How to Enhance Photo Quality in Photoshop: 4 Methods & AI Alternative

Have you ever looked at a birthday snapshot and thought, "If only this photo could pop with more color and life?" But then you remember the usual advice: "Just download Photoshop!" and suddenly, you’re faced with a mountain of complicated tools and confusing steps. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Learning how to enhance photo quality in Photoshop has become essential for anyone looking to take their images from good to great. In this guide, we'll show you how to enhance resolution in Photoshop and, towards the end, introduce a faster and easier way to achieve professional-looking results.

How to enhance photos in Photoshop: 4 proven methods

Ready to transform your photos? Photoshop offers four powerful ways to enhance your images, each tackling a different aspect of photo quality. You can refine color balance to make your photos pop with vibrant, true-to-life colors, sharpen details for crystal-clear focus, reduce noise to smooth out grainy areas, or boost resolution to enlarge images without losing quality. These techniques cover all the bases you need for stunning photos.



Method 1: How to enhance image quality in Photoshop with Camera Raw

Camera Raw is a powerful tool that lets you fine-tune your image's tone, color, and clarity all in one place. Think of it as your photo's control center—you can adjust everything from basic brightness to advanced color settings.

Step
1. Open your image in Photoshop
2. Launch Photoshop and upload your image by clicking "File"> "Open" or dragging it onto the canvas. Then, duplicate the layer to preserve the original by pressing Ctrl + J (Windows) or Command + J (Mac).
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Step
4. Convert the layer to a Smart Object
5. Right-click on the duplicated layer and select "Convert to Smart Object." This allows for non-destructive edits. To access Adobe Camera Raw, press Ctrl + Shift + A (Windows) or Command + Shift + A (Mac).
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Step
7. Make adjustments in Camera Raw
8. In the Camera Raw filter window, start in the "Basic" tab to adjust temperature, tint, exposure, and shadows.
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10. For color refinements, use the "Color Mixer" tab, and for low-quality images, fix graininess in the "Details" tab by adjusting the "Sharpening" and "Noise Reduction" sliders.
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12. Apply changes and save your photo

Once you're happy with the edits, click "OK" to apply them. Save the enhanced photo by clicking "File"> "Save As," and choose your format and location.



Method 2: How to enhance picture quality in Photoshop via Smart Sharpen

Smart Sharpen is your go-to tool for bringing out the fine details in your photos. It helps improve clarity and sharpness while giving you control over noise reduction. It's perfect for making your images look crisp and professional.

Step
1. Open your image in Photoshop
2. Start by launching Photoshop and uploading your image. Click "File"> "Open" and select your photo, or drag and drop it directly onto the canvas to upload.
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Step
4. Use the Smart Sharpen filter
5. With your photo on the canvas, go to the "Filter" menu, scroll to "Sharpen," and select "Smart Sharpen."
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7. In the Smart Sharpen window, adjust the sliders for "Radius" to control edge sharpness and "Reduce Noise" to clean up grainy areas. Use the preview window to check the results as you make changes.
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Step
9. Apply changes and save your photo
10. When you're satisfied with the sharpening adjustments, click "OK" to apply them. Finally, save your enhanced photo by clicking "File"> "Save As," and choose your format and location.
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Method 3: How to enhance the quality of an image in Photoshop by a Filter

The Neural Filter is a secret weapon for cleaning up grainy or noisy images. It uses AI-powered tools to smooth out imperfections and remove unwanted artifacts, giving you cleaner, more professional-looking photos. Here's how to use it:

Step
1. Open your image in Photoshop
2. Launch Photoshop and upload your image by clicking "File"> "Open" or by dragging it directly onto the canvas.
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Step
4. Apply Neutral Filters
5. Go to the "Filter" menu and select "Neural Filters." In the Neural Filters panel, toggle on "Skin Smoothing." If the toggle isn't visible, click the download icon next to it first. Adjust the blur and smoothness sliders to refine your image.
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7. Then, toggle on "JPEG Artefacts Removal" to clean up compression artifacts, setting the strength to high.
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Step
9. Apply changes and save your photo
10. When satisfied with the adjustments, click "OK" to apply the changes. Save your enhanced image by clicking "File"> "Save As" and choosing your preferred format and location.
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Method 4: How to enhance resolution in Photoshop with Image Size

Do you want to make your image bigger without losing quality? The Image Size tool, combined with Photoshop's AI-powered Preserve Details feature, lets you enlarge your photos while keeping them crisp and clear. Here's how to use it:

Step
1. Open your image in Photoshop
2. Start by launching Photoshop and uploading your image. Click "File"> "Open" to select your photo or drag and drop it onto the canvas. Then, click the lock icon next to the background layer in the Layers panel to unlock it.
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Step
4. Adjust the image size and settings
5. Go to "Image"> "Image Size" to open the Image Size window.
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7. Manually input your desired width and height. Set "Resample" to "Preserve Details 2.0" to maintain quality during enlargement. Then, move the "Reduce Noise" slider to 100% to smooth out any artifacts.
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Step
9. Apply changes and save your image
10. Click "OK" to apply the adjustments. Photoshop will enhance the resolution while preserving quality. Once satisfied, save the image by clicking "File"> "Save As," and choose your preferred format and location.
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Review: Why do people opt to enhance images in Photoshop or not

Photoshop remains a top choice to enhance images, offering unmatched versatility and precision. However, as there isn't a perfect tool for everyone, it has its own limitations. Here are some reasons why you might want to consider using Photoshop or not:

To all appearances, Photoshop remains the gold standard for professional photo editing, offering unmatched control and versatility for those willing to master it. Its comprehensive toolkit and non-destructive editing features make it invaluable for complex editing projects. However, not everyone needs (or has time for) such a powerful tool just to enhance their photos. If you're looking for quick, professional-quality results without the learning curve or subscription costs, there's a simpler solution: Dreamina, an AI-powered photo enhancer that delivers stunning results with just one click.

Meet Dreamina: Your one-click AI enahncer

Say hello to Dreamina, an AI-powered image editor that transforms your photos instantly. Built on advanced machine learning technology, it analyzes your images pixel by pixel, understanding what makes a photo look professional. The AI then applies the perfect adjustments to enhance quality, fix imperfections, and bring out the best in every shot. It's perfect for touching up family photos, upgrading your social media content, refreshing old pictures, or polishing professional portfolio shots.



Steps to enhance photo quality with Dreamina

Enhancing photo quality with Dreamina is simple and quick. With just a few clicks, you can transform your images into stunning, high-resolution visuals. Follow these easy steps to get started. First, click the button below to create your free account:

Step
1. Upload your image
2. After signing, click on "Create on canvas" to enter Dreamina's canvas editor. Once in, click on "Upload image" and select the photo you want to enhance. Alternatively, you can simply drag and drop the image onto the canvas for a quick upload.
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4. Enhance quality
5. Enhancing your image quality on Dreamina is simple: All you have to do is click on "HD Upscale." Dreamina's AI will then analyze your photo and identify all the areas that need enhancing and fixing.
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7. If the image is also a portrait, you can also improve it on color, lighting, and facial features. All you have to do is click "Retouch" and let Dreamina handle the rest.
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Step
9. Download
10. If you are happy with the final result, then it's time to save it on your computer. To do that, click "Export." Next, choose your file type, size, and export option. Finally, click on "Download" to save the enhanced image on your computer.
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More AI tools for sparkling inspiration

• AI inpainting
• Easily add or modify elements in your photos. Whether you're restoring missing details, replacing elements, or adding creative touches, Dreamina's Inpaint feature helps you effortlessly achieve seamless edits.
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• Image blender
• Combine two images to create unique visuals with a smooth, artistic blend. It's perfect for creating surreal designs, double exposures, or dynamic marketing materials.
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• Creative expander
• Need a larger canvas? Use the Creative Expander to extend your image's boundaries into a larger canvas or different ratios. It's ideal for creating promotional posters, banners, or larger prints.
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• AI text effects
• Add text to your photos that looks like it truly belongs there. With AI Text Effects, you can generate creative text designs that blend perfectly with your visuals, making your projects stand out.
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Conclusion

In this guide, we've shown you how to enhance photo quality in photoshop with 4 proven Photoshop methods to refine, sharpen, and upscale your images. While Photoshop offers incredible precision, its complexity and costs may not suit everyone. That's where Dreamina shines. With AI-powered tools like HD Upscale and Retouch, Dreamina makes photo enhancement effortless and accessible to all—no steep learning curve or lengthy edits required. Whether you're restoring memories or creating high-quality visuals for work, Dreamina has you covered. Ready to transform your photos? Try Dreamina today and experience the perfect blend of professional-quality results and user-friendly simplicity.

FAQs

1. How to enhance pixelated image quality in Photoshop?
2. To fix pixelated images in Photoshop, start by going to Image > Image Size and make sure "Resample" is set to "Preserve Details 2.0." You can also use the Smart Sharpen filter to enhance edges and details. For best results, combine this with the Reduce Noise filter to smooth out any rough areas. While this process works, it can be time-consuming and tricky to perfect. Want a quicker solution? Dreamina's HD Upscale feature handles pixelated images beautifully, using AI to intelligently add detail while maintaining image quality. Try it now for free!
3. How do you enhance blurry picture quality in Photoshop?
4. In Photoshop, you can sharpen blurry images using the Smart Sharpen filter (Filter > Sharpen > Smart Sharpen). Adjust the Amount and Radius sliders carefully to find the sweet spot between sharpness and noise. Use Camera Raw's Clarity and Texture sliders to enhance medium contrast for better results. This method can produce great results but requires manual fine-tuning. Looking for faster results? Dreamina's AI can fix blurry photos instantly with just one click. Get crystal-clear images without complex adjustments—give it a try today!
5. Can I enhance the quality of old or faded photos in Photoshop?
6. Yes, Photoshop can restore old or faded photos using tools like Camera Raw for color correction and the Clone Stamp or Healing Brush for fixing imperfections. Neural Filters, like Colorize, can also add vibrancy to faded images. While effective, these methods require time and a bit of expertise. Skip the complex Photoshop workflows—Dreamina specializes in restoring old and faded photos. Simply click "HD Upscale" to increase the quality or "Retouch" to fix imperfections and bring life back to your treasured memories. Try Dreamina now and see your old photos transform!