How to Fix Blurry Photos in Lightroom: 5 Easy Methods
Blurred images are a major issue, but with the help of Adobe Lightroom, you have professional instruments that can enhance the sharpness of the picture. I will show you five simple techniques on How to Fix Blurry Photos in Lightroom to achieve the best result.
Method 1: Using the Sharpening Tool
Lightroom has a feature called the Sharpening Tool that is useful in how to fix blurry photos in lightroom. This tool is located in the Detail section of the Develop module. Here’s how to use it:
Adjust the Amount Slider
The Amount slider determines the level of sharpening that will be applied to the image. It can be moved to the right to increase sharpening. But do not over do it, as excessive sharpening is likely to create noise and artifacts.
Fine-Tune with the Radius Slider
The Radius slider defines the thickness of the edges that are going to be brightened. A small value of radius is good for sharp corners while a large value of radius is appropriate for rounded edges. Use this slider to fine-tune the sharpness.
Detail Slider
This slider enhances the intricate parts of the image. Decreasing it can make the photo look blurry, while increasing it can make the photo look sharper but it also adds noise. Tweak it to the right level, and it will be perfect.
Masking Slider
The Masking slider enables you to decide on which areas the sharpening will be most noticeable. Pressing the Alt/Option key while dragging the slider will reveal a mask; the white areas are sharpened, and the black areas are not affected. This is useful for applying sharpening only to the subject and not the background. When using these sliders in conjunction, you are able to fine-tune your photo with precision without having to add noise or other unwanted elements.
Method 2: Using the Clarity Tool
The Clarity Tool is another good one for increasing mid-tone contrast, which can be useful for making blurry pictures pop.
Locate the Clarity Slider
The Clarity slider is located in the Presence tab of the Develop module in Lightroom.
Adjust the Clarity
To increase clarity, you should move the slider to the right. This adjustment increases the mid-tone contrast which gives the image more edge and clarity. Do not over do its application so that it does not make the image look stiff or unnatural.
The clarity adjustment can enhance the sharpness of your photo to a large extent, especially if you use the sharpening tool.
Method 3: Using Radial and Graduated Filters
Radial and graduated filters in Lightroom are good for making selective adjustments and therefore good for fixing blurry areas in the photos.
Radial Filter
Graduated Filter
These filters are used for applying localized correction and you can sharpen blurry areas without affecting the entire picture.
Method 4: Applying Presets
Presets are the set of adjustments that are applied to the image at once and are already created by someone. They are very helpful especially in the aspect of making your work more efficient.
Lightroom Presets can be useful to save time and give a good base to correct blurry photos. They enable you to make several corrections at once with the click of a button.
Method 5: Using Third-Party Plugins
However, there are cases where the tools provided in Lightroom are not sufficient, and that is when third-party plugins come in handy for sharpening.
Recommended Plugins
1. Topaz Sharpen AI
This plugin is based on artificial intelligence to increase the level of sharpness of your images. It can distinguish between noise and details and hence sharpening is very accurate.
2. Nik Collection
This suite contains many tools for image improvement and such tools as sharpening tools that can help to make a blurry picture much better.
Step-by-Step Guide
There are more options and enhanced algorithms provided by third-party plugins for the enhancement of image sharpness. After fixing the blurry photos. I would Suggested you to remove all subjects so image looks clear and attractive. You can read my separate article remove objects in lightroom.
Additional Tips for How to Fix Blurry Photos in Lightroom
There are some additional tips for how to fix blurry photos in lightroom are give below.
1. Zoom In
It is recommended to always zoom in to 100% when making adjustments. This way you can see the actual result of the sharpening on the image and make very accurate adjustments.
2. Balance Adjustments
It is recommended to use clarity, sharpening, and filters to get the best outcome. The problem with over-reliance on a single tool is that it results in images that look rather artificial.
3. Avoid Over-Sharpening
If the sharpening is done excessively, then it leads to noise and artifacts. In this case, always aim at achieving a natural appearance by ensuring that the image is as sharp as possible while at the same time minimizing the level of noise.
4. Use Noise Reduction
If sharpening brings in some noise, then use the Noise Reduction tool in the Detail section to eliminate the noise. Move the Luminance and Detail sliders to decrease the noise while preserving as much detail as possible.
Save Your Settings
If you have determined a set of settings that you like, then remember them in the form of a preset. This helps you to apply the same corrections in a short time to other photographs.
Pros and Cons of Fixing Blurry Photos in Lightroom
Pros
Professional Quality Results
The options available in Lightroom including the Sharpening Tool, Clarity Tool, and the advanced filters can help in improving blurry images. These tools enable fine tuning of the images and the results are very professional and clear without any blurring.
Efficiency and Speed
The organization of Lightroom is such that it makes working with images easy and efficient. Features such as presets and batch processing allow the user to make corrections to multiple photos at once, which is efficient and ensures that all the photos have similar corrections.
Non-Destructive Editing
Lightroom enables the user to edit a photo without changing the original photo in the process known as non destructive editing. All changes are stored as metadata, so you can always go back to the original picture if necessary. This is particularly beneficial for testing and tuning the image without the possibility of making the change permanent.
Cons
Learning Curve
Lightroom is packed with tools and options that can be confusing for a new user especially if they are not familiar with Adobe products. Some of the features like the Sharpening Tool, Clarity adjustments, and others are not easy to master and may take time to master hence not suitable for those who are new to photo editing.
Risk of Over-Editing
Another issue that can be observed when working with Lightroom is that it is easy to go overboard with the editing. If sharpening and clarity corrections are overdone, the image will look over-processed with too much grain and other unwanted features. The process of getting to a natural state is therefore characterized by some fine tuning and a good feel of the tools.
FAQs on How to Fix Blurry Photos in Lightroom
Conclusion – How to Fix Blurry Photos in Lightroom
In summary, I hope you know How to Fix Blurry Photos in Lightroom. Enhancing the images that are hazy in Lightroom is quite easy due to the effectiveness of this software. Through the use of the Sharpening Tool, Clarity adjustments, Radial and Graduated Filters, Presets, and third-party Plugins, one can be able to improve the sharpness and details of the image.
Lightroom offers a professional level of image enhancement and effective organization, yet it takes some time to get used to and it is easy to overdo it. To sum up, it is possible to state that with the right approach and techniques, it is possible to turn the blurry photos into clear, crisp, and stunning ones.
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