JPEG (or JPG) is an image format that is compressed to produce a smaller file size making it suitable for sharing or uploading to the internet. As a result of this compression, the image will appear “greasy” or broken when enlarged or reused. You can improve the quality of a JPEG file by adjusting its appearance, color, and contrast through a photo-editing program. Photoshop is the most popular choice of photo editing programs. If you don't subscribe to a Photoshop service, you can take advantage of Pixlr, a free online image editing service. This wikiHow teaches you how to improve JPEG image quality.
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Method 1 of 2: Using Pixlr
Step 1. Visit https://pixlr.com/editor/ via a web browser
Pixlr is a versatile photo editing tool used by photo editing professionals and enthusiasts. This service offers free online photo editing tools. You can also upgrade your account to a more advanced version of the product or equipment for a recurring subscription fee.
The Pixlr E supports images with a maximum resolution of 4K (3840 x 2160). If you need to edit an image at a higher resolution, use a professional photo editing program such as Adobe Photoshop
Step 2. Click Launch Pixlr E
This option is on the right side of the screen. This version of Pixlr offers even more options that you can use to make your image clearer or tidy.
Step 3. Open the image you need to edit
The final quality of the edit depends on the initial resolution (or number of pixels) of the original image. Pixlr advises its users to start any editing project with the highest resolution image. This is especially true if you intend to enlarge the photo. When you enlarge the dimensions of a small resolution image, the free space between each pixel becomes more and more so that the photo looks distorted or damaged. Follow these steps to upload an image to Pixlr:
- Click " Open Image ” on the right sidebar.
- Use the file browsing window to find the directory of the image you want to open.
- Click the image file to select it.
- Click " Open ”.
Step 4. Resize the image (optional)
The file size is determined by the number of pixels the image has. The higher the number of pixels in the photo, the larger the file size. Meanwhile, sending, uploading, and downloading large JPEG files often takes a long time. By converting image dimensions to smaller pixels, you can share images more quickly. Notes:
Increasing the dimensions of the image will not improve its display quality. However, reducing image dimensions can lead to loss of detail in photos. Follow these steps to resize photos on Pixlr:
- Click " Image ” in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
- Click " Image Size ”.
- Check the "Constrain proportions" option.
- Enter the desired pixel size or size in the " Width " (width) or " Height " (height) column.
- Click " Apply ”.
Step 5. Crop the image if necessary
By cropping the image, you can get rid of the unwanted parts of the photo. Cropping an image also helps reduce file size. Cutting tools are indicated by the icon of two right angles stacked on top of each other. This icon is the first tool on the toolbar, on the left side of the screen. Follow these steps to crop the image:
- Click " Crop Tool ” in the toolbar on the left.
- Click and drag inward the corners or outlines of the frame to mark the parts you want to keep.
- Click " Apply ” in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
Step 6. Use the “Clarity” filter
The “Clarity” filter can be used to highlight details in photos or blur photos that have too much detail. Follow these steps to use the filter:
- Click " Filter ” in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
- Hover over the option " Details ” on the menu.
- Click " Clarity ”.
- Drag the bar to the right to increase detail, or left to reduce detail in the photo.
- Click " Apply ”.
Step 7. Use a “Blur” or “Sharpen” filter
If the “Clarity” filter is not enough, you can use the “Blur” or “Sharpen” filter to highlight or blur details in the photo. The “Sharpen” filter can be used to sharpen details, while the “Blur” filter works to blur out excess detail in the image. Follow these steps to use both filters:
- Click " Filters ” in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
- Hover over the option " Details ” on the menu.
- Click " Sharpen " or " Blur ”.
- Drag the slider bar towards the right to increase the intensity of the effect.
- Click " Apply ”.
Step 8. Reduce noise or noise in the image
The “Remove Noise” filter can be used to remove or reduce dots, blotches, noise, and blemishes in photos. Follow these steps to use the “Remove Noise” filter:
- Click " Filters ” in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
- Hover over the option " Details ”.
- Click " Remove Noise ”.
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Move the slider bars to a higher value if necessary. The bars include:
- ” Radius ”: This bar determines the size of the dot or blot that needs to be masked or removed.
- ” Threshold ”: This bar defines the color difference needed to identify spots or spots that need to be masked.
- Click " Apply ”.
Step 9. Align areas in fine detail using the “Clone Stamp” tool
The “Clone Stamp” tool is indicated by a rubber stamp icon. You can use it to remove blotches or smudges from a photo by selecting the area around it as the sample area, and then stamping the sample area on the blot or smudge. You can also use this tool to remove large distracting objects from your photos, depending on the background of the photo and your skill with brushes. Follow these steps to remove spots or blemishes using the “Clone Stamp” tool:
- Click " Clone Stamp Tool ” in the toolbar on the left of the screen.
- Click " Brush ” in the upper-left corner of the screen.
- Choose either a round brush with a soft side or a brush of the size you need.
- Click " Source ” in the panel above the screen.
- Click the area next to the section you need to remove to sample the closest/similar texture.
- Click the spot or smudge that you want to hide or disguise.
- Repeat the steps for other spots or stains.
Step 10. Align the image with various tools
Pixlr includes several tools (designed like brushes) that can erase minor damage or change an entire image. Click one of these tools in the toolbar on the left of the screen. After that, select Brush ” in the upper-left corner of the screen, then click the brush type and size. For best results, use one of the round brushes with smooth corners. Modified tools from Pixlr include:
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” Sharpen/Blur/Smudge ”: This option is indicated by a water drop icon. Click this tool icon in the toolbar on the left of the screen and click the desired mode next to " Mode " in the panel at the top of the screen. The available options include:
- ” Sharpen ”: Use this tool to sharpen blurred corners.
- ” Blur ”: Use this tool to smooth out sharp corners.
- ” Smudge ”: Use this tool to blend pixels.
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” Sponge/Color ”: This option is indicated by a sun icon. Click this tool icon in the toolbar on the left side of the screen. Choose " Increase " or " Decrease ” next to “Mode” in the panel at the top of the screen to increase or decrease the intensity of the effect. Select the desired color correction method next to “Method” in the panel at the top of the screen. Available methods include:
- ” Vibrance This method increases or decreases the intensity of the muted colors (faded colors that are close to gray).
- ” Saturation ”: This method increases or decreases the intensity of all colors.
- ” Temperature ”: By increasing this option, you can add a red or orange tint to the color. Meanwhile, if the options are reduced, you can add a blue or purple hue to the color.
- ” Dodge/Burn ”: This option is indicated by a half-filled circle icon. Click this icon in the toolbar on the left side of the screen. Choose " Lighten ” next to “Mode” to brighten certain parts of the image. Choose " Darken ” next to “Mode” to darken certain parts of the image. You can also choose the effect " Shadows ”, “ Midtones ", and " Highlights ” next to " Range " if desired.
- ” Spot Heal ”: This option is indicated by a bandage icon. Use this tool to remove smudges and scratches on parts of the image.
Step 11. Use adjustments to bring out the color and brightness of the photo
Pixlr offers a variety of adjustments that allow you to bring out the color, brightness, hue, and saturation of an image. Option " Brightness ” affects the overall brightness or darkness of the image's colors. Option " Contrast ” affects the difference between dark and light colors in the image. " Hue ” function to change the colors in the image. Meanwhile, " Saturation ” affects the color intensity of the image. Follow these steps to adjust image colors:
- Click " Adjustment ”.
- Click " Brightness & Contrast " or " Hue & Saturation ”.
- Use the slider bars to adjust the brightness, contrast, hue, or color saturation of the image.
- Click " Ok ” once you are satisfied with the image display.
Step 12. Save the image
When you're done editing the image, you need to save it. High-quality images don't get as much compression and the pixels hold more data. As a result, the file size becomes larger, but the image looks clearer. Low-quality images suffer from higher compression and their pixels store less data. The file size is also smaller, but the appearance of the image becomes more blurry or cracked. Follow these steps to save the image to the computer.
- Click " File ”.
- Click " Save ”.
- Enter a name for the edited image file in the field under " File name ".
- Click " Download ”.
Method 2 of 2: Using Adobe Photoshop
Step 1. Open Photoshop
This application is marked by a blue icon with the words "Ps" in the middle. You need to subscribe to the Adobe Photoshop service in order to use it. Purchase a subscription plan and download Photoshop from
If you want to improve image quality for use in apps like Facebook or Instagram, this method doesn't help much when compared to using apps that offer filters. Pixlr offers a variety of free filters that can hide flaws in JPEG files. If you want to highlight objects in your photo and don't mind the loss of quality due to compression, try using Pixlr
Step 2. Open the image in Photoshop
Follow these steps to open the image you need to edit in Photoshop:
- Click " File ”.
- Click " Open ”.
- Select the image you want to open.
- Click " Open ”.
Step 3. Save a copy of the image
When editing images in Photoshop, it's a good idea to keep a copy of the original image. That way, if you make a mistake, you can load the original unedited image. Follow these steps to save a copy of the original image.
- Click " File ”.
- Click " Save as ”.
- Enter a new name for the file you want to edit next to " Filename ".
- Select a file type (eg JPEG, GIF, PNG, PSD) next to "Format".
- Click " Save ”.
Step 4. Resize the image (optional)
The file size is determined by the number of pixels of the image. The higher the number of pixels, the larger the file size. Meanwhile, sending, uploading, and downloading large JPEG files often takes a long time. By converting image dimensions to smaller pixels, you can share images more quickly. Notes:
Increasing the dimensions of the image will not improve its display quality. However, reducing image dimensions can lead to loss of detail in photos. Make light adjustments to the photo size when enlarging it. Follow these steps to resize a photo in Photoshop:
- Click " Image ”.
- Click " Image Size ”.
- Enter the desired pixel size in the field next to " Width " or " Height " at the top of the window.
- Click " Ok ”.
Step 5. Crop the image if necessary
By cropping the image, you can get rid of the unwanted parts of the photo. Cropping an image also helps reduce file size. Cutting tools are indicated by the icon of two right angles stacked on top of each other. You'll find it at the top of the toolbar, on the left side of the screen. Follow these steps to crop the image:
- Click the icon " Crop Tool ” in the toolbar on the left of the screen.
- Click and drag the cursor over the part of the photo you want to keep.
- Click and drag the corners of the cutter frame to manually adjust the cropping area.
- Press the button " Enter ” to crop the image.
Step 6. Look for the “Reduce Noise” filter
You can find this filter in the “Filter” menu. Follow these steps to open the “Reduce Noise” filter:
- Click " Filter ”.
- Click " Noise ”.
- Click " Reduce Noise ”.
Step 7. Adjust the noise reduction setting
Check the box labeled “ Preview ” in the top left corner of the filter window first. This way, you can see changes to your photos in real time. After that, drag the slider bars to adjust the filter settings. The featured slider bars include:
- “ Strength ”: The quantity in this bar reflects the desired intensity of noise removal. Use a high size for low-quality JPEG files. Drag the slider towards the right to increase the filter strength setting and see the effect.
- “ Save Details ”: A lower percentage makes photos appear blurry and smooth, but also reduces noise significantly.
- “ Sharpen Details ”: To balance the effect of the “Preserve Details” setting with a small percentage, increase the percentage of the “Sharpen Details” setting to make the corners of objects in the image more visible.
- Check the box labeled " Remove JPEG artifacts With this option, you can get rid of the mosquito noise and pixel breaks that appear when the image is saved in a compressed format.
- When you are satisfied with the edits to the image preview, click “ OK ” to save the new image.
Step 8. Use “Smart Blur” or “Smart Sharpen” filters
You can use the “Smart Sharpen” filter to bring out details in the photo or the “Smart Blur” filter to soften the texture of the photo, depending on your needs. Follow these steps to use the “Smart Sharpen” or “Smart Blur” filter:
- Click " Filter ” in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
- Hover over the option " Blur " or " Sharpen ”.
- Click " Smart Blur " or " Smart Sharpen ”.
- Click the checkbox next to " Preview " to see the image changes.
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Use the slider bars to adjust the filters as needed. Existing bars include:
- ” Radius ”: This bar determines the size of the blot or smudge that needs to be masked.
- ” Threshold/Amount ”: This bar determines the color difference needed to identify blots or areas that need to be filtered.
- Click " Ok ”.
Step 9. Color the mosquito noise and color blocks
You may see color-blocking or color-blocking (little colored squares) over large areas without fine detail (eg sky, solid-colored background, and clothing). The goal of this step is to make the color transitions in the image as smooth as possible. Leave important details on the object of the image. Follow these steps to color the noise and color blocks.
- Press " Ctrl " and " +" on PC or " Command " and " +" on a Mac to enlarge the area that has color blocks.
- Click the eyedropper icon on the toolbar on the left side of the screen to select the “Eyedropper Tool”.
- Click the main color in the area that you want to sample the color for later overriding the color block.
- Click the paintbrush icon on the toolbar on the left side of the screen to select “Paintbrush Tool”.
- Click the circle icon (or selected brush type) above the toolbar, on the left side of the screen to open the “Brush” menu.
- Set the brush hardness level to “10%”, the opacity level to “40%”, and the flow level to “100%”.
- Press the button " [" and " ]" to change the brush size.
- “Blend” a color by single-clicking a color block and distracting noise.
Step 10. Use “Clone Stamp Tool” on the part of the image with a larger texture
"Clone Stamp Tool " is useful for rough textures such as leather, walls, and pavement. Instead of using a single color, the “Clone Stamp Tool” takes a sample texture and applies it to the blotches, smudges, and dirt in the image. Follow these steps to use the “Clone Stamp Tool” and hide blemishes and blotches on the image:
- Click the rubber stamp icon in the toolbar on the left of the screen.
- Click the circle icon (or selected brush type) at the top of the toolbar, on the left side of the screen to open the “Brush” menu.
- Set the brush hardness to “50%” (or less).
- Set the opacity level to “100%”.
- Press the "[" and "]" keys to change the brush size.
- Hold down the " Alt " on PC or " Options " on a Mac, and click the area next to the blot or smudge to sample the texture.
- Click the smudge or blot once to remove it and overwrite it with the sample texture.
- Repeat steps for all blotches and smudges (take a new sample for each click).
Step 11. Align the image with various tools
Photoshop includes a variety of tools (with a brush-like mechanism for use) that can erase minor blemishes or change an entire image. Click one of these tools in the toolbar on the left side of the screen. Photoshop also groups multiple tools under a single icon. Click and hold the icon to view all the tools grouped under the selected icon, then select the equipment you need to use. Click the icon with a circle (or select a brush type) in the upper-left corner of the screen, then specify a brush type and size. You can also press the " [" and " ]" to change the brush size. For best results, use one of the round brushes with smooth corners. The tools Photoshop has to offer include:
- ” Sharpen ”: This equipment is indicated by a prism icon. Use this tool to sharpen blurred or smooth corners. The “Sharpen” option is grouped with the “Blur” and “Smudge” tools.
- ” Blur ”: This option is indicated by a water drop icon. Use this tool to smooth out sharp corners. “Blur” tools are grouped together with “Sharpen” and “Smudge” tools.
- ” Smudge ”: This option is indicated by the index finger icon. Use this tool to blend or blend pixels. The “Smudge” option is grouped with the “Blur” and “Sharpen” tools.
- ” Sponge ”: This option is indicated by a sponge icon. Use this tool to “absorb” the color or “saturate” the color in a selected area. “Sponge” tools are grouped together with “Dodge” and “Burn” tools.
- ” Dodge ”: This option is indicated by a bulb syringe icon. Use this tool to brighten certain parts of the image. “Dodge” tools are grouped together with “Sponge” and “Burn” tools.
- ” Burn ”: This option is indicated by a pinching hand icon. Use this tool to darken or add shadows to certain parts of the image. This equipment is grouped together with “Dodge” and “Sponge” equipment.
- ” Spot Heal ”: This option is indicated by a double-sided brush icon. Use this tool to remove smudges and scratches on certain parts of the image. “Spot Heal” tools are grouped together with “Red-Eye Reduction” tools.
- ” Red-Eye Reduction ”: This option is indicated by a red eye icon. Use this tool to remove red eye in photos by clicking and dragging the cursor over the entire eye. These tools are grouped together with “Spot Heal” tools.
Step 12. Make adjustments to bring out the color and brightness of the photo
Photoshop offers many adjustments that allow you to bring out the color, brightness, hue, and saturation of a photo. Option " Brightness ” affects the overall brightness or darkness of the image color. Option " Contrast ” determines the difference between light and dark colors. Arrangement " Hue ” function to change the colors in the image. Meanwhile, " Saturation ” determines the intensity of the colors in the image. Follow these steps to adjust image colors:
- Click " Image ”.
- Click " Adjustment ”.
- Click " Brightness & Contrast " or " Hue & Saturation ”.
- Use the slider bars to adjust the brightness, contrast, hue, or color saturation of the photo.
- Click " Ok ” once you are satisfied with the image display.
Step 13. Save the image
When you're done editing the image, follow these steps to save the image.
- Click the menu " File ”.
- Click " Save As ”.
- Enter an image name in the field next to " Filename ".
- Select "JPEG" or "PNG" from the drop-down menu next to "File Format".
- Click " Save ”.
Tips
- Feel free to experiment with brush and stamp settings, especially once you've had more experience with Photoshop. If you don't like the effect of using these two tools on the image, simply change the settings.
- Photoshop's history of actions or changes only saves the last few clicks, and to improve an image, you'll often click on an image. When you zoom out of an image, you may notice that you made a big mistake and can't undo it because when you made the mistake, the click entry wasn't saved in Photoshop. However, you can increase the number of history entry slots by clicking “ Edit ”, followed by the option “ Preferences " Choose " Performance ” and set the storage slot to “100” (or more).
- When you edit or modify a photo, observe the colors present. Blue flowers may have shades of blue, dark blue, green, purple, tan, and so on, depending on lighting, shadows, and reflections. Try to combine the colors as much as possible using a low opacity brush tool. Switch to the stamp kit if there is too much color in a small space or area.
