There are no magic fixes for out of focus photos, but if the focus error is small, you can make a useful improvement
(Image credit: James Paterson)
We see lots of wild claims about software tools and editing techniques that can 'cure' out of focus photos. We file these with the Loch Ness monster and Bigfoot sightings. However, while big focus failures are beyond rescue, it is possible to improve the apparent sharpness of photos with smaller focus errors.
Welcome to the fourth instalment in our a 15-part series on how to fix photo problems in Photoshop, Lightroom and Adobe Camera Raw.
We're guessing that many of you, like us, are currently confined to barracks thanks to the COVID-19 crisis, but we're determined to use our time usefully – in fact, this may be a chance for all of us to learn new techniques and fix up old photos that we never had time for before.
In this instalment we'll show you how to improve a photo which is slightly out of focus. There's no magic, no artificial intelligence algorithms, just some old-school know-how about what makes images appear sharp.
The question is, how out of focus is your photo? If it is badly out of focus, it’s probably irreparable, but there are things you can do to improve images where the details are slightly soft (you know, the ones that look sharp on your camera LCD only to turn out soft once you zoom in on them later on).
First, try sharpening the details with over-the-top settings; if that fails, you can also try introducing grain, which has the effect of masking the slight softness. Both of these edits can be carried out in Camera Raw. Go to Filter > Camera Raw Filter, then head to the Details Panel to the right to increase Sharpening Amount and Radius. Once you’ve done that, head to the FX panel to increase Grain.
Jargon buster
Sharpening: Sharpening filters can't restore detail that the camera didn't record in the first place. Instead, they create the appearance of sharpness by increasing the contrast around the edges of objects. This is a visual trick that gives the appearance of increased sharpness at normal viewing distances.
Grain: Grain is a phenomenon associated with analog film. It was considered a nuisance at the time, but in this digital age it seems we miss it and we want it back! It is possible to add digitally simulated grain, and this doesn't just give digital photos a 'film' look it also gives them a subtle texture which can help disguise soft detail.
Next instalment: #5 My photo is ruined by camera shake.
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Whether it's flash photography techniques like stroboscopic portraits, astrophotography projects like photographing the Northern Lights, or turning sound into art by making paint dance on a set of speakers, James' tutorials and projects are as creative as they are enjoyable.
He's also a wizard at the dark arts of Photoshop, Lightroom and Affinity Photo, and is capable of some genuine black magic in the digital darkroom, making him one of the leading authorities on photo editing software and techniques.
