Sometimes, during the image capture process, the picture loses some of the subject's original clarity. This can be especially true if you are scanning small prints or negatives at high resolutions. To help restore some of this lost clarity, it is a good idea to get into the habit of applying sharpening to images straight after capture (although ensure that your digital camera has not already done this as an automatic feature). Elements provides a variety of filters, as well as a specialized tool just for sharpening. We have already looked at the Auto Sharpen option that is available in the Auto Fix dialog of the Photo Browser but here we will examine the other sharpening features Elements has to offer.

I should say from the outset that although these features will improve the appearance of sharpness in an image, it is not possible to use these tools to 'focus' a picture that is blurry. In short, sharpening won't fix problems that arise from poor camera technique; the only solution for this is ensuring that images are focused to start with. That said, let's get sharpening.