One of my very good friend called me today to complain that his car’s side mirror got hit by a motorcycle. His car was stationary at the traffic light and because the road was pretty narrow, the inexperience motorcycler knocked off his side mirror and the mirror cracked. My friend was fast enough to take out his mobile phone and took a snapshot of the motorcycle hoping to get the registration number of the motor. When he transferred the photo to his computer, he was pissed that the image is out of focus and blur because his hand shook while taking the snapshot.
I am not so much of an expert in imaging and photography but after spending a few hours researching on fixing blur or out of focus images, I found out that it is possible using some third party software or Adobe Photoshop plugins. I personally prefer standalone programs because I don’t need to install a huge and bulky image editing software just to run a plugin. So far I have managed to find 2 standalone software that can easily and automatically correct images blurred by camera shake or out-of-focus.
1. Deblur My Image
DeblurMyImage is a shareware that cost €14.99 which does not use common known algorithm to deblur your photos. It uses modified algorithm such as Lucy Richardson(LR), Iterative Constrained Tikhonov-Muller(ICTM), Asymetric Accelerated Iterative Deconvolution(AAID), Lucy Richardson Total Variation(LRTV). The good thing about modified algorithm is if you have tried other software or plugins which doesn’t work, at least you still have a chance of fixing blur photos. The only restriction on this software is you cannot save the processed images.
[ Visit Deblur My Image Website ]
2. Focus Magic
Focus Magic is quite popular when it comes to fixing blur images. It uses advanced forensic strength deconvolution technology to literally “undo” blur and recover lost detail. It can repair both out-of-focus blur and motion blur (camera shake) in an image. Focus Magic is also a shareware that cost $45 for a single license and the trial restriction only allows you to process the image 10 times for free. Once you have run out of the free trial, you are asked to buy the license or else it won’t work.
Both Focus Magic and DeblurMyImage definitely works but not right out of the box. You will have to go through the online tutorial/demo and understand what settings you should be using in order to work. If you know any other standalone tools or even plugins, please do share it with us.
thanks for all the suggestions and to this blogsite. may u have more tool tips to come.
cool…
I suggest freeware Unshake.
Some Unshake reviews:
garmahis.com/tutorials/how-to-unshake-and-refocus-blurred-photo-automatically/
homepage.mac.com/mcgrogans/mcgrogan.net/unshake/unshake.html
Download:
zen147963.zen.co.uk/Unshake/Download.html
@Alex
You’re quite welcome, Alex.
Another GREAT pair of programs for editing photos are Zoner 12 (currently at build 8) and Inpaint 2.3
Both are not freeware, however, I found them both offered FREE as the Giveaway of the Day at… giveawayoftheday.com/
Zoner – offered February 9, 2010
giveawayoftheday.com/zoner-photo-studio12/#more-10941
Inpaint – offered January 4, 2010
giveawayoftheday.com/inpaint-2-3-holiday/#more-10309
FastStone Image Viewer 4.2 features offer most of the same as Zoner. Until GOTD offered Zoner 12, I used FastStone Image Viewer 4.1 (recently updated to 4.2 version) for nearly all photo-related tasks.
Differing from both FastStone and Zoner, Inpaint 2.3 is one of the COOLEST programs I have installed as FREE software. I use it frequently and achieve some of the GREATEST results from photos I may have trashed.
Cheers,
Martin
Hey ray!
i like you!!!!
so thanks
All tools are good enough but i’d rather stick with a freeware.. xD
That blur (and smoothen)stuff is an essential part of every good foto-edit-program!But use the function brightness & contrast too! First darken it a bit,and than screw up the contrast so to reach a better contast between the characters and the background,(do this more as one time to tryout) and than use the sharpen tool.
Very useful if you scan text on coloured paper.
Also try out more or less saturation.
Succes. Graphic- and Photodesigner Fred.
Thanks Martin!!! for FastStone Image Viewer 4.2 Freeware. it’s a good one!
thanks mate!
@Niptech u r second!
Hi,
Thanks Raymond for another great post.
I’m first !
Nice programs, Ray.
There are many freeware programs that will do the same at no cost. One of my favorites is FastStone Image Viewer 4.2 and it can be downloaded here… faststone.org/
Once the photo is loaded, one procedure includes a Right Click, select Edit > Sharpen/Blur. Another, once the photo is loaded, includes CNTL-L.
Hope this helps!
Martin