Here are Michael Jenner's notes from the January 2010 lab on using masks to improve sharpening and noise reduction. The values used in the filters may not be best for your image. Use them as a starting point ... then play. There are some workarounds to make this work in Photoshop Elements. Please contact Diane about those.
The method used here was developed by observing the masks generated by Glenn Mitchell's action and trying to create a mask that was similar. Mitch's actions are more sophisticated than the instructions here. If you wish to use this technique with the pain, go to http://www.thelightsright.com/view/PhotoshopTools and download Mitch's sharpening and noise reduction actions. There are instructions with them. They're free as well. If you find them valuable, you might make a donation at his website.
The method used here was developed by observing the masks generated by Glenn Mitchell's action and trying to create a mask that was similar. Mitch's actions are more sophisticated than the instructions here. If you wish to use this technique with the pain, go to http://www.thelightsright.com/view/PhotoshopTools and download Mitch's sharpening and noise reduction actions. There are instructions with them. They're free as well. If you find them valuable, you might make a donation at his website.
Noise Reduction and Sharpening Edges
Open your image file, in this case the pelican image.
Make two copies of the background layer, use cmd/J on your keyboard, or right click Duplicate Layer (windows).
Turn off the eye for the top layer, select on the middle layer so that this is your active layer.
Go to Filter> Stylize> Glowing Edges, set for 2, 8, and 1, for edge width, brightness and smoothness. (click okay)
Go to Image> Adjust> Desaturate, then Image> Adjust> Levels and change just the midtone slider to .70 (click okay)
Go to Window> Channels or your Channels palette if already nested behind your Layers palette
Drag the bottom layer to the new layer icon next to the trash to create a new layer that is a copy of the Blue Channel
Double click on the name to change it to Edge Mask
Click on the RGB channel up above to deselect the new channel, to turn off the Edge Mask
Go to the Layers palette, drag the middle layer to the trash to delete it
Go to the top layer, then to Filter> Noise> Reduce Noise set for 9, 30, 30, 0
(if you do not have this option, use Dust & Scratches)
View at 400% to see the difference in the sky area by turning the eye for the top layer off and on
To get the sharp edges back on the pelican, View>Entire Image (cmd/0)
Go to Select> Load Selection, from the drop down list for the channel, choose Edge Mask, check Invert, click Okay
Go to Layer> Layer Mask> Reveal Selection
Create a new empty layer, click the icon next to the trash, hold down the Option key, then go into the Layers submenu to Merge Visible, let go of the mouse first, not the Option key (use the Alt key for Windows)
Open your image file, in this case the pelican image.
Make two copies of the background layer, use cmd/J on your keyboard, or right click Duplicate Layer (windows).
Turn off the eye for the top layer, select on the middle layer so that this is your active layer.
Go to Filter> Stylize> Glowing Edges, set for 2, 8, and 1, for edge width, brightness and smoothness. (click okay)
Go to Image> Adjust> Desaturate, then Image> Adjust> Levels and change just the midtone slider to .70 (click okay)
Go to Window> Channels or your Channels palette if already nested behind your Layers palette
Drag the bottom layer to the new layer icon next to the trash to create a new layer that is a copy of the Blue Channel
Double click on the name to change it to Edge Mask
Click on the RGB channel up above to deselect the new channel, to turn off the Edge Mask
Go to the Layers palette, drag the middle layer to the trash to delete it
Go to the top layer, then to Filter> Noise> Reduce Noise set for 9, 30, 30, 0
(if you do not have this option, use Dust & Scratches)
View at 400% to see the difference in the sky area by turning the eye for the top layer off and on
To get the sharp edges back on the pelican, View>Entire Image (cmd/0)
Go to Select> Load Selection, from the drop down list for the channel, choose Edge Mask, check Invert, click Okay
Go to Layer> Layer Mask> Reveal Selection
Create a new empty layer, click the icon next to the trash, hold down the Option key, then go into the Layers submenu to Merge Visible, let go of the mouse first, not the Option key (use the Alt key for Windows)
*this method does not use different key strokes for different platforms or versions
This new layer will become the sharpening layer. Go to Filter> Sharpen> Unsharp Mask and set it for 124%, 1.0, and 0
Then go to Select> Load Selection> choose the Edge Mask channel again, but do not Invert
Go to Layer> Layer Mask> Reveal Selection
Set both layers for Luminosity in the blend mode at the top of the layers palette