How do I focus an image in Photoshop?

To "focus an image" in Photoshop generally means to sharpen a blurry image or enhance its clarity. Photoshop offers several powerful tools to achieve this, from automatic blur correction to advanced manual sharpening techniques.

1. Correcting Blurry Images with Shake Reduction

If your image suffers from blur due to camera shake, Photoshop's Shake Reduction feature can often analyze and correct it automatically.

Here’s how to use it:

Open your image in Photoshop.
Navigate to Filter > Sharpen > Shake Reduction.
Photoshop will analyze the image and apply automatic corrections. You can observe the corrected image within the Shake Reduction dialog box.
Optional: If necessary, you can refine the results by adjusting the Blur Trace Bounds or Smoothing sliders. You can also use the Blur Estimation Region to guide Photoshop to specific areas of blur.
Click OK when the result meets your expectations.
Always save your work after applying significant changes to your image.

2. General Sharpening Techniques for Enhanced Focus

Beyond automatic blur correction, Photoshop provides several robust filters to enhance the sharpness and perceived focus of your images.

a. Unsharp Mask

The Unsharp Mask (USM) filter works by increasing contrast along edges, making them appear sharper. It's a foundational sharpening tool.

Go to Filter > Sharpen > Unsharp Mask.
Adjust the following settings:
- Amount: Controls the intensity of the sharpening.
- Radius: Determines the width of the sharpened edges. A larger radius can create halos if overused.
- Threshold: Specifies how different pixels must be from each other before they are sharpened, helping to protect smooth areas and prevent noise amplification.

b. Smart Sharpen

Smart Sharpen is an advanced sharpening filter that offers more control than Unsharp Mask, including options to reduce specific types of blur.

Navigate to Filter > Sharpen > Smart Sharpen.
Key settings include:
- Amount and Radius: Similar to Unsharp Mask.
- Reduce Noise: Helps prevent sharpening noise in smooth areas.
- Remove: Allows you to specify the type of blur to correct (Gaussian Blur, Lens Blur, Motion Blur), providing more targeted sharpening.

c. High Pass Filter (Advanced Non-Destructive Sharpening)

The High Pass filter is a popular technique among professionals for its non-destructive nature and precise control over sharpening.

Duplicate your image layer (Ctrl/Cmd + J).
Go to Filter > Other > High Pass.
Adjust the Radius until you see only the edges of your image (a grey image with prominent edges). A good starting point is often between 1-5 pixels, depending on image resolution.
Click OK.
Change the blending mode of this High Pass layer to Overlay, Soft Light, or Hard Light.

Blending Mode	Effect
Overlay	Strong sharpening, good for general use.
Soft Light	More subtle sharpening, ideal for portraits.
Hard Light	Very strong sharpening, can be aggressive.

d. Camera Raw Filter (For Raw Images or Smart Filters)

For raw images or when working with a layer converted to a Smart Object, the Camera Raw Filter offers excellent sharpening controls, especially useful early in the editing process.

If working on a standard layer, convert it to a Smart Object (Layer > Smart Objects > Convert to Smart Object) first, then go to Filter > Camera Raw Filter. For raw files, they open directly in Camera Raw.
In the Camera Raw dialog, go to the Detail panel (the triangle icon).
Adjust the following sliders:
- Sharpening: Overall intensity.
- Radius: Size of the details to sharpen.
- Detail: Controls the amount of fine detail versus broad edges.
- Masking: Protects smooth areas from sharpening by identifying edges. Hold Alt/Option while dragging to see the mask (white areas are sharpened, black areas are protected).

3. Best Practices for Sharpening Images

To achieve optimal results and avoid artifacts, follow these guidelines when sharpening in Photoshop:

Work on a Duplicate Layer or Smart Object: Always perform sharpening on a duplicated layer (Ctrl/Cmd + J) or convert your layer to a Smart Object (Layer > Smart Objects > Convert to Smart Object). This allows you to non-destructively adjust or remove the sharpening later.
Sharpen Last: Apply sharpening as one of the final steps in your editing workflow, after color correction and retouching.
Use Layer Masks: Apply sharpening selectively to specific areas of your image using a layer mask. This helps prevent sharpening noise in smooth areas (like skin or skies) or over-sharpening unwanted elements.
Zoom In: Examine your image at 100% or even 200% zoom to accurately assess the sharpening effect. Over-sharpening can introduce halos, noise, or other undesirable artifacts.
Consider Output: Sharpening requirements differ significantly for web display versus print. Images for print generally require more sharpening than those intended for online viewing.

By utilizing these tools and techniques, you can effectively enhance the focus and clarity of your images in Photoshop, making them appear sharper and more detailed.