BEST software for FIXING BLURRED / OUT OF FOCUS portraits
TLDRIn this video, the creator shares their experience of nearly ruining a portrait due to the camera focusing on the subject's hair instead of her eyes. They explore three software solutions to fix the blurred or out-of-focus issue: Luminar Neo, On1 Noise A.I., and Topaz Sharpen AI. After testing each, they find that Luminar Neo's super sharp feature doesn't significantly improve the image, while On1 Noise A.I. provides a good result but introduces noise. Topaz Sharpen AI, however, delivers an impressive result with clear eyes and minimal noise, making it the preferred choice for this particular portrait. The video concludes with the creator's admiration for the capabilities of such software, despite hoping never to need it again.
Takeaways
- 📸 The photographer was pleased with a recent female portrait but realized the camera had focused on the hair instead of the eyes.
- 🔍 The photographer had to fix the focus issue before editing, as a lack of sharpness in the eyes would render the portrait unusable.
- 💻 The photographer researched online for software that could fix blurred or out-of-focus images.
- 📘 An article on Adobe.com suggested using Lightroom’s Detail panel for sharpening adjustments, but it wasn't straightforward.
- 🔧 Three software options were identified for testing: Luminar Neo, On1 Noise A.I., and Topaz Sharpen AI.
- ❌ Luminar Neo's super sharp feature did not significantly improve the image and even altered the face unnaturally.
- 📈 On1 Noise A.I. showed potential by improving eye detail and skin tone when both noise and sharpness adjustments were used together.
- 🏆 Topaz Sharpen AI provided the most impressive results, significantly enhancing the eye clarity with minimal noise and preserving the original skin tone.
- 🎨 The photographer used Photoshop to selectively apply the sharpening effect from Topaz Sharpen AI to the eyes only.
- 🤔 Despite the success, the photographer expressed a preference not to rely on such software for fixing focus issues in the future.
- 🌟 The photographer was amazed by the capabilities of the software and is grateful for its existence, though hoping not to need it again.
Q & A
What was the main issue with the portrait that the photographer was pleased with?
-The main issue with the portrait was that the camera had focused on the subject's hair instead of her eyes, which nearly ruined the portrait.
What was the first software mentioned in the transcript that the photographer tried to fix the focus issue?
-The first software mentioned was Luminar Neo, which the photographer used in conjunction with Lightroom.
What was the photographer's experience with Luminar Neo's super sharp option?
-The photographer found that Luminar Neo's super sharp option, even at the low setting, did not significantly improve the focus of the portrait and even introduced unwanted changes when using the face enhancer.
Which software was the second one the photographer tried and what was its main feature?
-The second software was On1 Noise A.I., 2023, which had separate sections for noise and sharpening, allowing the photographer to work on these aspects separately or together.
What was the outcome when the photographer combined the noise and tack sharp sections in On1 Noise A.I.?
-When the photographer combined the noise and tack sharp sections, the eyes' detail improved, and the skin tone returned to its original state, making it a quite good result.
What was the final software the photographer tried and what was the result?
-The final software was Topaz Sharpen AI. It provided an 'insanely good' result, significantly improving the focus of the eyes with minimal noise and allowed for further tweaking of the blur type and noise suppression.
How did the photographer use Topaz Sharpen AI in the final edit of the portrait?
-The photographer sent the portrait into Photoshop, duplicated the image, and sent the duplicate into Topaz Sharpen AI. After processing, a black layer mask was added in Photoshop, and a white brush was used to selectively bring back the sharpness in the eyes.
What was the photographer's initial skepticism about using software to fix blurred or out-of-focus images?
-The photographer was skeptical because companies often advertise their software with images that are pre-selected to give the best results, and he was unsure if the software would perform as well on an unselected, poorly-focused image.
Why does the photographer hope not to use Topaz, Luminar Neo, or On1 for fixing images in the future?
-The photographer hopes not to use these software for fixing images because it indicates a mistake was made during the shooting, and he prefers to get the focus right in-camera rather than relying on post-processing.
What is the photographer's overall impression of the software that can fix blurred or out-of-focus images?
-The photographer is amazed by the capabilities of such software, considering it 'incredibly clever stuff' and is glad that it exists, even though he hopes not to need it.
What advice does the photographer give to the viewers regarding the video?
-The photographer encourages viewers to give a thumbs up if they found the video useful, subscribe to the channel for more content, and share the video if they feel inclined to.
What was the lighting setup used for the portrait as mentioned in the article on the photographer's website?
-The lighting setup was a simple one light setup from above in front of the subject, aimed down to a reflector held just below chest height.
Outlines
📸 Overcoming Focus Issues with Software Fixes
The speaker discusses a recent female portrait that turned out well despite nearly being ruined by the photographer's overconfidence. The camera had focused on the subject's hair instead of her eyes. The photographer shares their journey in finding a software solution to correct the focus issue. They explore three different software options: Luminar Neo, On1 Noise A.I., and Topaz Sharpen AI. After testing each, they find that Luminar Neo's super sharp feature doesn't improve the image significantly, while On1 Noise A.I. shows some promise when combining noise and sharpness adjustments. The speaker also mentions an article from Adobe.com about using Lightroom’s Detail panel to fix blur but finds it lacking in simplicity and practicality.
🔍 Topaz Sharpen AI: A Game Changer for Blurry Portraits
Continuing from the previous paragraph, the speaker evaluates Topaz Sharpen AI and is impressed by the results, especially considering the poor initial focus on the eyes. The software allows for fine-tuning of blur removal, noise suppression, and artifact removal. The speaker used the software to selectively sharpen the eyes in post-processing within Photoshop, achieving a satisfactory result. They express skepticism about relying on such software for fixing blurry images in the future but acknowledge the impressive capabilities of Topaz Sharpen AI and the value of having such tools available. The speaker concludes by encouraging viewers to like, subscribe, and share the video if they found it helpful.
Mindmap
Keywords
Portrait
Focus
Software
Luminar Neo
On1 Noise A.I. 2023
Topaz Sharpen AI
Lightroom
Sharpening Adjustments
Blur
Noise
Photoshop
Highlights
The photographer shares a favorite recent portrait, which nearly failed due to focusing on the subject's hair instead of her eyes.
Software was used to correct the focus issue, saving the portrait from being discarded.
An article on the photographer's website details the setup, lighting, and process for taking the portrait.
The importance of sharp eyes in a portrait is emphasized, as it can make or break the final image.
Adobe's article on deblurring and sharpening in Lightroom's Detail panel is critiqued for oversimplification.
Three software solutions are tested for fixing blurred or out-of-focus images: Luminar Neo, On1 Noise A.I., and Topaz Sharpen AI.
Luminar Neo's super sharp feature was ineffective for this portrait, with odd results from the face enhancer option.
On1 Noise A.I. showed potential in improving eye detail and skin tone when both noise and sharpness adjustments were used.
Topaz Sharpen AI provided impressive results, significantly enhancing the clarity of the subject's eyes with minimal noise.
The photographer used a selective approach in Photoshop, applying Topaz Sharpen AI only to the eyes for a desired aesthetic.
Despite skepticism, the photographer was amazed by the effectiveness of Topaz Sharpen AI on their own challenging image.
While Topaz worked well, the photographer does not intend to rely on such software for future blurred or out-of-focus images.
The existence of software capable of salvaging poorly focused images is seen as a remarkable advancement in photography.
The video concludes with an invitation for viewers to support the channel through likes, subscriptions, and shares.
The photographer expresses gratitude for the viewers' engagement and looks forward to the next video.