Red-eye is a common issue in flash photography that causes eyes to glow red, often spoiling your best shots. Luckily, Photoshop offers simple yet effective tools to fix it with precision. Whether you're editing portraits for social media or professional use, learning to correct red-eye ensures your photos look natural and polished. It's a basic but essential skill for any photo editor.
In this article, you'll discover how to correct red-eye in Photoshop with just a few steps.
Why should you use Photoshop to edit eyes
Correcting red eyes in Photoshop can change the whole picture's look. If the eyes look clear and natural, the photo becomes more real. Here are the benefits of getting rid of the red eye in Photoshop:
- Precise control
The Photoshop red eye removal tool lets you zoom in and work closely on the eyes. You can change tiny parts of the image without touching the rest of the photo. It helps you fix small, minor errors in images that most other software misses.
- Advanced tools
The Photoshop red eye tool helps fix eyes in different ways. You can use brushes, layers, and healing tools to make small or big changes. These tools give you options other than simple apps.
- Non-destructive edits
You can fix the eyes without changing the original photo. This software uses layers, so your edits sit on top. You can go back and fix things later if needed. Nothing gets lost.
- Enhance brightness
Sometimes, eyes look dull or bulging in photos. With the eye tool in Photoshop, you can brighten your eyes a little so they pop. This makes faces look more awake and happy.
- Detailed retouching
You can remove red eyes, dark spots, or strange colors. You can even fix the light in the eyes to make them look real. These small changes help the eyes look clean and clear.
How do you get rid of red eye in Photoshop using the red eye tool
If you want to remove the red eyes without any manual approach, you can use Photoshop's eye tools. Photoshop has a quick fix just for this. The red eye tool makes it simple and fast to clean up those glowing eyes.
Let's go step-by-step on how to get rid of red eyes in Photoshop.
- STEP 1
- Open the photo
Open Photoshop and go to "File" > "Open". Choose the image with red eyes and open it. Zoom in on the eyes so you can see clearly. This will help you be more accurate when you fix the red parts.
- STEP 2
- Select the red eye tool in Adobe Photoshop
Find the "Spot Healing Brush Tool" in the toolbar on the left. Click and hold it until more options pop up. Then choose "Red Eye Tool" from that list. This tool is made just to fix red-eye problems in photos.
- STEP 3
- Click on the red part of the eye
Now, move your cursor to the red area of the eye. Click once right in the middle of the red. Photoshop will automatically darken the red part and match it to the natural eye color. If the fix doesn't look quite right, go to the top of the screen and try adjusting pupil size or darken amount until it looks more natural.
How to remove red eye in Photoshop manually
This manual method involves duplicating and adjusting layers to craft a natural-looking dark pupil that replaces the red eye. It offers more control over the shape and tone compared to automatic tools, making it ideal for precise edits. Here is how to get rid of the red eye in Photoshop manually:
- STEP 1
- Zoom in and sample eye color
Open your photo and zoom in on the red eyes. Click and hold the "Eyedropper" tool, then select the "Color Sampler Tool". Click on a natural part of the iris to sample the eye color.
- STEP 2
- Paint over the red areas
Select the "Brush" tool, then switch to the "Color Replacement Tool". Carefully paint over the red areas of the eyes using the sampled color.
- STEP 3
- Refine the edges
If needed, use the Eraser tool to clean up any paint outside the iris. To blend the correction, go to "Filter" > "Blur" > "Gaussian Blur", set the radius to 1 pixel, and click "OK".
- STEP 4
- Save your work
Once you're happy with the result, save the edited image as JPEG or PNG in your preferred format.
Photoshop provides deep editing control, but tasks like eye adjustments require multiple steps, technical knowledge, and time, which is very challenging for newbies. If you want a simple and user-friendly solution, then CapCut must be the tool for you.
Bonus tip: Efficiently enhance eye and facial details with CapCut
CapCut desktop video editor is a powerful and easy-to-use tool designed for both beginners and pros who want quick, high-quality edits. It lets you instantly change eye color, apply AI facial retouching, and even add virtual makeup with just a few clicks. The interface is intuitive, so you don’t need advanced editing skills to get great results. Plus, it supports high-resolution exports, making your edits sharp and share-ready
Key features
- Instantly change eye color
You can switch eye colors in one click, adding bright blues, warm browns, or fun effects without needing masks or layers.
- AI-powered facial retouching
CapCut's AI face retouching tool smooths skin, removes blemishes, and enhances features for a natural, refined look.
- Apply virtual makeup with AI
With CapCut beauty and makeup tools, you can add lipstick, blush, or eyeshadow digitally without switching to another app.
- Library of diverse facial filters
The video filters and effects have many face filters you can apply to match moods, styles, or themes. You can try them out instantly and switch easily.
- Support exporting 8K images
With CapCut, you can export high-res images up to 8K and keep your edits super clear and ready for printing or big screens.
How to enhance facial and eye features in photos with CapCut
You need to update to the latest version of CapCut to utilize its advanced features fully. If you have not installed this software, you can easily download it by tapping the button below. Then follow the steps outlined:
- STEP 1
- Import the image
Enter CapCut's editing interface and click the "Import" option. Then, upload the image from your computer and drag it into the timeline for editing.
- STEP 2
- Change eye color
Tap "Video" > "Retouch" > "Makeup" > "Eye color." Select the eye color that suits your image, and it will be automatically applied. After that, you can explore more options like eyeshadow and eyelashes to style the eyes in a personalized way. To further enhance the appearance, go to "Features" > "Eyes" and adjust the eye distance, size, and brightness to better shape and highlight the eyes.
- STEP 3
- Export the image
The final step is to click the three-line menu above your preview screen and choose "Export still frames." Next, select your desired resolution (4K or 8K) and format. Finally, click "Export" to save the image to your device.
Conclusion
To summarize, the correct red eye in Photoshop enhances the natural look of your image. You can remove the bright red pupils caused by flash and help bring attention back to the subject's real expression. However, when it comes to deeper eye edits like adjusting brightness and smoothing skin, eye correction in Photoshop can get complex.
Another way to handle facial and eye edits is with the CapCut desktop video editor. This software makes detailed adjustments easier with built-in tools. You can change eye color, smooth the skin, brighten the face, and export in high resolution without needing much experience.
FAQs
- 1
- Can you eliminate red eye in Photoshop without losing image quality?
Yes, you can correct red eye in Photoshop without hurting image quality. It only changes the red in the eyes, so the rest of the photo stays clear and sharp. It's a simple fix that doesn't blur or damage your picture. If you want to eliminate the red eye in images and export them without losing quality, the CapCut desktop editor is a great pick. You export images in 8K, which makes it easy to keep your edits clean and sharp.
- 2
- Is it possible to eliminate red eyes in Photoshop on batch images?
No, Photoshop does not support removing red eye from multiple images at once. Each photo needs to be edited manually, which takes time if you're working with many pictures. There's no built-in batch red eye removal tool in Photoshop. To explore more eye color options and remove the red eye, the CapCut desktop video editor is the best tool that saves effort and time.
- 3
- What tools should I use to fix closed eyes in Photoshop?
To fix closed eyes in Photoshop, use the Lasso Tool to select and copy open eyes from another photo. Then, use Layer Masks and the Move Tool to blend and align them naturally. This method works, but it takes time and detailed editing. For advanced eye editing, like fixing red eyes, their distance, inner, and position, you can use the CapCut desktop editor.