You'll need a red eye remover if you hope to make your portraits look stunning and realistic. Red eyes spoil family photos, memorable social media posts and even your professional photos. For this reason, it's essential to pick the proper tool, since it saves your time and gives you good results. Within this guide, you'll see the six most effective red-eye removers for simple photo editing. If you prefer simple custom control without headaches, CapCut is your top free choice for making the eyes look perfect and enhancing any photo easily.
What causes red eyes in photos
Red eye occurs when the flash of your camera bounces off the blood vessels in the retina of your eyes. If you are taking a picture in low light, your pupils become larger so they can get more light from the scene. A quick and bright flash reaches the retina before your pupils adjust. This is why your eyes may look red.
Red eye is more common when you have:
- Dim lighting: Dark areas cause your pupils to open wider so you can see better. The extra light from the flash goes straight into dilated pupils, producing a red eye.
- Proximity to the lens: When you're close to the camera, the flash hits you right in your eyes. This light goes right back, which increases the risk of getting a red eye.
- Flash-to-lens angle: A direct flash-to-lens angle puts light in and out of your eye in one line. This connection greatly increases the red-eye effect.
- No pre-flash light: Pre-lighting before the main flash can help make your pupils smaller. If you don't close your eyes, the pupils stay big and there is a higher possibility of red-eye.
Why is it important to fix the red eye
Taking care of a red eye is more critical than it seems. When photographing people helps you keep their images and memories exactly as they really are. Removing red eyes from photos online increases how much people engage with your photos and helps them look professional. This allows you to produce excellent images when printing them. If your photos are in a portfolio, at an event or used for business, it's essential to correct red eyes, too. Removing red eyes means that your photos accurately show just what you want them to show.
Explore the top 6 red eye removers for your photos
Photos
Photos on iOS offers a simple yet effective free red eye remover built directly into your iPhone or iPad. You can fix red-eye issues in just a few taps, with no need to download extra apps. It's perfect when you want quick edits right after taking a photo. Whether you're updating your profile picture or preserving a family memory, you can rely on this tool to keep your eyes looking natural. It's a handy option if you prefer editing on the go without advanced tools.
- Instantly removes the red eye with just one simple tap.
- No installation needed, it comes built into your iOS device.
- Maintains the original high photo resolution after editing.
- Completely free and included with regular iOS updates.
- Lacks batch editing for correcting multiple photos at once.
Facetune
Facetune is a popular red eye pic editor app that goes beyond basic fixes. You get a powerful tool to enhance your selfies and portraits right on your iOS or Android device. You can quickly remove red eyes and brighten your smile by whitening teeth or widening it subtly. Facetune also helps you clear blemishes, smooth skin, and even experiment with virtual hair and makeup styles. If you want to share flawless photos with friends, this app offers easy sharing options. Facetune makes retouching simple and fun, helping you look your best in every shot.
- Detects red-eye automatically across multiple subjects in group photos.
- Offers high-speed batch processing for large image libraries.
- Includes detailed iris controls to fine-tune color and brightness.
- Useful for consistent workflow across beauty and portrait photography.
- Uses a credit-based system that may incur ongoing costs.
YouCam Makeup
YouCam Makeup provides an all-in-one mobile red eye photo editor suite with automatic red-eye correction. It scans images and corrects flash-induced red-eye without the need for manual input. Ideal for fast social media-ready edits, the app also includes live retouching via the selfie camera. Its AI engine enhances facial features while correcting the red-eye, enabling casual users and influencers to maintain a natural look across selfies and portraits in real time.
- Removes red eyes quickly and accurately for flawless portraits.
- Brightens teeth and enhances smiles naturally with subtle adjustments.
- Smooths skin and removes blemishes effortlessly for clear, radiant looks.
- Offers versatile hair and makeup editing tools for creative enhancements.
- Some advanced editing features need additional in-app purchases.
Evoto
Evoto is a red eye fixer that uses artificial intelligence to automatically detect and fix red-eye issues in portraits and group photos. Its advanced eye recognition system maps out iris, sclera, and eyelids for pinpoint accuracy. The software is particularly effective for batch processing professional photos and retouching with minimal manual effort. In addition to red-eye correction, Evoto includes advanced portrait enhancement features, making it ideal for studio photographers and influencers who prioritize consistency and speed in their edits.
- Detects red-eye automatically across multiple subjects in group photos.
- Offers high-speed batch processing for large image libraries.
- Includes detailed iris controls to fine-tune color and brightness.
- Useful for a consistent workflow across beauty and portrait photography.
- Limited offline functionality when AI modules aren't downloaded.
Fotor
Fotor is a browser-based photo editor offering a photo red eye remover along with enhancement tools like Eye Pop and Eye Tint. Users can correct red eyes with a single click and adjust eyeball size and color to ensure the subject's eyes look vivid yet natural. The tool is well-suited for users seeking on-the-go corrections without installing software. Fotor also provides background editing and facial feature enhancement powered by AI, making it ideal for social media and semi-professional image cleanup.
- Supports real-time preview of red-eye correction before applying changes.
- Includes unique eye enhancement tools like Eye Pop and Eye Tint.
- Easy integration with cloud photo libraries like Dropbox and Google Drive.
- Allows saving in multiple formats, including WebP and TIFF.
- Most AI features are gated behind the premium version.
Photopea
Photopea is a free online photo editor with red eye removal modeled after Adobe Photoshop, featuring a built-in red-eye removal option and other advanced retouching tools. It supports PSD, PNG, JPEG, and even RAW formats. The red-eye fix tool blends seamlessly with layers and selections, enabling professional-grade edits within a web browser. Its wide compatibility and access to pro-level features make it a reliable choice for photographers and designers who prefer working online without software installation.
- Supports advanced formats including PSD and RAW files.
- Eyedropper tool enables precise eye color matching.
- Compatible with Photoshop plugins and brushes.
- Full control over opacity and feathering during red-eye correction.
- No need to create an account to start editing.
- Requires stable internet for full functionality.
Bonus tool: Experience effortless eye color changing with CapCut
CapCut desktop video editor is a powerful video editing tool that also excels in photo retouching. You can easily enhance your images using its advanced retouch features, especially the eye color change option. You can adjust eye size and reshape facial features with just a few clicks. CapCut also offers auto retouch, skin smoothing, and makeup effects to give your images a polished, natural look. You'll save time and get professional-quality edits without complicated steps. If you want to make your eyes stand out effortlessly, CapCut is a great choice for you.
Key features
- Eye color change: CapCut provides six eye colors for you to choose from, which makes eye color change in one click.
- Retouch tools: You can retouch your photos or videos using CapCut's various retouch tools, including skin, face, and specific features.
- Auto styles: It's easy to change your portrait style in an image by applying auto styles, such as Americano, Native, and more.
- Rich image editing features: CapCut provides many image editing features, including stickers, text, filters, and effects.
Steps to effectively remove red eye using CapCut
- STEP 1
- Launch CapCut and import your image
To effectively change eye color using CapCut, start by launching the software. Click on "New project" and upload the image where you want to change the eye color. After uploading, drag the image onto the editing timeline so you can start making adjustments.
- STEP 2
- Change the eye color
Select the image on the timeline, then navigate to the "Retouch" section. Under the "Makeup" tab, choose the "Eye" option. Here, you can select a color to change your eye color in the image. CapCut also lets you enhance your eyes in photos by adding eyelashes, eyeliner, shadow, and other makeup effects.
- STEP 3
- Export the image
Finally, when you're happy with the changes, export your edited image. Click the three-line menu symbol, select "Export Still Frame," and choose your preferred resolution, storage location, and format such as PNG or JPEG.
How to avoid red eyes in future photos
To avoid red eyes in your future photos, you can take simple but effective steps that make a big difference. Here's how you can prevent that unwanted red-eye effect:
- Use pre-flash or red-eye reduction settings: Many modern cameras have a built-in pre-flash that causes your subject's pupils to contract before the main flash fires. Enable this feature to reduce the chance of red eyes.
- Increase ambient lighting: Brightening the room or shooting in natural light helps keep pupils smaller. When pupils are constricted, less light reflects off the retina, reducing red eyes.
- Change the angle of your flash: Instead of pointing the flash directly at your subject's eyes, try angling it or use an external flash mounted away from the lens. This prevents direct reflection back into the camera.
- Ask subjects not to look directly into the lens: When people look slightly away, the flash reflection doesn't hit their eyes straight on, which lowers red-eye occurrence.
- Smartphone tips: Use natural light when possible. If you use flash, hold the phone slightly above or to the side of your face to avoid red eyes in selfies.
Conclusion
Now you know how to make eye editing simple with the 6 best red eye removers. Whether you use built-in tools, AI-powered Evoto, or online editors like Photopea, each offers unique ways to restore natural-looking eyes. From quick fixes to pro-grade control, these tools help your portraits shine. For extra flexibility, CapCut desktop stands out with its advanced retouching tools, even letting you change eye color and enhance facial features in one place. Try CapCut today to witness the perks in real-time.
FAQs
- 1
- How do I preserve the natural lighting of the photo after red eye removal?
To preserve natural lighting, adjust only the eye area without changing the overall exposure. Use a tool that offers selective editing and masks, like CapCut. It lets you manually neutralize red tones while keeping skin tones and highlights untouched. Avoid over-saturating or over-brightening the eyes, which can make the photo look artificial.
- 2
- How do I fix the red eye when the subject's eyes are partially closed?
When eyes are partially closed, auto tools often miss the correction. You should switch to manual tools that let you zoom in and edit fine details. CapCut allows you to work frame-by-frame or on still images, so you can darken and correct the pupil area using adjustments and masks with precision.
- 3
- Which red eye fixer supports multiple red eye fixes in multi-person photos?
Evoto and Fotor perform well in dealing with the red-eye problem in group photos. They are both equipped with powerful AI Image Recognition Technology, which can automatically detect and correct the red-eye phenomenon of multiple people in the photo. This is particularly useful for scenes with multiple people, such as family gatherings, weddings, and graduation photos.
