Cloud Sharpening

By Larry Becker · June 25th, 2012

· 11 Comments · Add to my favorites · Print

As wacky as it sounds, sharpening clouds can give your landscape photos a quality POP! Larry takes you through the process with a very basic step-by-step.

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This entry is filed under Members, Photo Editing Techniques, Video Tutorials.

11 Replies to Cloud Sharpening:

Steve
June 25, 2012 at 3:16 pm

Thanks so much Larry, this is awesome. I am working a couple of waterfalls images and really like the final results.
Craig
June 25, 2012 at 5:49 pm

Still waiting for you to go back and take the halos are the trees.
- Craig
  June 25, 2012 at 6:07 pm
  
  That should have said take the halos out of the trees.
Ted
June 26, 2012 at 5:05 am

I can’t wait to try this. Clouds were something I’ve always been disappointed with in my pictures. And I believe he did show how to take the halos out by using the layer mask.
Verneitta
June 26, 2012 at 5:52 am

Thanks for the clouds tip, I needed that.
Christopher
June 26, 2012 at 10:47 am

I tried it and it works great. I posted a picture of it in my gallery. thanks!
Laura
June 27, 2012 at 6:40 am

This is great! thank you x
Julie
June 27, 2012 at 6:44 am

Nice technique, Larry. Thanks…
Alfred
June 30, 2012 at 12:14 pm

Thanks Larry, that was very impresive and I shall try that on something soon. It cerainly makes a big difference in the demonstration. Ben
Neel
July 7, 2012 at 8:32 am

Larry, a simple method of adding some pop to what originally looked like an adequate reproduction of clouds. On several occasions I take unusual cloud formations and have found that your tutorial really sharpens the cloud outlines. While experimenting I found that if I copy the top layer after all of the previous steps and apply either vivid or hard light to that layer, it gives even more definition to the photo.
This might not work as well on just background clouds. Neel
Dale
July 14, 2012 at 11:03 am

Thanks for the tip. To make this a bit easier, I blend the duplicate layer first and then appy the high pass filter. This allows you to see the changes in the clouds in real time, instead of having to guess if you’re doing it enough in the filter view.