Filters: blur, sharpen, noise, pixelate, emboss and edges

Filters change the pixels of the active pixel layer. Choose one from the Filter menu, adjust its settings and watch the result on the canvas, then press OK. Every filter is one undo step. With a selection, only the selected area changes (feathered edges blend smoothly).

Available filters

• Gaussian Blur — a smooth, natural blur. Radius 0.1–250 px.
• Box Blur — an even blur over a square area.
• Motion Blur — a streak in one direction, set by angle and distance.
• Unsharp Mask — sharpens edges. Amount sets the strength, radius the size of the edges, and threshold leaves smooth areas (and noise) alone.
• Add Noise — grain, uniform or Gaussian, in colour or monochrome.
• Pixelate — a mosaic of square cells.
• Emboss — a grey relief lit from the chosen angle.
• Find Edges — outlines edges as dark lines on white.

Filter → Last Filter (Cmd/Ctrl+Option/Alt+F) repeats the previous filter with the same settings.

Large images

Filters run in the background so the editor stays responsive. On very large layers the preview is calculated at a reduced size; the result you apply is always full resolution.

Limitations

• Filters change pixels directly. To change only the tones of an image without touching its pixels, use an adjustment layer (Levels, Curves and others) instead.
• Shape and text layers can't be filtered yet; filters work on pixel layers.