how the VS and VG layers occur in the group – and which one is inverted. The lower value layer is always the one inverted. You can see these layers here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/ronviers/Sharpen/photo#499023060 1900097554

So briefly; the lower value layer in each contour group has a blend mode of Normal.
The value layer above that (VS/G top) uses a Vivid Light mode and should be tweaked according to detail – this acts as amount. The Contour groups use a Linear Light blend mode and should be tuned with opacity.
The contour groups are contained within the Coarse and Fine Sharpen groups, both of which use the Luminosity blend modes -their opacity should also be tuned.
Finally is the Sharpen group uses a Pass Through mode.

Here is how to make the value layers:
Increase canvas size by 100 pixels/side.
Copy background into buffer.
Select all – copy
Paste buffer into new layers called shrink and grow.
Shrink the shrink layer one pixel row/column per side.
Grow the grow layer one pixel row/column per side.
To shrink and grow the layers, change their blend mode to difference and place them one at a time above the background and use the free transform tool to bring the edges in one pixel row/column. Be very careful during this phase as it will mess everything up. Use shrink and grow layers to create new value channels
Use the new channels to create new layers called VG and VS (value grow and value shrink)

I really hope someone gives this a try – if anyone does please post your findings as well as any suggestions or problems.

Good luck,
Ron