Focus and Sharpening Software and Plug-ins
Windows and Macintosh software and plugin filters specifically for sharpening and improving the focus of soft or blurry digital photos. Most of these products offer advanced sharpening tools that sharpen without intensifying undesirable side effects such as halos, grain, noise and artifacts. Some offer selective softening in addition to sharpening. Does not includes software for creating focus effects.
Photoshop Sharpening Tools
Learn how to sharpen blurry and out-of-focus images using Photoshop's various sharpening tools and commands. Understand Photoshop's Unsharp Mask filter and its options.
Learn how to sharpen blurry and out-of-focus images using Photoshop's various sharpening tools and commands. Understand Photoshop's Unsharp Mask filter and its options.
Asiva Sharpen+Soften (Win/Mac)
[Plug-in] Selectively sharpen and soften different areas in your images. Supports 8-bit and 16-bit images.
[Plug-in] Selectively sharpen and soften different areas in your images. Supports 8-bit and 16-bit images.
AutoFocus (Win/Mac)
[Plug-in] Remove noise & grain, deblur, perform advanced sharpening, and remove JPEG artifacts. Works on RGB or CMYK Images. Windows or Macintosh plugin for Photoshop 5.5/6/7, Elements, Jasc Paint Shop Pro, Photo-Paint, Painter, Ulead PhotoImpact.
[Plug-in] Remove noise & grain, deblur, perform advanced sharpening, and remove JPEG artifacts. Works on RGB or CMYK Images. Windows or Macintosh plugin for Photoshop 5.5/6/7, Elements, Jasc Paint Shop Pro, Photo-Paint, Painter, Ulead PhotoImpact.
Focus Magic (Win)
[Standalone or plug-in] Image processing software to refocus and sharpen blurred photos. Also includes filters to defocus, increase resolution, remove speckles, and descreen. Shareware - $39US.
[Standalone or plug-in] Image processing software to refocus and sharpen blurred photos. Also includes filters to defocus, increase resolution, remove speckles, and descreen. Shareware - $39US.
FocusFixer (Win/Mac)
This plug-in removes focus blur, enhances blow-ups, and restores detail. US$57.
This plug-in removes focus blur, enhances blow-ups, and restores detail. US$57.
Intellisharpen Plugin (Win/Mac)
[Plug-in] Sharpens images without sharpening noise and artifacts. Provides "haloless sharpening, edge-sharpening, mode sharpening, lab sharpening and more with the press of a button... comes with fourteen (14) built-in intensity options from lowest to highest and is compatible with low and high ISO files." For Photoshop Elements 1 and 2, Photoshop 6.0, 7.0 or higher.
[Plug-in] Sharpens images without sharpening noise and artifacts. Provides "haloless sharpening, edge-sharpening, mode sharpening, lab sharpening and more with the press of a button... comes with fourteen (14) built-in intensity options from lowest to highest and is compatible with low and high ISO files." For Photoshop Elements 1 and 2, Photoshop 6.0, 7.0 or higher.
nik Sharpener Pro! (Win/Mac)
[Standalone] "Using a proprietary process, Sharpener Pro optimizes sharpening for the various print processes, including Offset, Inkjet, Color Laser, and Photographic Printers, and includes a separate sharpening calculation engine for sharpening internet or screen-viewed images." Three editions for home or pro use. Demo available.
[Standalone] "Using a proprietary process, Sharpener Pro optimizes sharpening for the various print processes, including Offset, Inkjet, Color Laser, and Photographic Printers, and includes a separate sharpening calculation engine for sharpening internet or screen-viewed images." Three editions for home or pro use. Demo available.
PhotoKit SHARPENER (Win)
[Plug-in] "From capture to output, PhotoKit SHARPENER intelligently produces the optimum sharpness on any image, from any source, reproduced on any output device. But PhotoKit SHARPENER also provides the creative controls to address the requirements of individual images and the individual tastes of users. PhotoKit Sharpener is priced at $99.95." For Photoshop 6.0 and up.
[Plug-in] "From capture to output, PhotoKit SHARPENER intelligently produces the optimum sharpness on any image, from any source, reproduced on any output device. But PhotoKit SHARPENER also provides the creative controls to address the requirements of individual images and the individual tastes of users. PhotoKit Sharpener is priced at $99.95." For Photoshop 6.0 and up.
PhotoWiz FocalBlade (Win)
[Plug-in] FocalBlade lets you sharpen your photos for screen display and print as well as produce great looking blur, soft focus and glow effects. It is a Photoshop-compatible plugin which can be used in Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, PhotoImpact, Photo-Paint, Fireworks and Photoshop Elements. It works with 8bit and 16bit RGB images. Currently for Windows only. A Mac version is planned.
[Plug-in] FocalBlade lets you sharpen your photos for screen display and print as well as produce great looking blur, soft focus and glow effects. It is a Photoshop-compatible plugin which can be used in Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, PhotoImpact, Photo-Paint, Fireworks and Photoshop Elements. It works with 8bit and 16bit RGB images. Currently for Windows only. A Mac version is planned.
Ultra-Sharpen Pro (Win)
[Plug-in] Provides enhanced sharpening capabilities to Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. Reduces "halos," allows selective sharpening, sharpens without intensifying grain and noise. A free Lite version is available for download; Pro version costs $20 US for email delivery or $25 US for a CD.
[Plug-in] Provides enhanced sharpening capabilities to Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. Reduces "halos," allows selective sharpening, sharpens without intensifying grain and noise. A free Lite version is available for download; Pro version costs $20 US for email delivery or $25 US for a CD.