Slective Sharpening Using Smart Objects

1. Open image to be sharpened - works well on portraits. I used a model.
2. Use the Spot healing brush to correct skin blemishes- no use sharpening skin blemishes.
3. Filter Menu chose Convert for Smart Filters
4. Click OK in the next dialog box
5. I used the Smart Sharpen filter found in Filters > Sharpen > Smart Sharpen
6. In the Smart Sharpen dialog box I used Lens Blur in the Remove option.
7. Adjust amount and radius to sharpen image. I used 180 as the amount and 1 as the Radius.
8. Note that the skin pores is sharpened which we don't want.
9. In the Shadow tab you can reduce the sharpening effects in the shadows or the highlights. Noise is most noticeable in shadows so you can use this feature to reduce the sharpening in the shadow areas. I chose about 60% Fade Amount
10. Click OK and notice the filter shows a mask Smart Filter. As with any mask you can paint with black to remove. Click in the Mask and you get a border around the mask indicating the mask is active.
11. Gradually paint on the face to remove sharpening from the face.

You now have selectively sharpened the image.