How can I create a Japanese-painting style effect in GIMP using sharpening and blend modes?
Asked 5/13/2013
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I’m trying to recreate a stylized “Japanese painting” look in GIMP based on a workflow described as: duplicate the layer, convert the top layer to black and white, apply extreme sharpening, then set that layer to Hard Light.
I’ve tried duplicating the layer, converting the top layer to B&W, sharpening it heavily, and blending it with Hard Light. I also tried masking parts of the top layer to preserve the sky and people from the original layer. The effect is somewhat similar, but not as strong as the example.
In GIMP, what sharpening settings or approach work best for this look? Is the key simply stronger sharpening, or something more specific?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
13y ago
2 Answers
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If you click through the blog image to the smugmug gallery you can download the full resolution version.
Looking at that it seems "extreme sharpening" refers to the diameter as well as the strength of the unsharp mask. This has the effect of increasing microcontrast (at the expense of halos around edges). Try setting the diameter to something like 5 pixels and trying again.
Originally by user1375. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1375
13y ago
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A useful part of the effect is likely not just high sharpening strength, but a large-radius unsharp mask. In practice, the “extreme sharpening” is probably boosting microcontrast more than edge crispness.
In GIMP, try this on the duplicated B&W layer:
- use Unsharp Mask rather than basic sharpening
- increase the radius a lot (around 5 px is a good starting point)
- then raise the amount/strength until the texture becomes more pronounced
- keep the layer in Hard Light mode
A larger radius creates stronger local contrast and can give that ink-and-wash or painted look, though it may also create halos on edges. That tradeoff seems to be part of the style.
So yes—the key is not only “harder sharpening,” but sharpening with a larger diameter/radius to emphasize microcontrast before blending.
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