How to Unblur an Image with AI [5 Easy Ways]

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Edited by Ben Jacklin
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Few things are more annoying than thinking you’ve taken a fantastic photo only to find out it’s blurry. Luckily, modern editing software lets you unblur pictures quickly and easily. Read on to discover how to unblur an image and which app might suit your particular needs best.

Quick summary

  1. Editor’s choice for unblurring a picture: Movavi Photo Editor

  2. Best for removing blur without downloading software: Fotor

  3. Best choice for professional photo editors: Adobe® Photoshop®

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Why are your photos blurry?

Your photos might be blurry for a number of different reasons:

  • Age: is your photo old? Cameras are becoming more sophisticated and powerful every year. Older cameras can’t capture as much detail as new ones. If your photo was taken by an older camera, it’s only natural that it came out more blurry than photos taken by newer cameras.
  • Filters: adding the right filter can make a photo pop. The wrong filter, however, can make pictures look blurry. A bad filter might also do this. Piling on too many filters can also add blur to an image.
  • Low light: shooting photos without sufficient light can result in low-resolution images. Additionally, low-light photography usually requires longer exposure times, which can lead to blurry photos if the camera isn’t held steady.
  • User error: photos can turn out blurry even in good lighting conditions if the camera isn’t held steady enough. Using the wrong camera settings can also lead to blurry pictures. For example, the shutter speed might have been set too low or the exposure too high. On certain cameras, focus isn’t set automatically; if a camera is unfocused or focused incorrectly, it will take blurry photos.
  • Hardware error: using the wrong lens can lead to blurry photos. There might also be a problem with a physical part of your camera. For example, you might have gunk on your lens, or your film might be damaged.
  • Environmental problems: smoke, fog, poor air quality, high temperatures, and other environmental conditions can result in photos coming out blurry.

How to unblur a picture with Movavi Photo Editor

So, you want to know how to fix blurry pictures. Movavi Photo Editor has a number of tools that you can use to remove blur from photos on your Windows or Mac computer. Follow the guide below to learn how to unblur a picture with just a few clicks.

Pros:

  • Unblur your photos in a quick and easy way

  • Adjust texture for manual unblurring

  • Use AI tools to automatically enhance your photos

Cons:

  • Limitations of the free version

Step 1. Install Movavi Photo Editor

Open the downloaded file and follow the installation instructions.

Step 2. Add a photo

Click the Add image button to choose an image you want to unblur, or simply drag and drop the photo onto the working area of the program.

Step 3. Edit your picture

It’s time to unblur your image. On the Adjust tab, select Manually and find the Detail section. Move the Sharpness slider until it smooths out the fuzziness. Drag the Details slider to the right to emphasize textures. Besides sharpening, you can also try different types of photo correction: move other sliders in the Light section like Contrast and Brightness to further improve your pics.

You can also remove the blur from just a part of your photo. Use one of the selection tools to mark the area you want to enhance. Adjust the Sharpness and Details for the selected area.

Step 4. Save the corrected image

Click the Save button in the lower-right corner of the program window. In the new window that opens, enter the filename, choose the output folder, and select the appropriate output format. Finally, click the Save button to save the photo to your hard drive. Deblurring pictures has never been so easy!

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*The trial version of Movavi Photo Editor has the following restrictions: you can save up to 10 images with added watermark, screenshots are disabled.

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How to fix blurry photos with Photoshop®

For years, people wondering how to make a picture unblurry found their answer in Adobe® Photoshop®. These days, there are many apps to choose from. However, many still choose to unblur images in Photoshop®, and for good reason. Adobe’s flagship photo-editing tool remains one of the most popular and powerful tools available, and lets you unblur photos in multiple ways.

Pros:

  • Multiple unblurring tools

  • No internet connection required

  • Syncs with other Adobe apps

Cons:

  • Might be too complicated for a single task

  • The price is high if you just need to unblur some pictures and nothing more

How do you unblur a blurry picture in Photoshop®? You’ve got multiple options.

Option one: Smart sharpening

Smart sharpening is one of Photoshop®’s powerful unblurring tools. If you’re wondering how to unblur a photo, this is the first thing you should try.

Step  1. Zoom in

You don’t want to make minor adjustments to sharpness while zooming out too far to notice subtle changes. Zoom in to your photo so you can see all the little details that might be changed by your deblur. Click on the little magnifying glass icon in the toolbar to activate the zoom tool. Alternatively, hit control-plus (or command-plus on Mac) to zoom in. Adjust the level of zoom to your preference.

Step  2. Select a filter

Click on the Filter menu, which is one of the options at the top of the app window. That will open a list of options. Hover over the Sharpen option and select Smart Sharpen.

The Smart Sharpen dialog box lets you adjust several different things. Of course, you can always use a preset for a quick fix. If you want more control over the process, or the presets aren’t working, try making some manual adjustments using the three sliders.

  • Amount. Increasing the Amount, which is measured as a percentage, makes edges look sharper.
  • Radius. Increasing the Radius, measured in pixels, will cause more pixels to be sharpened. 
  • Reduce Noise. Increasing the Reduce Noise, measured as a percentage, reduces camera grain. Sharpening an image can make an image become grainy. If that happens, use this slider to combat that.

Step 3. Choose a type of blur

You can choose between three different types of blur.

  • Gaussian Blur. This type of blur is usually the result of image processing. It’s based on a mathematical formula that reduces noise and smooths an image. Imagine seeing something through a translucent window; that’s what this blur looks like. If your blurred photo looks like this, try using the Gaussian Blur setting first.
  • Lens Blur. Is it possible to unblur a photo that was taken with a misfocused lens? Yes! This is the option to use in that case. One of the telltale signs of a misfocused lens is the bokeh effect. This effect is caused by a camera attempting to process out-of-focus points of light. The result is blurred circles of light. When used right, bokeh can create a fantastic effect. You might have seen it used in photos of cities at night or rainy landscapes seen through a window covered in raindrops. 
  • Motion Blur. Perhaps the most common type of blur is caused by motion. Capturing movement sharply requires a fast shutter speed. The faster the shutter speed, the more light is needed. That’s why ultra high-speed cameras – like those used to capture bullets or other high-speed objects – are often so bulky and need to be set up in broad daylight or in studios with plenty of artificial light. If you don’t get things right, your subject will appear blurry. Something moving in the background of your shot can also be blurred, though this can often look aesthetically pleasing. If you want to remove blur caused by motion, use the Motion Blur setting. Adjusting the Angle tool until it matches the direction of whatever motion you want to deblur can make the unblurring more effective.

Step 4. Make more adjustments

One of the age-old questions in photo editing is, “Can you unblur a photo without making it look weird?” Unblurring often leads to strange effects, like halos or grain. Try playing around with the shadows and highlights to get rid of these unwanted additions. To access these, you might need to open a dropdown menu in the dialogue box. If that’s not there, you might be using an older version of Photoshop®. In that case, try clicking on the Advanced button at the top of the box. You can adjust the Shadows and the Highlights separately. Each has the same three tools to do so.

  • Fade Amount. Measured as a percentage, this adjusts the contrast.
  • Tonal Width. Measured as a percentage, this adjusts how many tones are sharpened. A smaller tonal width in regards to shadows, for example, means only the darkest parts of your picture will be affected.
  • Radius. Measured in pixels, this adjusts how much information is used to ascertain if a particular pixel is a shadow or highlight. Increasing the radius means a larger area around each pixel is used in this calculation.

Step  5. Preview your photo

Checking this box lets you view the results of your adjustments in real-time. It’s usually a good idea to have this turned on. The only exception is if your computer is struggling to keep up. In that case, turning off the preview option can speed up your computer’s processing time.

Option two: Unsharp Mask

You can find the Unsharp Mask tool in the same place as Smart Sharpen. It’s the option below Smart Sharpen in the menu. This tool can be more precise than Smart Sharpen, and can result in a more powerful sharpening effect.

Step 1. Select and convert a layer

While you can use Unsharp Mask to unblur an entire image, one of the tool’s features is that it can be applied to specific sections of a photo. You’ll need to select whatever layer you want to apply the mask to.

Next, you need to change that layer into a smart object. Do that by clicking the Layer option in the menu, then Smart Objects, then Convert to Smart Object. By changing the layer into a smart object, your edits will be reversible. You can make adjustments to the mask later.

Step 2. Select an area

If you want to restrict your unblurring to a specific part of your picture, select that part now. Click on the lasso icon in the toolbar to activate the Lasso Tool. Use your mouse to circle the specific area you want to unblur.

Step  3. Add a mask

Now’s when the magic happens. Find the Unsharp Mask option, next to Smart Sharpen, and select it. A dialogue box will open.

Step 4. Adjust the settings

You have three options to adjust.

  • Amount. Measured as a percentage, increasing this strengthens the unblurring effect.
  • Radius. Measured in pixels, increasing this causes more pixels along edges to be sharpened. It’s easier to notice the results of a high radius on a screen; if you’re planning on printing your image, you can afford to use a higher value.
  • Threshold. Measured in levels, this determines what counts as a pixel on an edge. 

Step 5. Change the blend mode

There’s a chance that the Unsharp Mask tool will cause some color distortion. That’s because the deblur is achieved via increasing the contrast between specific pixels. By changing the blend mode to Luminosity, you can avoid any color problems. 

How to unblur a photo online

Can you remove blur from photos without having to download any software? For years, you could only unblur pictures in apps. However, there are now plenty of online tools available. One such tool is called Fotor. Fotor utilizes AI to unblur photos quickly. It can sharpen text, increase resolution, unpixelate pictures, restore old photos, and much more.

Pros:

  • Free trial available

  • Unblurring done automatically

  • No need to download and learn complicated software

Cons:

  • Internet connection required

  • Full access requires subscription

Step 1. Open the Fotor website

Follow the link below to open the online photo editor.

Go to the Fotor website

Step 2. Upload your image

After clicking the button on Fotor’s website – labeled Upload Your Image – you’ll need to upload the photo that you want to deblur.

Step 3. Unblur the photo

Fotor’s AI automatic tool will take a few seconds to work its magic. That’s it! Your image will be unblurred. 

If you’re not satisfied with the results, you have the option of making some adjustments. Tinker with the sharpness, saturation, brightness, and contrast of your image until you are happy with the final result.

Step 4. Save your picture

All done? Hit Download to save your picture.

How to remove blur from a photo on iOS

How do you unblur a blurry picture on an iPhone? Well, iPhones come with various built-in photo-editing tools. These tools weren’t necessarily created to remove blur from photos like Fotor, but they can still be helpful.

If you’ve never edited your photos on a mobile phone before, this process might seem a little confusing. Don’t give up, though! It’s really very simple. The iPhone’s built-in editing tools have been designed to be straightforward and intuitive. Every adjustment you make is instantly computed, so you can see in real time the effects of your edits. Follow the steps below to tackle annoying blur in your pics.

Pros:

  • Totally free

  • Included with iPhones, so no downloads necessary

  • No internet connection required

Cons:

  • More complicated than one-click AI unblurrers

  • Not specifically designed for unblurring, so might be unable to fix more difficult cases

Step 1. Select a photo

The first step is to go to the Photos app and choose the image you want to edit. Once you’ve found it, tap on it.

Next, tap the Edit option, which should be in the top-right corner of your phone screen. That will bring up the editing options.

Step 2. Adjust your photo

Your iPhone will probably automatically open the adjustments tab. If not, click on the Adjust option at the bottom of your screen. It looks like a circular knob surrounded by dots.

You can scroll through the list of available tools. To adjust a particular setting, scroll left or right on the adjustment meter underneath the tool’s symbol. This meter looks like a ruler.

The first tools to try are Sharpness and Definition. Play around with the settings and see what happens. The penultimate tool is Noise Reduction, which you can use to counteract the increase in camera grain that sometimes happens when you increase an image’s sharpness. Some of the other tools, like Contrast, Highlights, Shadows, and Exposure, might also help you make your photo look better.

Step 3. Save your changes

Once you’re happy with your changes, click the Done button. It should be yellow and located in the top-right corner of your screen. If you’re unhappy with your changes, or want to start again, click the Discard button, which should be at the top-left corner of your screen. You’ll be asked to confirm that you want to discard the changes that you’ve made. Doing so will revert the photo back to its original state. You can then try again, or switch to another app.

Enhance your photos with Movavi App for iOS

Movavi App comes packed with plenty of tools to edit photos and videos. These include tools specifically designed to help you remove blur from your photos. Use the AI tool for instant enhancing or tinker with photo settings to manually sharpen your shots. You don’t have to stop there, either. Take your unblurred images to the next level with hundreds of filters and effects.

How to make a picture unblurry on Android

Androids also come with built-in photo editors. A better option for unblurring photos, however, is YouCam Perfect. With more than 800 million downloads, YouCam Perfect is one of the most popular image editing apps on Google Play. It comes with a wide range of tools, including an AI-powered enhancement feature that can remove blur from photos.

Pros:

  • Free download

  • Good reviews

  • Straightforward user interface

Cons:

  • Contains advertisements and in-app purchases

  • Less powerful unblurring tools than other options on this list

Step  1. Download the app

The first step is to navigate to Google Play and download YouCam Perfect. Note that some of the more powerful AI features are kept behind a paywall. You might have to pay for a subscription in order to access them.

Download YouCam Perfect

Step 2. Select photo

Open the app and choose the photo you want to edit.

Step 3. Edit your photo

Click the Edit button to access the editing tools. Hit on the AI Enhance button. This should start the unblurring process automatically.

YouCam Perfect offers a unique AI solution to blurry objects in the background of your photos. You can remove them altogether! To do this, tap on the AI Removal button in the editing toolbar. Then simply paint over the objects you want to remove. The AI will do all the rest.

Step 4. Save your photo

Once you are happy with your photo, all that’s left to do is to save it. You can download the photo to your device or share it straight to social media.

Best programs to unblur images

Best desktop programs

  • Movavi Photo Editor – editor’s choice for image unblurring and AI enhancement
  • Adobe® Photoshop® – best for professional photo editors
  • VanceAI Image Sharpener – best for people who need to unblur a lot of images
  • HitPaw Photo AI – best for beginners

Best online tools

  • Fotor – best for AI-powered unblurring
  • YouCam Enhance – best for removing blur without downloading software
  • Media.io – best for unblurring without producing artifacts
  • Instasize – best for resizing images 

Best mobile apps

  • Movavi App – editor’s choice for unblurring photos on mobile
  • PhotoDirector – best for one-tap quick deblur
  • YouCam Perfect – best for editing on Android devices

Tips on choosing the best blurred photo editor

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to unblurring photos. What works for one person might not be best for someone else. Consider your situation, your requirements, and your desired outcome when selecting your photo editor. And remember, if you’re unhappy with your choice, you can always try something else! Here are some tips to help you choose:

  • Hardware: what will you be editing your photos on? Consider whether you will be editing on a laptop or a mobile device. An online editing tool might be best if your computer is older and struggles with powerful editing software.
  • Situation: when will you be editing photos? If you plan on editing on the go, a mobile app might be best. Consider whether you’ll be editing offline, or whether you’ll always be editing connected to Wi-Fi. 
  • Effort: how much time do you want to spend editing? If you’re a professional, dedicated hobbyist, or simply love editing, don’t be afraid of tackling one of the more complex and powerful apps. However, if you’re a beginner and just want quick results, consider one of the simpler apps. Editing apps with AI tools can also be a good solution for people who just want results in one tap.
  • Purpose: what sort of edits will you be making? If you just want to unblur a photo, a more straightforward app or online tool might be best. However, if you plan on attempting more in-depth edits, a more powerful editing software might be worth the investment.

Summary

So, you now know how to fix blurry pictures! Remember, there are plenty of different options, and no single one of them is the best. Consider your individual needs and choose the tool that will be the most helpful to you.

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