Using the Sharpen feature to sharpen an image

You can use the Sharpen feature to correct images that are blurry. Fireworks has three Sharpen options:

Sharpen adjusts the focus of a blurred image by increasing the contrast of adjacent pixels.

Sharpen More increases the contrast of adjacent pixels about three times as much as Sharpen.

Unsharp Mask sharpens an image by adjusting the contrast of the pixel edges. This option offers the most control, so it is usually the best option for sharpening an image.

Original; after sharpening

To sharpen an image using a sharpen option:

1. Select the image.
2. Do one of the following to select a sharpen option:
   • In the Property inspector, click the Add Live Filters button, and then select Sharpen > Sharpen or Sharpen More from the Filters pop-up menu.
   • Select Filters > Sharpen > Sharpen or Sharpen More.

   NOTE

   Applying a filter from the Filters menu is destructive; that is, it cannot be undone except when Edit > Undo is an option. To maintain the ability to adjust, turn off, or remove this filter, apply it as a Live Filter, as described in the first bulleted option in this step. For more information, see Using Live Filters.

To sharpen an image using Unsharp Mask:

1. Select the image.
2. Do one of the following to open the Unsharp Mask dialog box:
   • In the Property inspector, click the Add Live Filters button, and then select Sharpen > Unsharp Mask from the Filters pop-up menu.
   • Select Filters > Sharpen > Unsharp Mask.

   NOTE

   Applying a filter from the Filters menu is destructive; that is, it cannot be undone except when Edit > Undo is an option. To maintain the ability to adjust, turn off, or remove this filter, apply it as a Live Filter, as described in the first bulleted option in this step. For more information, see Using Live Filters.

3. Drag the Sharpen Amount slider to select the amount of sharpening effect from 1% to 500%.
4. Drag the Pixel Radius slider to select a radius from 0.1 to 250.

   An increase in radius results in a greater area of sharp contrast surrounding each pixel edge.

5. Drag the Threshold slider to select a threshold of 0 to 255.

   Values between 2 and 25 are most commonly used. An increase in threshold sharpens only those pixels of a higher contrast in the image. A decrease in threshold includes pixels of lower contrast. A threshold of 0 sharpens all pixels in the image.

6. Click OK.