Step 1:   Create an Edge mask from the image’s ‘Luminosity’ channel.

1.1   Click on the image and open the Extract Channel transform, selecting Luminosity [default], click OK, creating a BW 8bit Luminosity image version.

1.2   Click on the Luminosity image and open the Edge transform, selecting Sobel and Compute/Amount=100 [defaults], click OK, creating a BW 8bit Edge image version. Click on the Luminosity image version and close without saving.

Step2:   Extract image’s H, S, and V channels.

2.1   Click on the image and open the Extract Channel transform, selecting HSV,Hue, click APPLY, creating a BW 8bit HSV,H image version and move it off to one side or minimize.

2.2   Click on the Extract Channel transform, selecting HSV,Saturation, click APPLY, creating a BW 8bit HSV,S image version and move it off to one side or minimize.

2.3   Click on the Extract Channel transform, selecting HSV,Value, click OK, creating a BW 8bit HSV,V image version.

Step3:   Sharpen the HSV,V image to preference using USM and a midtone edge mask.

3.1   Click on the HSV,V image version and open the MASK Tool:

3.1.1   ADD-COMBINE-APPLY the Edge image version to the HSV,V image

3.1.2   Set BLUR = 1 [or preference]; APPLY

3.1.3   Set BRIGHTNESS CURVE = [0,0], [10,0], [15,100], [35,100], [80,0], [100,0]; OVERLAP; APPLY… [adjust curve to preference dependent upon image content].

3.2   With Mask Tool active, click on the HSV,V image version and open the Sharpen transform selecting USM and adjust settings and mask white/black amounts to preference according to image content, click OK, creating a midtone edge-sharpened HSV,V image version. Click on the Mask Tool and click OK creating a midtone-Edge mask in case further USM adjustments will be needed and setoff to one side or minimize. Click on the HSV,V image version and move it off to one side or minimize.

Step4:   Combine the sharpened HSV,V image version with the extracted HSV,H and HSV,S image versions.

4.1   Click on the sharpened HSV,V image version and open the Combine Channels transform selecting HSV, and input the sharpened HSV,V image version for V; the extracted HSV,H image version for H, and the extracted HSV,S image version for S, clicking OK, creating a midtoned sharpen image color version.

Notes:

1.   Generally an Edge mask derived from an image’s Luminosity channel will conveniently provide most edges with some edges derived from hue/saturation but mostly from tone. If more edges as needed: ADD-COMBINE-APPLY an Edge mask derived from a HSL Saturation Density Mask with the Luminosity channel Edge mask. See: http://www.dl-c.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?tpc=2&post=13410#POST13410.

2.   To simply the workflow, one could use an Edge mask derived from the extracted HSV,V image version. This mask will have no hue/saturation-derived edges, only tone edges.

3.   The curve suggested for Step3.1.3 is a near equivalent of the B Fraser’s Fig3 Blend panel settings. This curve can be saved as a *.crv file and reloaded when this workflow is used again.

4.   USM settings are dependent upon preference and image content. I generally use White = 38->100%; Black = 0->38%; Radius = 1 or 2; and Threshold = 3 [landscapes] or 6 [portraits]. In extreme cases, I make multiple USM transform applications.

You are welcome to see other IMAGEs by DEN.