To apply sharpening non-destructively, what setup should you use?

To apply sharpening non-destructively, what setup should you use?

• A. Convert the layer to a Smart Object and apply Smart Sharpen as a Smart Filter
• B. Apply Sharpen directly to the layer
• C. Use Filter > Blur
• D. Use the History Brush

Answer: (A)

Non-destructive sharpening hinges on using Smart Objects with Smart Filters. When you convert a layer to a Smart Object, the pixel data remains intact and filters you apply become non-destructive edits. Applying Sharpen as a Smart Filter lets you adjust its settings later, mask where sharpening is applied, and toggle the effect on or off without changing the original pixels. You can also edit the filter parameters anytime by reopening the Smart Filter, making refinements easy as you work. Sharpening directly on a normal layer alters pixels permanently, so you lose flexibility to tweak later. A simple Blur filter isn’t sharpening at all, and the History Brush is for restoring previous states rather than producing a non-destructive sharpening result.

Non-destructive sharpening hinges on using Smart Objects with Smart Filters. When you convert a layer to a Smart Object, the pixel data remains intact and filters you apply become non-destructive edits. Applying Sharpen as a Smart Filter lets you adjust its settings later, mask where sharpening is applied, and toggle the effect on or off without changing the original pixels. You can also edit the filter parameters anytime by reopening the Smart Filter, making refinements easy as you work.

Sharpening directly on a normal layer alters pixels permanently, so you lose flexibility to tweak later. A simple Blur filter isn’t sharpening at all, and the History Brush is for restoring previous states rather than producing a non-destructive sharpening result.