How to sharpen an image
- Upload your photo.
- Increase the sharpening amount gradually while watching the preview.
- Zoom in to check edges for halos, then apply.
- Download the sharpened image.
What sharpening can and cannot fix
Sharpening increases contrast along edges, which makes details look crisper. It works well for the slight softness that comes from resizing, scanning or a lens that is a little soft. It cannot rescue a photo with strong motion blur or one that is badly out of focus: the detail was never recorded, so there is nothing to bring back.
The technique is unsharp masking, borrowed from darkroom photography: a blurred copy of the image is compared with the original, and the difference is added back to emphasise edges.
Sharpen images lightly after resizing them, because downscaling softens fine detail.
Avoiding over-sharpening
Too much sharpening creates bright halos around edges, exaggerates noise and grain, and gives skin a gritty look. Increase the amount gradually and inspect the image at full size rather than as a small preview. A subtle result usually looks the most natural. Photos destined for print can usually take slightly more sharpening than images shown on screen.
Sharpen as the last step
Sharpening should be one of the final edits: crop and resize first, then sharpen, then compress. Sharpening before resizing is partly undone by the resize, while compressing before sharpening can amplify JPEG artefacts. For other fixes, try Adjust Image or the Image Editor.
Frequently asked questions
Can sharpening fix a blurry photo?
Only slight softness. Heavy motion blur or missed focus cannot be fully fixed.
What are the bright outlines around edges?
Those are halos from over-sharpening. Lower the amount.
Why does my photo look noisier?
Sharpening also boosts grain. Use a lower amount on photos taken in low light.
Is my image uploaded?
No. Sharpening is processed in your browser.