How to Unblur a Picture on an iPhone or iPod
By Rosemary Peters
You snapped what you though was an ace photo with your iPhone or iPod -- only to open your Camera Roll and find it's a blurry mess. Before you press the trashcan icon and send the photo to a digital grave, experiment with any of a number of third-party iOS apps that might be able to bring your picture into sharper focus. Depending on the amount of blur, you might be able to use a free app to do the job. For major surgery you might want to lay down a few dollars for a more feature-rich app.
BeFunky
Step 1
Download the BeFunky app in the App Store on your device by typing "BeFunky" into the Search bar, and then pressing "Search." BeFunky is a free photo-editor app that works on iPhone 3GS/4/4S/5 as well as the iPod Touch's 4th and 5th generations and several models of the iPad. If a screen pops up asking for your Apple ID Password, type it in and press "OK."
Step 2
Locate BeFunky on your device after the download has finished, and then tap the icon to open the app.
Step 3
Tap "Camera Roll," locate the photo you want to edit and tap it.
Step 4
Tap the "Edits" option and scroll through the editing options until you find "Sharpen" and "Smart Sharpen." If the photo is only slightly blurry, tap "Smart Sharpen." Otherwise, tap "Sharpen."
Step 5
Place a finger on the middle of the screen, and then slide it to the right to apply the filter. If you have applied too much of the filter, slide your finger across the screen back to the left. When you are happy with the result, lift your finger.
Step 6
Press the check-mark button to apply the changes, and then press the "Save To" button to save the photo. You have the option of saving it to your Camera Roll or posting it to several social-media sites including Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr.
Adobe Photoshop Express for iOS
Step 1
Download the Adobe Photoshop Express app from the App Store on your device. Adobe Photoshop Express is a free photo-editor app that works on the iPhone, iPod and iPad.
Step 2
Launch the app. On the app's home screen, tap the "Select Photo" option to pull up the photo from your device's Camera Roll.
Step 3
Tap "Camera Roll," locate the photo you want to edit and tap it.
Step 4
Tap the button shaped like a pencil tip.
Step 5
Tap the icon of a pixelated circle located within a larger circle. Tap the "Sharpen" option.
Step 6
Place a finger on the middle of the screen, and slide it upwards to apply the filter. If you have applied too much of the filter, slide your finger down the screen. When you are happy with the result, lift your finger.
Step 7
Press the check-mark button to apply the changes, then press the second check mark to save the photo.
Adobe Camera Pack for iOS
Step 1
Expand your photo-editing options in Adobe Photoshop Express by purchasing Adobe Camera Pack, which works on the iPhone, iPod and iPad. To download the pack, download the free Photoshop Express first; Camera Pack is an in-app purchase.
Step 2
Launch Photoshop Express. On the app's home screen, tap the "Select Photo" option to pull up the photo from your device's Camera Roll.
Step 3
Tap "Camera Roll," locate the photo you want to edit and tap it.
Step 4
Tap the button shaped like a pencil tip.
Step 5
Tap the icon of a pixelated circle located within a larger circle. Tap "Reduce Noise."
Step 6
Make the picture less blurry by changing the noise in the photo. Place a finger on the middle of the screen, and slide it downwards to apply the filter. If you have applied too much of the filter, slide your finger up the screen. When you are happy with the result, lift your finger.
Step 7
Tap the shopping cart, and then tap "Buy" to purchase Adobe Camera Pack and unlock its additional functionality.
Step 8
Press "Buy" if you agree to the price, and then enter your Apple ID.
Step 9
Press the check-mark button to apply the changes, and then press the second check mark to save the photo.
References
Tips
- Don't be afraid to play around with the photo editor you decide to download; often a combination of effects can have a beautiful result that you weren't expecting. For example, by combining Reduce Noise and Sharpen, you can potentially create a clearer photo than by using a single effect.
Warnings
- If your photo is extremely blurry, you might not be able to produce an acceptable version with any editing software.
Writer Bio
Rosemary Peters holds a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering and a Master of Science in science communication. She has worked on editorial and design content across several publications, including "The Beacon" and "International Innovation." She has also spent time working in the Science radio unit at the BBC.