Unsharp Mask Modifier

Unsharp Mask enhances the apparent sharpness of an image by increasing edge contrast. Despite its name, it does not blur the image; instead, it sharpens details by subtracting a blurred (unsharp) version of the image from the original and emphasizing the resulting edges.

This technique is commonly used in photography, printing, and digital compositing to improve clarity and definition.

Radius

Controls how much surrounding area is sampled when detecting edges. Larger values affect broader regions and can enhance larger features, while smaller values focus on fine detail.

Factor

Controls the intensity of the sharpening effect. Higher values produce stronger edge contrast but can lead to halos or artifacts if overused.

Threshold

Defines how different a pixel must be from its surrounding area before sharpening is applied. Higher values limit sharpening to more distinct edges, reducing noise enhancement.

Mask Input

You can mask each modifier to limit the area of the image it affects. This can be done using either a Mask or another strip.

Type

Type of input data used for the mask.

Strip:

Use the grayscale representation of another strip’s image.

Mask:

Use a Mask data-block.

Mask

The Strip or Mask data-block to use.

Mask Time Mask Type Only

How the start frame of the mask is calculated.

Relative:

Mask animation is offset to the start of the strip.

Absolute:

Mask animation is in sync with the scene frame.