Top 12 Best Photo Sharpening Software
When I speak about photo sharpening, I mean removing blur, enhancing details and dehazing. Every photographer knows this basic procedure. As a rule, out-of-focus images require sharpening and it is also used to compensate for motion blur and camera shake.
Now I will describe 12 best photo sharpening software that will help you easily sharpen the digital pics.
1. Adobe Lightroom
- Speedy image management and organization
- Possibility of batch processing
- Application of presets
- Advanced tools for perfect sharpening
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Verdict: Lightroom is not just the best photo sharpening software. Also, it offers effective image management and editing of raw material. Even if you are a beginner in the sphere of image editing, this tool is an ideal variant to start with. It shows impressive photo post-production capabilities and functionality, has helpful presets and brushes to improve your productivity.
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom features decent tools to fix blurring. Go to the Develop module in Lr, choose “Detail” and click “Sharpening” or “Noise Reduction”. These are the tools that help shooters improve their images and prepare them for printing or publication. In addition, Lr is really fast and efficient in its performance.
Complete Adobe Lightroom Review
2. Luminar
- Effective and automatic image sharpener
- Convenient UI
- Decent automatic photo fixes
- Numerous filters
- Some problems when it comes to speed and reliability (on Windows OS)
- Not compatible with Linux
- Absence of Library search
Verdict: This image sharpening software is worth installing since it offers a great number of cool filters and effects. Luminar has multiple tools to sharpen images and provides 3 ways to improve your digital photographs.
To begin with, you may apply the classic method and use the Sharpening filter that effectively enhances edges. You may also use some other filters, like Dehalo (to remove halos), Clarity (to improve contrast along the edges), Structure and Microstructure (to correct contrast and clarity on surfaces and restore details).
3. Adobe Photoshop
- Easy synchronization and sharing
- Support of all file formats
- Convenient blur removal
- Access to Creative Cloud assets
- Some advanced Ps tools require special skills to be successfully applied
- Requires powerful computer performance to work smoothly
Verdict: Photoshop also belongs to image sharpening software capable of correcting blurry pics. Mind that this software is quite a complex one. So if you decide to use it as your first image editor, it’s better to consider some other tool from the list.
However, if you belong to intermediate or advanced users, you can easily master Photoshop. This software is definitely worth using and numerous effective tools prove it every time you launch the program. Photoshop works smoothly on Windows and Mac. Its powerful tools will help you remove blurring without any difficulties.
4. PhotoScape
- Professional picture editing tools
- Decent optimization
- Supports RAW files
- Low system requirements
- Poor functionality
- Lags sometimes happen
Verdict: PhotoScape is a sharpen photo app that may be a decent free alternative to Photoshop. Professionals, as well as beginners, may conveniently use it and apply various corrections. You may set the sharpening radius to any value between 0.1 and 0.8 and the amount of sharpening between 10% and 500%.
You may select one of the combinations if you click the Default button and change it to one of the 13 pre-selected values. However, it’s very important to not “oversharp” images. For instance, if the amount you apply is too high, the results will be not very flattering. It is particularly visible in portraits.
5. Blurity
- Convenient interface
- Ideally suitable for beginners
- Realistic marketing (no high expectations)
- Only Windows-compatible
- Offers poor functionality in comparison with similar tools
Verdict: It is the best photo sharpening software for amateurs who need to remove all types of blur (motion and focus blur) in a few seconds. Blurity uses deconvolution technology, enabling it to recover pics with intense blur and make text readable.
If you are a beginner, you may achieve great results using default settings. But if you are an advanced user, adjust the settings as you like and bring your images to perfection. Blurity is designed to remove motion and focus blurs, for example, when your camera moves or when autofocus fails.
- Read the info about the highest image quality format.
6. VanceAI
- AI-powered features
- Blur removal without torn edges
- High level of detail
- User-friendly
- Lack of manual editing tools
Verdict: VanceAI Image Sharpener is powerful software that sharpens your images in a few clicks thanks to advanced AI technologies. It contains tools for blur correction, sharpening, and detail enhancement options.
Even if you are new to editing of pictures, you can easily sharpen your images and remove motion blur with this software. Using this AI instrument, you can fix blurry areas, regardless of the reason for this issue. Perhaps you were photographing a moving subject or your camera wasn’t fully stabilized. Give your images a polished, professional look by fixing the focus with the Unblur feature.
This drag-and-drop editor is very easy to use, being a good option for beginner photographers. You don't need to install any photo editing apps on your computer as you can use VanceAI online and without any fees.
7. AI Image Sharpener
- AI-based function
- User-friendly
- Batch processing
- Cross-platform
- Few export formats
Verdict: AI Image Sharpener is a tool developed with AI technology in mind. Using it, you can accurately improve photo edges and increase sharpness to get a professional image. Many users resort to this instrument when they need to sharpen image online free, as well as raise brightness, and achieve better precision.
The range of handy features is truly impressive. You can eliminate motion blur and out-of-focus defects in an instant. Upload your photos to the interface and rely on AI sharpening functionality.
8. Movavi Photo
- Local settings to enhance details
- Low system requirements
- Works smoothly with popular graphic formats
- Easy-to-use interface
- Effective image editing filters
- Few specialized tools for sharpening
- Limited functionality in a free version
Verdict: Movavi Photo Editor is a complex image editing software showing powerful photo sharpening capabilities. Moreover, it boasts of artificial intelligence. Applying a smart detail enhancer, you may improve particular zones of a photo (low-quality areas) or change the color of an object.
Other features of this sharpening software also attract users thanks to their simplicity and ease of application. For example, you can correct color and contrast, remove fingers or unnecessary details, restore old pics, apply make-up, add frames, etc. Movavi is a user-friendly software designed for amateur shooters and everyone interested in image editing.
Complete Movavi Photo Editor Review
9. Focus Magic
- Numerous guides to successfully use the tool
- Effective image sharpener
- Deals with motion blur
- Simple UI
- Used by famous organizations
- Specialized software
- Single image editing feature
- No technical support
Verdict: Focus Magic is a sharpen photo app that uses expert forensic strength deconvolution technology and effectively deals with blur. It is applied to out-of-focus, blurry or old images. It successfully corrects motion blur and camera shake issues.
The most significant advantage of this tool is that it can switch the depth of field and move the focus on the object no matter where it is ‒ in the foreground or background. Focus Magic is used by large organizations and law enforcement bodies, NASA, military and intelligence agencies, etc.
- Read about the best photo editing software for PC.
10. Topaz Labs Sharpen AI
- AI-based tools successfully deal with noise and details
- Removal of four blur types
- Quick blur removal
- Slow performance in comparison with similar apps
- High price
Verdict: Sharpen AI is a software developed by Topaz Labs. It may be used as independent software or as one of Lightroom, Topaz Studio or Photoshop sharpening plugins. It works using AI algorithms to correct noise, improve details and provide realistic results.
Sharpen AI has separate modules to deal with 3 types of problems: Stabilize, Focus and Sharpen. Stabilize removes motion blur and camera shake issues. Focus corrects up to 10 MP of focus blur and can make selective adjustments.
Sharpen works with small amounts of general blur. To get impressive results, use a particular module or combine them if you have several types of blur.
11. GIMP
- Suitable for Windows, Mac, and Linux
- Open-source
- Masks and layers similar to those in Photoshop
- Weak performance in comparison with paid alternatives
- Few video guides
Verdict: GIMP is an open-source sharpening software featuring a complete set of tools and photoshopping portraits tips for basic image editing and color correction. Moreover, you may process text, work with masks and layers, add effects, etc.
Speaking about sharpening tools, GIMP has a classical Sharpen filter (Unsharp Mask) that has three values ‒ radius, amount and threshold, and a High Pass filter. This app features the sharpening procedure similar to that of Photoshop ‒ application of masks and layers, improvement of color, contrast and tone.
12. inPixio Photo Focus
- Easy blur removal thanks to an advanced algorithm
- One-click image sharpening
- Refocusing feature
- Only Windows-compatible
- Expensive
- Complicated to use
Verdict: InPixio has been always known for its digital photo software for Windows users. InPixio Photo Focus is image sharpening software that offers you the tools to sharpen high-resolution images.
You may turn blurry images into clear ones, enhance the depth of field, add sharpness, creating a clear difference between the background and the center of the image. The program supports batch processing, allowing you to apply focus adjustments to multiple images simultaneously. This feature is particularly useful when you have a series of similar photos that require the same focus enhancements. In the process of the InPixio Photo Focus development, significant focus was put on the ease of use. If you need help figuring out the software, there are tips offering a short description of each function.
Ann Young
Hi there, I'm Ann Young - a professional blogger, read more
