Buzz
JPEG (also known as JPG) is an image format that compresses files to reduce their size, making it suitable for sharing and posting online. As a result, when you zoom in or reuse a JPEG file, the image can appear pixelated or distorted due to the compression. You can enhance the quality of JPEG files by adjusting the image, colors, and contrast using photo editing software. If you're experienced with photo editing, you can use Topaz DeJPEG; for beginners, free software like Pixlr works well. For those familiar with Photoshop, powerful tools within the software can help improve image quality.
Steps
Using Pixlr
Download or use Pixlr online. Pixlr is a robust photo editing tool used by both professionals and photography enthusiasts. It offers a free online editing platform similar to basic mobile and desktop apps. You can upgrade to the advanced version.
- Pixlr Editor is a web-based application. You can access it here: https://pixlr.com/editor/
- Pixlr Express is available on the web, iOS, and Android. You can download it for free from Google Play or the Apple App Store, or visit https://pixlr.com/express/.
Open the image you want to edit. The quality of the final product after editing depends on the resolution, pixel count, or the original image itself. Pixlr recommends editing images at the highest possible resolution. This is especially important when planning to enlarge the image, as resizing reduces resolution and increases pixel gaps, causing distortion. To upload an image in the program:
- In Pixlr Editor, click the 'Browse' button, select the JPEG file, and press 'Ok', or find an image online and click the 'Open URL' button.
- In Pixlr Express, click the 'photos' button and select an image from your phone or tablet’s library. You can also take a new photo by clicking the 'camera' button.
Resize the image. Image size is determined by the number of pixels, with more pixels resulting in a larger image. Sending emails or uploading/downloading large JPEGs can take longer. Resize the image to reduce pixel count and make sharing quicker.
- To resize an image in Pixlr Editor, go to Adjustment > Resize. Change the pixel count to your desired size, lock the 'Aspect Ratio' feature, and click 'Apply'.
- To resize an image in Pixlr Express, click 'Done' then select 'Resize'. Adjust the pixel count to your preferred size, lock the 'Aspect Ratio', and click 'Apply'.
Crop the image. The crop feature allows you to easily remove unwanted parts of the image. Cropping also reduces the overall image size.
- To crop an image in Pixlr Editor, select Adjustment > Crop. Adjust the width and height within the crop dialog box. Click outside the image. If you're satisfied with the new size, click 'Yes' in the pop-up dialog.
- To crop an image in Pixlr Express, select Tools > Crop. Enter the desired pixel count or choose from preset sizes in the dropdown menu.
Reduce image noise. You can only use the free noise reduction filter in Pixlr Editor, while it requires a paid version in Pixlr. Select Filter > Denoise. You’ll see the word 'Denoise' flashing on the image to indicate noise reduction or image distortion has been minimized. Continue reducing noise until you're satisfied.
- You cannot control the exact level of noise reduction each time.
Use the brush tool to reduce noise. This tool is available for free in Pixlr Editor but requires a paid version in Pixlr. You can reduce the appearance of pixels by painting over the discolored ones. Select the brush tool to repaint areas lacking detail.
- Zoom in until individual pixels are visible. Select View > Zoom In.
- Choose the small eye icon in the dialog box, located just above the hand icon. Use this tool to select a color similar to the pixel you want to repaint.
- Select the brush tool, located above the paint bucket icon. Click the number next to 'Brush' to open the tool's settings. Reduce opacity to 40% and hardness to 10%. Select a brush shape that suits your needs.
- Carefully 'dot' the brush on the pixels to repaint them. Click one pixel at a time. Use the small eye tool to adjust the color if needed.
- To reduce mosquito noise or distortion around the edges of objects, paint with colors matching the surrounding environment. Decrease brush size and opacity to make painting easier.
- Occasionally zoom in and out to assess the overall image.
Refine detailed image areas with the Clone Stamp tool. This tool is available for free on Pixlr Editor, but requires a paid version on Pixlr. The Clone Stamp tool in Pixlr lets you capture and replicate parts of an image. This allows you to copy and paste individual pixels or entire objects. Since this tool captures and duplicates multiple colors, it's particularly effective for removing or reducing pixel noise from detailed areas.
- Zoom into the image until you can see individual pixels. Select View > Zoom In.
- On Pixlr, use the brush tool to stamp. Choose the brush tool and adjust its settings. Select a soft brush from line 2 and lower the opacity. The soft brush and low opacity help blend the colors more smoothly.
- Next, select the Clone Stamp tool, located just below the paint bucket icon. Hover over the area you wish to sample and copy. To activate the Clone Stamp, Windows users need to press the Alt key, while Mac users should hold the ⌘ Command key. Click on the area you want to select while holding the key. Release both the mouse and the key simultaneously.
- To apply the stamp, move your cursor to the area you wish to correct and click there. Repeat this process if necessary.
- Throughout the process, zoom in and out frequently to check the overall image.
Tune the color and contrast of the image. Pixlr offers several ways to modify and enhance the quality of your image. You can use the 'Color' tool to adjust the hue, saturation, brightness, and vibrancy. If the image is overexposed or underexposed, you can adjust the contrast and brightness using the 'Contrast' tool.
- To access this tool on Pixlr, go to Refine > Color or Refine > Contrast.
- On Pixlr Editor, choose Adjustment > Color or Adjustment > Contrast.
- On Pixlr Express, go to Tools > Adjustment > Color or Tools > Adjustment > Contrast.
Adjust the image tone with additional tools. Pixlr provides several tools similar to brushes and filters that help you remove minor flaws or alter the overall image. Here are some of the tools:
- Sharpen: Use this tool to enhance soft edges.
- Blur: Use this tool to soften harsh edges.
- Smudge: Use this tool to blend pixels together.
- Sponge: Use this tool to either absorb color or 'saturate' it.
- Dodge: Use this tool to brighten areas.
- Burn: Use this tool to darken areas or increase contrast.
- Spot Heal: Use this tool to remove imperfections or blemishes.
- Bloat: Use this tool to create a bulging effect.
- Pinch: Use this tool to create a pinched or recessed effect.
- Red-eye Reduction: Use this tool to remove red-eye from photos.
Apply effects to the image. With Pixlr's effects, you can transform each individual pixel of the image. Each effect uses an algorithm to alter the appearance of every pixel. Pixlr offers 9 different effects, each with various sub-options. Here’s a list of the effects:
- Atomic, Creative, Default, Soft, Subtle, Too Old, Unicolor, and Vintage.
Save and adjust the image size. After editing, select File > Save As, click the 'Save' button, or choose 'Save Image'. If you’re using Pixlr or Pixlr Editor, a dialog box will appear on the screen. On Pixlr, you can rename the image, select 'Files of Type' (choose JPEG), and choose the save location. Once done, click 'Save'. In Pixlr Editor, you can rename the image. Before saving, the program will ask you to select 'Image Quality'.
- High-quality images are less compressed, with more pixels, so they use more data. The saved file size is larger, and the image is sharper.
- Low-quality images are more compressed, with fewer pixels, so they use less data. The saved file size is smaller, but the image may appear less sharp and could become pixelated.
Using Topaz DeJPEG
Check if Topaz DeJPEG is compatible with your image editing software. Topaz DeJPEG is a plugin designed to enhance the quality of JPEG files in your primary photo editing software. The free trial version of this plugin is compatible with Adobe Photoshop (both Windows and Mac), Paintshop Pro (Windows), Photo Impact (Windows), and Irfanview (Windows).
Download and install the plugin. To get the free trial version, visit www.topazlabs.com/download in your web browser. Enter your email address and password, then click 'Download Now'. Scroll down to find 'Topaz DeJPEG' and select your operating system (Windows or Mac). The download will start, and the trial license key will be sent to your email address.
- Close Photoshop. If you're using Adobe Photoshop, you must close the program before installing DeJPEG. If you're using another software, closing it is not necessary.
- Run the installer. Double-click the installer file you just downloaded to begin the trial process. Enter the trial license key (sent via email) when prompted, then click 'Install' to proceed with the installation.
Activate the filter. Open a JPEG image in your photo editing software, then run the DeJPEG tool:
- Photoshop: From the Filters menu, select 'Topaz Labs' and then choose 'DeJPEG 4'.
- Paintshop Pro: From the Effects menu, choose 'Plugins' and then select 'Topaz DeJPEG'.
- Photo Impact: Open the Effects menu and select 'Topaz DeJPEG'.
- IrfanView: Open the Image menu, click on 'Effects', and choose 'Adobe 8BF Filters'. Select 'Topaz DeJPEG' from the list of filters.
Zoom in on the area to edit. Click the magnifying glass icon (+) to zoom in on the image area affected by compression artifacts.
Try out the default presets. The default presets of DeJPEG are located on the left side of the screen. Click on each preset to preview the image. Pay attention to the improvements or effects each preset has on the image. Select the preset that works best for your JPEG image, keeping in mind that some additional adjustments may still be necessary.
Adjust the sliders in Luminance mode. Choose 'Luminance' from the options below 'Preview Display Mode'. Click on 'Main' to explore detailed adjustments that the preset may have missed.
- Reduce Artifacts: Start by moving the slider all the way to the left. Gradually move it to the right and observe the details in the preview box. As the slider moves right, the edges become softer, but you may notice noise and a checkerboard effect. Keep adjusting until the right balance is achieved.
- Sharpen: This slider allows you to refine the sharpness of softened edges from the Reduce Artifacts slider. Move it right to enhance the sharpness.
- Sharp Radius: This slider works in conjunction with the Sharpen tool. Experiment with sliding it left or right until the edges become crisp and artifacts disappear.
Adjust the colors. If the colors in the image have been affected by previous adjustments, switch to 'Color' mode in the Preview Display settings.
- Smooth Color: Move the slider left or right until you are satisfied with the image in the preview box.
- Clear Edge Radius: To fine-tune the color details of the edges, click the 'Advanced' settings and increase the 'Clr Edge Radius' slider. Use it alongside the 'Edge Threshold' slider until the image looks good.
- Adjust Saturation: If the image looks washed out, move the 'Saturation' slider to the right to intensify the colors.
- Add Grain: Try using the 'Add Grain' slider to give the image a more natural feel. Slide it to the right to add more grain.
Shrink the image to review changes. Before saving the final product, click on the magnifying glass icon (-) until the entire image fits in the preview box. If you're not satisfied with the result, continue adjusting the preset, opacity, and colors until you're happy with the outcome.
Click 'OK' to process the image. You'll need to wait for a moment as the filter is applied to your image.
Using Adobe Photoshop
Consider the quality of the image you need. Editing the details of a low-quality, compressed JPEG image can be very time-consuming and labor-intensive.
- If you're short on time or don't have Photoshop installed, consider using the Topaz DeJPEG method.
- If you're looking to enhance an image for use on platforms like Facebook or Instagram, this method might not be as effective as using filters on apps. Pixlr offers several free filters that can help disguise imperfections in JPEG images. If you want your image to stand out and aren't concerned about file size, try Pixlr.
Zoom in to examine the image closely. Open your JPEG image in Photoshop, then zoom in using the magnifying glass icon (+) at the top of the toolbar on the left. Continue clicking this icon until the percentage in the bottom left corner of the screen shows '300%'. Pay attention to the blocks and color transitions at this close-up level.
Find the 'Reduce Noise' filter. Open the 'Filter' menu, select 'Noise', then click on 'Reduce Noise'.
Adjust the noise reduction options. First, check the 'Preview' box to see the changes in real-time.
- Strength: This number determines the level of noise reduction; the lower the image quality, the higher you should set this value. Move the slider to the right to observe the effect of increasing the strength setting.
- Preserve Details: A lower percentage will make the image blurrier and softer, while also reducing noise.
- Sharpen Details: You can counteract the Preserve Details setting by increasing Sharpen Details, which will make the edges of the image sharper. Don’t forget to check the 'Remove JPEG artifact' box.
- Once you're satisfied with the preview, click 'OK' to save the edited image.
Reduce noise and color blocks in areas with minimal detail. (For example, skin, cheeks, hair). The goal here is to make the color transitions smoother. Use the clone stamp tool to handle detailed areas such as eyes and ears.
- Zoom in on the image until you can clearly see the color blocks (tiny square color areas) in the region you need to edit.
- Use the eyedropper tool to select a color close to the color block you want to remove.
- Pick the brush tool. Lightly paint over the color block. Set the hardness to 10%, opacity to 40%, and flow to 100%.
- Click once to 'dab' the brush onto the color block. Don't hold down the mouse and paint continuously, as this will look unnatural. You can adjust the color freely to match the tones, highlights, and shadows of the original image.
- Lower the brush opacity to 10% for smoother transitions, such as the brow area on the skin. Choose a color that is a neutral blend of skin and brow tones to paint into the transition area. Due to the low opacity, the change will occur gradually and look natural, so don't hesitate to paint skin tones onto the brow's edge and vice versa.
Use the clone stamp tool in detailed areas. (For instance, eyes, teeth, insect wings). Because it's difficult to select a color that matches exactly in these areas, we can use the stamp to copy the precise color. The clone stamp tool allows you to select a source area and copy it to another region.
- Click on the stamp icon and press Alt until the cursor turns into a crosshair. Choose an area next to the color block or compression artifact you want to fix, avoiding color blocks. You should not copy artifacts.
- Adjust the brush size to suit the size of the compression artifact you're fixing, typically between 1-10px. Set the 'hardness' between 10-30% and 'opacity' around 30%. Use the 'dab' technique to fix color blocks. Regularly re-select the source area (by pressing Alt) as you move across the entire image.
- Reduce opacity in transition areas. Sometimes, incorrect color blocks also affect the image's structure (pay attention to how the circular pupil area isn't smooth and has raised spots). You can use the brush tool to paint over the boundary areas affected by the incorrect color block.
Repeat the process until you're satisfied with the image. Zoom out to 100% to view the overall result.
Tips
- The history panel in Photoshop only saves a limited number of steps, and you will perform many actions while editing an image. Only when you zoom out do you realize the mistake made in a step that Photoshop recorded. To avoid this, take a snapshot so you can revert to that stage if you're unsatisfied with the changes. You can find the snapshot button at the bottom of the history panel. Scroll down to see all snapshots.
- Don't hesitate to change your brush and clone stamp settings, especially if you're experienced with Photoshop. If you don’t want the color-dabbing technique to affect the image too much, adjust the settings.
- If you're editing an image, pay attention to how different colors display. A blue flower may have many shades of blue: navy, teal, emerald, purple, brown, etc., depending on the lighting, shadows, and reflections. Try to blend these different colors using a very soft brush. You can use the clone stamp if there are too many different colors in a small space.
