Sharpen Images Online
Recover detail from soft, blurry, or slightly out-of-focus photos using an unsharp mask sharpening filter. Adjust intensity from 1 (gentle edge enhancement) to 10 (aggressive sharpening). Works great for scanned photos, profile pictures, product shots, and print output preparation.
Load an image to begin.
How to use
- 1. Drop your image onto the upload zone or tap to select from your device.
- 2. Set the intensity — start at 3–5 for most use cases.
- 3. Select output format and quality.
- 4. Click "Sharpen all" to process.
- 5. Download the sharpened image.
Frequently asked questions
How does image sharpening work?
This tool uses an unsharp mask algorithm: a convolution kernel that amplifies edge contrast. Each pixel is compared to its neighbours, and differences are enhanced by the intensity factor.
What intensity should I use?
1–3 for subtle correction (profile photos, slight softness), 4–6 for moderate sharpening (product photos, scanned images), 7–10 for aggressive sharpening (heavily blurred images). Over-sharpening at 8–10 may introduce visible halos.
Can sharpening fix a badly blurry photo?
Sharpening enhances existing edges but cannot recover detail that was never captured. A slightly soft photo improves significantly; a heavily blurred or camera-shake image shows limited improvement.
Will sharpening introduce noise?
At high intensity (7–10), sharpening amplifies existing noise in the image along with genuine edges. For noisy photos (e.g., low-light shots), use a lower intensity.
What is the difference between sharpening and increasing contrast?
Contrast adjustment affects the full tonal range evenly. Sharpening specifically targets edges — areas where pixel values change abruptly — making them more distinct without affecting flat areas.
Should I sharpen before or after resizing?
Sharpen after resizing. Downscaling softens an image, and sharpening after compensates for that softening. Sharpening before a downscale wastes the effect.