How to Fix a Pixelated Image in Photoshop Using JPEG Artifacts Removal
If you’ve ever lost an original file (or never had it to begin with) and were only left with a very small and pixelated JPEG image, it can be quite frustrating.
In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to fix a pixelated JPEG image using a Neural Filter in Photoshop, JPEG Artifacts Removal. We’ll also show you how to enlarge the image to make it sharable and how to take care of stubborn pixels using the Clone Stamp tool. Let’s get started.
Neural Filters to the Rescue: JPEG Artifacts Removal
Photoshop has a set of Neural Filters located under theFiltertab that make use of artificial intelligence to perform complex photo editing tasks. TheJPEG Artifacts RemovalNeural Filter is the one designated to remove pixelation from JPEG images.
If you want to see how this feature works but don’t have a pixelated image, we show youhow to pixelate someone’s face in Photoshop.
1. How to Enlarge Your JPEG File in Photoshop
There’s usually at least one other issue associated with pixelated images, and that’s a very small file size. For the first step in removing JPEG artifacts, we’re going to use a 640 x 427 JPEG image of a portrait and increase the resolution to 3,000 pixels on the long side.
With the JPEG loaded in Photoshop, go toImage>Image Size.
Change the dimensions to the size you wish to work with. For this example, we went with 3,000 pixels forwidth, which gives us 2,002 pixels forheight. We also checked theResamplebox and selectedPreserve Details 2.0. Then hitOK.
When we zoom in 100%, we can see the pixelation on the woman’s face.
Now that the file size is suitable to share on social media and elsewhere, we’ll move to the next step.
2. Use the JPEG Artifacts Removal Tool to Fix Pixelation
Let’s put the JPEG Artifact Removal tool to the test. Go toFilter>Neural Filters. UnderRestoration, simply click onJPEG Artifacts Removal. SelectHighin theStrengthdropdown menu.
It may take a few minutes to process depending on your computer’s processing speed.
You’ll see that much of the pixelation has been fixed. But there’s still some distortion left. For now, change theOutputtoNew layerand clickOK.
What we’re left with is a pretty good JPEG file which we can clean up further.
You can seek to run JPEG Artifacts Removal once more (or several times) to see if it can remove more artifacts, but for the sake of this tutorial, we’ll just run it once and move to the final step.
3. Use the Clone Stamp Tool to Clean Up
For the final step, we’ll use theClone Stamptool to remove any remaining pixelation and pixel distortion. If you’re unfamiliar with the tool or need a refresher, weshow you how to use Clone Stamp in Photoshop.
Let’s create a new blank layer first to work non-destructively.
Next, pressSon your keyboard for the Clone Stamp tool. Zoom in and start fixing the problem areas, which are especially bad in and around our subject’s eyes.
After a few short minutes of using the Clone Stamp tool, the image looks a lot better zoomed in at 100%.
At a more natural viewing of 45% (probably closer to how your audience will see the image), it looks like a regular portrait.
If you want to continue to edit the portrait creatively, you canuse third-party plugins like Portrait Pro in Photoshop.
Photoshop’s JPEG Artifacts Removal Can Save Your Pixelated Images
If you’re stuck with a pixelated JPEG, you’re no longer left with the only option of sharing a bad-quality image. You can fix your pixelated images using the JPEG Artifacts Removal Neural Filter and polish them off with the Clone Stamp tool. So dig up those pixelated JPEGs and share them with the world!
Luminar Neo’s Background Removal AI extension will make your editing workflow a lot easier. Here’s how to use it.
These are the best free movies I found on Tubi, but there are heaps more for you to search through.
The key is not to spook your friends with over-the-top shenanigans.
Every squeak is your PC’s way of crying for help.
If an AI can roast you, it can also prep you for emergencies.
The fix was buried in one tiny toggle.
