How to Edit Out Red Eye on Any Device - The Complete Guide

Understanding red eye in photos

When the camera's flash bounces off the retina, it creates red eye in your pictures. When it's dark, your pupils widen to help you see better. Flash photography reflects off the capillaries at the back of the eye and turns them red. When flash proximity happens in small cameras and phones, it has a worse effect on images. A red eye in the photo can spoil a good shot and make a portrait appear unprofessional. To get stunning images, always correct the red eyes.

How to get rid of red eye in a photo on Mac

Did you notice your favorite photo has red eye? You can quickly fix that mistake using the built-in editing tools on your Mac. The Photos app includes everything you need to correct common photo issues like red eye, no extra software required. Simply open the photo, enter edit mode, and use the dedicated Red Eye tool found in the editing menu to restore natural-looking eyes in just a few clicks. Let's uncover the stepwise process to get rid of the red eye in your images below:

STEP 1
1. Launch the Photos app and access the red-eye removal tool

Open the Photos app on your Mac. From the home interface, select your image and click on "Edit." Now, locate the "Red Eye" icon among the editing tools.

STEP 2
1. Select the affected area

Then, adjust the red eye removal size, and select the area of the eyes that shows red-eye. Drag your mouse to draw over the red part.

STEP 3
1. Export the final image

Once you're happy with the correction, click the "Done" button. The image will be saved to the Photos app automatically.

How to get rid of red eye in a photo on Windows

Did you notice your favorite photo has red eye? You can quickly fix that mistake with the help of a good editing tool. PhotoDirector includes all the tools you need for editing photos and works on both Windows and Mac. It offers professional features such as an easy tool for removing red spots from your eyes, which you'll find in the "Organize and Adjust" menu.

Let's uncover the stepwise process to get rid of the red eye in your images below:

STEP 1
1. Launch the software and access the red-eye removal tool

Open PhotoDirector on your computer. From the home interface, click on "Organize and Adjust." This opens the photo management and basic editing panel. Now, locate the red-eye icon among the editing tools, this activates the red-eye correction feature.

STEP 2
1. Select the affected area

Import the photo you want to edit. Then, use your cursor to manually select the area of the eyes that shows red-eye. Drag your mouse to draw over the red part. If necessary, fine-tune your selection to keep the eyes natural while removing the red reflection.

STEP 3
1. Export the final image

Once you're happy with the correction, click the "Export" button. Choose your preferred file format (like JPG or PNG) and adjust the quality settings. Save the edited image to your desired location on your device.

How to fix red eyes in pictures online

If you want a quick and easy way to fix this, Fotor's online red eye remover is your best option. It's browser-based, completely free, and works on any device, no downloads or editing experience needed. You'll be able to clean up your portraits in seconds and enhance eye clarity with minimal effort. By following the process given below, you can edit out red eyes effortlessly using Fotor:

STEP 1
1. Upload the image

Open any browser and go to Fotor's website. Upload the photo you want to edit from your device. The tool will load quickly and take you straight to the editing panel.

STEP 2
1. Adjust the brush size

Once your photo is uploaded, go to the "Red-eye Removal" tool under the "Beauty" tab. Use the slider to match the brush size to the red area in the eye. Then click directly on the red eyes. Fotor will auto-correct the color, replacing the red with a natural tone instantly.

STEP 3
1. Download the result

After reviewing the edit, click "Download." Choose your preferred image format and quality. Save the retouched photo to your device. You're done in just a few clicks.

How to fix red eyes in pictures on iPhone

The good news is, you don't need professional software to fix it. With just your iPhone, you can easily correct red eyes right in the built-in Photos app. Here are the easy steps for you:

STEP 1
1. Open the Photos app and select a photo

To get started, open the Photos app on your iPhone and select a photo from your gallery.

STEP 2
1. Navigate to Eyes

Tap on the "Adjust" option and then choose the red eye symbol at the top right. Here, select the red eye area and tap on it. Photos app will automatically remove them.

STEP 3
1. Save the image

Once you're happy with the changes, tap the "Done" icon to save your high-resolution photo.

How to get rid of the red eye on Android

You don't need advanced tools to fix red eye on Android. With a simple app from the Play Store "Pixlr," you can quickly get rid of red eyes in your pictures. Follow these easy steps:

STEP 1
1. Download and install Pixlr

Open the Google Play Store and search for the app Pixlr. Once found, download and install it on your Android device.

STEP 2
1. Open your photo in the app

Launch the app and tap the photo icon on the main screen. Navigate to your image gallery, select the photo you want to edit, and load it into the app.

STEP 3
1. Use the "Red eye" tool to fix red eyes

Find the eye correction tool in the app. Tap, hold, and drag it onto the red eye area. You can zoom in for precise adjustment. Next, you can select the custom eye color focusing on your needs. When you're done, tap the tick icon to save your changes.

How to retouch eyes in images with CapCut desktop

CapCut is a powerful desktop video editor that also excels at retouching eyes in images. You can easily enhance eye brightness, clarity, size, and even reshape your face with its intuitive features. It offers auto retouch, skin smoothing, and makeup effects to give you a polished look without hassle. CapCut simplifies and supercharges your image editing, so you save time while creating stunning visuals. If you want professional-quality edits for eyes on images, you should definitely try CapCut today.

Key features

• Retouching tools: You can easily enhance eyes, smooth skin, and perfect facial details for images and videos in CapCut.
• AI-powered facial recognition: The software quickly detects your face and key points, so you can apply edits precisely and naturally without extra effort.
• Auto styles: You get instant looks with one click by applying auto styles for images and videos.
• Rich image editing tools: You can polish images using diverse tools, including filters, effects, stickers, or adjustments.

Steps to effectively retouch eyes using CapCut

STEP 1
1. Launch CapCut and import your image

Launch CapCut and import your image. Next, upload the video or image where you want to retouch your eyes. Once uploaded, drag your media onto the editing timeline.

STEP 2
1. Change the eye color

Select the video or image on the timeline to activate the editing options. Then, navigate to the "Retouch" section and find the "Features" tab. Choose the "Makeup" tool to select "Eye color." You can select six colors to change your eye color in the image. Once applied, drag the slider to adjust the color degree.

STEP 3
1. Export the image

After you finish editing, go to the three-line menu located at the top right corner of the player tab and click it. From the dropdown, select "Export Still Frames." Now choose your preferred image resolution, format, and save location. Finally, click "Export" to save your retouched image to your device.

Tips to prevent red eye in photos

• Use red-eye reduction mode

Many cameras and smartphones come with a red-eye reduction mode. When you enable this, the camera flashes a series of small pre-flashes before the main one. This causes the subject's pupils to contract, reducing the chance of red-eye showing up. If your device supports it, always turn this mode on for portraits in low light.

• Increase ambient light

Brightening the room or shooting outdoors during the day helps shrink pupils naturally. When pupils are smaller, less light reflects off the retina, so red eyes occur less. You can use lamps or open curtains to add more light. By increasing ambient light, you reduce the need for harsh flashes, which often causes red eyes.

• Change flash placement

Direct flash aimed straight at your subject's eyes causes the red-eye effect. You can avoid this by moving your flash off-camera or angling it away from the lens. Using an external flash or a bounce flash technique will scatter light softly, preventing the flash from reflecting directly off the retina.

• Adjust subject positioning

Ask your subjects to look slightly away from the lens instead of staring straight into it. Even a small angle change shifts the reflection path, making the red eye less likely. You can guide them gently to tilt their heads or focus on a point just beside the camera.

Conclusion

In this guide, you explored three great tools for fixing red eyes: Photos app for desktop, Fotor's easy online editor, the iPhone's built-in Photos app, and Android's Pixlr. Each offers reliable red-eye correction tailored to your device. However, if you want to change your eye color to an image, CapCut stands out because of its eye retouch feature and versatile image editing features for eye retouching. With its advanced AI retouching tools and seamless editing options, CapCut lets you enhance your eyes in images or videos naturally and effortlessly. Try CapCut and start retouching your portraits in images and videos today!

FAQs

1
1. Can I selectively remove red eyes from one person in a group photo?

Yes, you can remove red eye from just one person in a group photo using tools like Picsart. Most photo editors let you zoom in and manually select the affected eye area. This targeted approach helps you fix the red eye without altering others' eyes. Take your time to precisely select the area, then apply the correction to keep the rest of the image intact.

2
1. What's the best way to keep natural shadows around the eyes?

To maintain natural shadows while fixing red eye, avoid over-brightening the eye area. Use subtle adjustments instead of harsh edits. Tools like CapCut offer precise controls that let you brighten your eyes without losing the natural contours. This keeps the eye looking realistic and well-defined.

3
1. Is masking a good option for red eye correction?

Masking can be effective for red eye removal if you want fine control. You create a mask over the red eye area, then apply corrections only within that mask. CapCut supports masking features that help you refine edits without affecting surrounding skin or eyes. This method ensures clean, professional-looking results.