Selective Sharpening

[JStrattonPhotography]

First off, I was able to format the pics from that party Friday to DNG so thank you so much for all your help.

My question is, How do you selectively sharpen an image? I have 2 great shots where one person is in great focus but the 2nd is slightly back from them so it is just a bit out of focus. I want to bring the 2nd person into focus.

Do I just add a layer, and use the unsharp mask after selecting the area? I typically don't have an issue like this so...

[johnastovall]

Sharping won't make an out of focus image sharp. It'll just make it a sharp out of focus image.

[JStrattonPhotography]

I guess I shouldn't have used out of focus so much as it is softer on one face than the other.

[JohnT]

Yes, add a layer with a mask and "paint in" your sharpening.

However, Stovall is correct.

[mmuhlenkamp]

Use a feathered lasso (5px) and select the person that's "soft". Copy that section of the layer (ctrl+C, ctrl+V, or ctrl+J) and then play around with sharpening on that layer only. That's what I would try, but without seeing a photo I can't be much more specific.

[JStrattonPhotography]

I will try posting the image this evening. I am at work so I don't have access to my laptop.

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by JStrattonPhotography

I guess I shouldn't have used out of focus so much as it is softer on one face than the other.

Try to learn to use depth of field preview and hyperfocus.