A. Image sharpening and smoothing are two opposite processes in image processing. Sharpening enhances the edges and fine details in an image, increasing its visual clarity and emphasizing high-frequency components. It helps to enhance the image's crispness and improve its overall appearance. On the other hand, smoothing, also known as blurring or averaging, reduces image noise and removes fine details. It works by suppressing high-frequency components and creating a smoother appearance. Smoothing is often used to reduce noise, blur sensitive information, or create artistic effects, while sharpening aims to enhance image details and edges.