How to Reduce Grain in Photoshop for A Smooth Look

What is grain in photography

Grain in photography is the tiny dots or rough texture that appear in images, making them look less clear. It usually happens when taking pictures in low light or using a high ISO setting on a camera. Grain can also be seen in old film photos or scanned images. While some photographers like grain for a vintage effect, too much of it can reduce image quality.

Causes of grains in photography

Grain in photos can appear for several reasons, affecting the overall quality of the image. Understanding these causes can help in capturing better photos and using the right techniques for removing grain in Photoshop to improve clarity. Below are some common reasons why images become grainy:

• High ISO

A high ISO setting makes the camera sensor more sensitive to light but also increases noise. While it helps in dark environments, it often leads to grainy images. To make a photo less grainy in Photoshop, noise reduction tools can help smooth out the rough texture.

• Low light

When there isn’t enough light, the camera struggles to capture details, often resulting in grainy photos. The camera compensates by increasing ISO, which adds noise. Using bright lighting while shooting and removing grain in Photoshop later can improve the image.

• Small sensor

Cameras with smaller sensors, like smartphones and compact cameras, tend to produce more noise. This happens because smaller sensors capture less light, leading to a grainy look. Using high-quality cameras and applying noise reduction in Photoshop can help.

• Over-processing

Too much editing, such as excessive sharpening or contrast adjustments, can increase the grain in an image. This makes the texture rough and unnatural. To fix this, careful editing and using Photoshop to remove grain from photos can restore the natural look.

• Compression

When images are compressed to reduce file size, they lose detail and may appear grainy. This is common in JPEG files with high compression. Using high-quality formats and removing grain in Photoshop can help retain image clarity.

How to remove grains in Photoshop

Grainy images can reduce the quality of a photo, making it look rough and less professional. Adobe Photoshop provides powerful tools to smooth out grain while keeping important details intact. By following the right steps, you can achieve a cleaner and more vibrant image. Here's a simple method for removing grain in Photoshop effectively:

STEP 1
1. Use the noise reduction filter

Duplicate the layer, then go to "Filter" > "Noise" > "Reduce Noise" to smooth out grain while preserving details. Adjust the strength carefully to make a photo less grainy in Photoshop without losing texture.

STEP 2
1. Apply smart sharpening

To restore sharpness, use "Filter" > "Sharpen" > "Smart Sharpen" at 200-250%. Adjust the radius and noise reduction to balance clarity and softness.

STEP 3
1. Use layer masks for the final touches

Add a layer mask and use a soft black brush to remove excess grain selectively. This method helps in reducing grain in Photoshop while keeping important textures intact.

How to remove grainy texture in Photoshop via the Camera RAW plugin

Camera RAW in Photoshop is a useful tool for reducing noise and improving image quality. It lets you smooth grain while keeping important details intact. By using layer masks, you can selectively reduce noise without affecting sharp areas. Follow these steps to let Photoshop remove grain from a photo with ease:

STEP 1
1. Duplicate the layer & open the Camera RAW

Press Control + J (Command + J on Mac) to duplicate the layer, ensuring non-destructive editing. Then, use Control + Shift + A (Command + Shift + A on Mac) to open the Camera RAW filter.

STEP 2
1. Adjust luminance

Go to the "Detail" tab and increase the luminance slider to reduce grain, enhance clarity, and create a smoother, more professional look.

STEP 3
1. Apply layer mask for noise reduction

Create a layer mask and use a soft black brush at 50% opacity to bring back details in key areas like eyes and hair. It helps remove grain while keeping the sharpness where needed.

How to remove grain in Photoshop using sharpness tools

Sharpening tools in Photoshop help improve image clarity while keeping grain under Control. By carefully adjusting settings, you can enhance details without making noise more visible. The goal is to balance sharpness and smoothness. Follow these steps to let Photoshop remove grain while keeping your image clear.

STEP 1
1. Load your image

Open your grainy image in Photoshop to start editing. This will be your workspace for refining textures and enhancing details.

STEP 2
1. Choose a sharpening tool

Navigate to "Filter" > "Sharpen" and select "Smart Sharpen" or "Unsharp Mask". These tools improve clarity while minimizing unwanted noise.

STEP 3
1. Fine-tune the sharpening settings

Adjust the "Amount", "Radius", and "Threshold" sliders to sharpen the image without increasing grain, ensuring better detail, clarity, and a more balanced final result.

An easier way to reduce grain for photos: CapCut desktop

The CapCut desktop video editor is a simpler tool for removing grains from images. It is ideal for those who want quick and easy edits. It has built-in noise reduction tools that help smooth out rough textures with just a few clicks. This makes it a great option for beginners who need a fast way to improve image quality without using complex software.

Key features

The CapCut desktop video editor provides powerful tools to enhance image quality with minimal effort. Here are its key features:

• Remove image noise

CapCut helps you denoise video with AI or enhance image quality by reducing graininess, especially in low-light footage.

• Relight images in one click

Instantly adjust lighting and shadows to improve poorly lit photos and make them look more natural. This tool is perfect for enhancing brightness in dark or dull images.

• Supports various image formats

Works with multiple file types, including PNG and JPEG, ensuring compatibility with different cameras and devices. It is ideal for seamless and flexible editing.

• Instantly remove image noise

Instantly remove video flicker to reduce the grain and enhance clarity. Achieve smoother, cleaner visuals for a professional look.

• AI-powered video upscaler

Enhances low-resolution videos with an AI video upscaler, making them sharper and more detailed while preserving original quality.

• Adjustable sharpness control

Fine-tune image sharpness to balance clarity and smoothness while avoiding over-sharpening. This is useful for refining textures and highlighting important details.

How to reduce grains in photos using CapCut

To reduce grain in photos using CapCut, first download and install the CapCut desktop video editor by visiting their official website. Follow the on-screen instructions and set up this tool on your PC. You can get started by clicking the download button below.

STEP 1
1. Import the images

Open the CapCut desktop video editor and import your images by tapping on the "Import" button or dragging and dropping them onto the workspace. After that, move it to the timeline to begin editing.

STEP 2
1. Reduce the image noise

Click the image in the timeline and go to the "Basic" tab. Then, click "Reduce image noise" and select either weak or strong based on your needs. CapCut will automatically remove image noise to enhance the visuals. For manual adjustments, use the "HSL" and "Color curves" to fine-tune the sharpness and reduce image grain.

STEP 3
1. Export the still frames

After editing the image, open the drop-down menu above the preview and click "Export still frames." In the pop-up window, select a suitable format and click "Export" to save it to your PC.

Tips to easily remove grain in the photo

Grainy photos can look unprofessional and reduce image clarity. Photoshop provides multiple ways to smooth grain while keeping important details. Here are some effective methods to make a photo less grainy in Photoshop and improve overall quality:

• Use a reduced noise filter

Most editing software includes a noise filter that reduces grain by smoothing rough textures while preserving edges. Adjusting the filter settings carefully can help balance sharpness while removing unwanted noise and enhancing the image’s overall clarity.

• Adjust camera raw settings

Adobe Photoshop has luminance and detail sliders under its adjustment tools, which help in making a photo-less grainy while maintaining important details. Increasing luminance softens noise while adjusting detail settings helps maintain clarity and prevent excessive blurring in the final image.

• Apply surface blur

A surface blur tool can smooth grainy textures while keeping edges sharp and well-defined. Adjusting the blur intensity and threshold settings helps reduce noise in areas where grain is most noticeable while maintaining fine details in the rest of the image.

• Use frequency separation

This technique separates an image into texture and color layers, enabling you to reduce grain without affecting sharpness and key details. Blurring the lower frequency layer can help smooth noise while preserving textures, making it useful for high-quality photo retouching and enhancements.

• Try noise-reduction plugins

Third-party noise reduction tools use AI-based technology to make a photo less grainy while maintaining realistic details. These plugins provide more precise control over noise removal, helping create cleaner, sharper, and more professional-looking images with minimal effort and time.

Conclusion

Reducing grain in Photoshop helps improve image clarity and makes photos look more professional. By using noise reduction tools, adjusting settings, and applying the right techniques, you can achieve a smooth and detailed look. Experimenting with different methods ensures the best results without losing important details. If you want a quicker and easier way to remove grain, CapCut provides an AI-powered noise reduction tool for effortless image enhancement.

FAQs

1
1. How to adjust noise reduction to remove grain from photos in Photoshop?

Go to "Filter" > "Noise "> "Reduce Noise" and adjust the Strength slider to smooth grain while preserving details. Use the "Luminance" slider in Camera Raw for finer Control. Balancing these settings helps reduce grain without making the image too soft. If you need a faster AI-powered solution, use the CapCut desktop video editor for one-click image noise reduction.

2
1. How can I use layers to make photos less grainy in Photoshop without blurring?

Duplicate the image layer and apply the Reduce Noise filter with moderate settings to smooth out the grain. Use a Layer Mask to paint back important details where needed. This method keeps sharpness intact while reducing unwanted noise. For an easier, one-click alternative, the CapCut desktop video editor provides precise noise reduction with adjustable sharpness controls.

3
1. Can Camera Raw be used to remove grain from photos in Photoshop?

Yes, Camera Raw has a Noise Reduction section under the Detail tab where you can adjust the Luminance slider to remove grain. Tweaking the Detail and Contrast sliders helps maintain sharpness while reducing noise. If you prefer an effortless way to fix grainy images, use CapCut to reduce image noise in one click and get smooth and clear results.