Sharpening adds definition to the edges in a photo, which makes a slightly soft image look crisper. It cannot rescue a badly out-of-focus shot, but it can rescue a mildly soft one.
What sharpening can and cannot do
Sharpening increases contrast along edges so detail reads more clearly. It works well on photos that are a little soft from resizing or a slightly missed focus. It cannot invent detail that the camera never captured, so a heavily blurred photo stays blurred.
How to sharpen an image
- Open the Sharpen Image tool.
- Add your photo.
- Increase the sharpening gradually while watching the preview.
- Download when it looks right.
It runs in your browser, so your photo stays on your device.
Avoid over-sharpening
- Stop before you see bright halos along edges. That is the sign of too much.
- Sharpen after resizing, since shrinking an image can soften it.
- A little goes a long way, so increase in small steps.
Pair with other edits
If the photo is also dull, adjust it with Brightness and Contrast first, then sharpen as the final step.
Frequently asked questions
Can I fix a blurry photo by sharpening it?
Sharpening helps a slightly soft photo look crisper, but it cannot recover a heavily out-of-focus shot, since the detail was never captured.
Should I sharpen before or after resizing?
Sharpen after resizing. Shrinking an image can soften it, so sharpening last gives the cleanest result.
Is my photo uploaded to sharpen it?
No. Sharpening runs in your browser, so the photo stays private.