Fix Low-Quality Pics Instantly with Photoshop's New AI!

PiXimperfect
1 Jan 202307:29

TLDRDiscover how to instantly enhance the quality of low-resolution images with Photoshop's innovative AI feature. The video demonstrates a step-by-step process to eliminate JPEG artifacts and recover image details. First, duplicate the background layer and apply the 'Neural Filters' with the 'JPEG Artifacts Removal' option. Adjust the strength to your preference and witness the remarkable transformation from a pixelated image to a detailed one. The feature works on-device, avoiding cloud processing, and is effective for large images. However, it may not perfect every area, such as the sky in some cases. To address this, use a 'Smart Filter' output to edit the mask and selectively apply the effect. For stubborn lines, apply 'Surface Blur' to maintain edges while smoothing the sky. The tutorial concludes with a practical example of fixing a compressed image from social media, emphasizing the utility of the AI tool for both quick fixes and detailed editing. The presenter also encourages viewers to like, subscribe, and ring the bell for more feature tips and tutorials.

Takeaways

  • 🔍 To enhance a low-quality image with artifacts, make a copy of the background layer and use Photoshop's Filter > Neural Filters > JPEG Artifact Removal.
  • 🎨 Adjust the strength of the JPEG Artifact Removal to your preference to control the level of detail recovery.
  • 🆕 Before and after comparisons show significant improvements in image quality, especially in areas with details like eyebrows.
  • ⚙️ Output the result as a Smart Filter to allow for later adjustments of the strength without reprocessing the entire image.
  • 📂 For areas requiring different levels of correction, duplicate the layer and apply varying strengths of the filter.
  • 🚫 There's a limitation: if you've lost the original file and only have a compressed JPEG from social media, some areas might not be fixed properly.
  • 📷 For large images, the process might take some time, but it's done on the device without relying on cloud processing.
  • 🖌️ Use a soft round brush on the mask to manually paint back in details that were overly smoothed.
  • 🌐 If the sky or other areas have persistent lines after using the artifact removal, use Filter > Blur > Surface Blur to maintain edges while smoothing the area.
  • 🔄 To fix the sky specifically, select the sky using the Select > Sky feature and apply the Surface Blur to the designated layer.
  • ✅ Always convert your working layer into a Smart Object before applying Surface Blur to retain the option of non-destructive editing.
  • 🔄 After Surface Blur, carefully adjust the threshold to bring back the edges without reintroducing unwanted lines or artifacts.

Q & A

  • What is the main issue with the low-quality image discussed in the transcript?

    -The main issue is not the resolution but the presence of artifacts, which are visible due to the low quality and small file size of the image (29 KB).

  • How can you make a copy of the background layer in Photoshop?

    -You can make a copy of the background layer by pressing Ctrl+J (or Command+J on a Mac).

  • What feature in Photoshop is used to enhance the quality of a low-quality image?

    -The feature used is 'Neural Filters' found under the 'Filter' menu, specifically the 'JPEG Artifacts Removal' option.

  • How can you adjust the strength of the JPEG artifacts removal in Photoshop?

    -You can adjust the strength of the JPEG artifacts removal by setting it according to your preference within the Neural Filters interface.

  • What is the benefit of setting the output to Smart Filter in Photoshop?

    -Setting the output to Smart Filter allows you to change the strength of the filter later, providing more flexibility and control over the editing process.

  • How can you apply different strengths of JPEG artifact removal to different areas of an image?

    -You can create layer masks or duplicate the layer and apply different strengths to different areas, tailoring the correction to specific parts of the image.

  • What is the catch mentioned in the transcript when using JPEG artifact removal on a compressed image from social media?

    -The catch is that some areas of the image may not be fixed properly even after using the JPEG artifact removal method, indicating limitations when working with heavily compressed images.

  • How can you fix areas of an image that still show artifacts after using JPEG artifact removal?

    -You can use a layer mask to paint back in some of the details in areas where you want less artifact removal. Additionally, you can use the 'Surface Blur' filter to blend the artifacts while maintaining the edges.

  • Why is it recommended to convert a layer into a Smart Object before using Surface Blur?

    -Converting a layer into a Smart Object preserves the layer's original state, allowing non-destructive editing and the ability to adjust the filter's effects later if needed.

  • How can you selectively apply Surface Blur to the sky in an image?

    -You can use the 'Select and Mask' tool to select the sky and then apply the Surface Blur only to the selected area, protecting other parts of the image from unwanted blurring.

  • What is the final step recommended to fix the sky in an image using Surface Blur?

    -The final step is to adjust the threshold of the Surface Blur to recover the edges of the sky, ensuring a natural and seamless appearance while removing unwanted artifacts.

  • How can you support the creator of the tutorial and ensure continued access to free content?

    -You can support the creator by liking the video, subscribing to the channel, ringing the bell for notifications, and, if possible, contributing on platforms like Patreon.

Outlines

00:00

🖼️ Image Enhancement with Neural Filters

The first paragraph introduces a method to improve the quality of low-detail images with significant artifacts, typically caused by high compression. The speaker demonstrates using the 'jpeg artifacts removal' feature in Adobe Photoshop's neural filters to restore details. By creating a copy of the background layer and applying the filter, one can adjust the strength to remove artifacts and improve image quality, as shown in before-and-after comparisons. The speaker also mentions the possibility of adjusting the strength value and creating masks for different areas of the image. However, they caution about a 'catch' that will be addressed later, implying there might be limitations or additional steps needed for certain types of artifacts.

05:02

🌐 Social Media Image Recovery and Advanced Techniques

The second paragraph deals with the scenario of recovering image quality when the original file is lost, and only a compressed JPEG from social media remains. The speaker reiterates the process of using the 'jpeg artifacts removal' feature but points out that some areas may not be fixed adequately with this method alone. To address this, the speaker recommends using a smart filter for flexibility and creating a mask to manually paint back details in certain areas. They also introduce the concept of 'surface blur' as an alternative to traditional blurring, which helps maintain edges while smoothing out the image. The paragraph concludes with a method to selectively apply the 'sky fix' to only the sky in an image using a mask, resulting in a more natural-looking outcome.

Mindmap

Keywords

Low-Quality Image

A low-quality image refers to a visual representation that lacks sharpness and clarity, often due to artifacts or compression issues. In the video, the term is used to describe the initial state of the images being edited, which are problematic due to their low quality and the presence of artifacts.

Artifacts

Artifacts in the context of digital images are unintended visual effects that appear due to compression or processing errors. They can manifest as blocky patterns, blurriness, or other distortions. The video discusses the removal of these artifacts to improve image quality.

JPEG Artifacts Removal

JPEG Artifacts Removal is a feature within Adobe Photoshop's Neural Filters that aims to eliminate the visual imperfections typically associated with JPEG compression. The video demonstrates how enabling this feature can significantly reduce or remove the blocky artifacts from a low-quality image.

Smart Filter

A Smart Filter in Photoshop is a non-destructive editing method that allows users to apply and adjust filters after the fact without permanently altering the original image. The script mentions setting the output to Smart Filter to enable later adjustments to the strength of the JPEG artifacts removal.

Strength

In the context of image editing, 'strength' refers to the intensity or degree of an effect applied to an image. The script discusses adjusting the strength of the JPEG artifacts removal to achieve the desired level of image enhancement without over-correcting.

Masking

Masking is a technique used in image editing where certain areas of an image are protected from editing while others are modified. The video explains how to use a mask to selectively apply the JPEG artifacts removal effect to different areas of the image.

Surface Blur

Surface Blur is a blurring technique that attempts to maintain the edges of objects in an image while blurring the rest of the image. The video describes using Surface Blur to fix areas of the image that still show artifacts after the initial JPEG artifacts removal.

Threshold

In image processing, the threshold is a level or point at which an effect is applied or at which a transition occurs. The script uses the term in relation to Surface Blur, where adjusting the threshold helps to control the degree of blurring and the preservation of edges.

Smart Objects

Smart Objects in Photoshop are layers that allow for non-destructive scaling and editing of raster images. The video mentions converting a layer into a Smart Object to apply the Surface Blur effect in a non-destructive manner.

Social Media Compression

Social Media Compression refers to the reduction in image quality that occurs when images are uploaded to social media platforms due to their compression algorithms. The video addresses the issue of fixing compressed JPEG images from social media.

Pixel Perfection

Pixel Perfection is a term used to describe an image that has been edited to the highest quality, with every detail in its ideal state. The video's theme revolves around achieving pixel perfection through the use of Photoshop's AI features.

Highlights

Photoshop's new AI feature can fix low-quality images with artifacts.

The image size is only 29 KB, but details can be restored.

Make a copy of the background layer before using the AI feature.

Access the neural filters within the filter menu to begin the process.

Turn on the JPEG artifacts removal feature for instant quality improvement.

Adjust the strength of the filter according to your preference.

Before and after comparisons show significant detail restoration.

Set the output to Smart filter for adjustable strength later.

Different areas of the image may require different strength values.

Create masks for areas that need varying levels of correction.

There's a catch when dealing with compressed JPEGs from social media.

Some areas may not be fixed properly with the method described.

The AI processes on the device, avoiding the need for cloud processing.

Larger images may take longer to process due to their size.

Use a soft brush on the mask to paint back in details where needed.

Create a visible layer or merge layers before applying further fixes.

Convert the layer into a smart object for additional filter capabilities.

Surface blur can be used to fix areas that still show artifacts.

Set the threshold and radius carefully to maintain edges while blurring.

Recover edges by adjusting the threshold after blurring.

Select the sky and apply the 'sky fix' to a specific area of the image.

Surface blur can be adjusted for different levels of smoothness.

The final result is a significant improvement over the original low-quality image.