Texture Management – BYO Advanced Unsharp Mask tool in RGB & LAB

Part 4 – Building your own Advanced Unsharp mask node trees in LAB & RGB

In the previous Insight in this series, we created a simple Unsharp Mask tool in the node tree. This insight goes deeper into building a node-tree tool for texture work that has bigger functionality than a simple sharpen tool. We will add:

• Clipping protection
• Control the range of data we want to affect
• Add the option to tone down our operation a bit by blending back the original (just like any OFX)

We will explore this in RGB & LAB color models and build this out in a node tree.

The value of building a complex node tree

This Insight creates two fairly complex node trees replicating what you usually find in a plugin. Is this effort worth it? Here’s what I think:

• This series is about teaching concepts. You are learning – not working for a client under a deadline – and complex node-tree-tools are an EXCELLENT way to learn our craft, by going under its hood.
  
• Plugins won’t have every control you may want built into them. So let’s say I’d replace the node tree with a Sharpen OFX – but what if I want to protect against highlight or shadow clipping? What if I want to limit the plugin’s input range? If I understand the plugin at a foundational level, then I may be able to add a few nodes to solve this problem.  
  
  Every professional (or aspiring professional) chooses the level of depth s/he wants to have with their software. The deeper you go, the more you’ll know – and that’s the spirit of this Insight.
  
• Building your tools from nodes is a “gateway-drug” 😉  to heavier stuff – programing your own  DCTLs and Fusion FX can very well be your next step once you’ve gotten a taste of the power under your fingertips.