Ever zoomed into a photo and suddenly everything looks blocky and blurry? That's what we call a pixelated image. It happens when an image doesn't have enough resolution or gets stretched too much, making the tiny squares (called pixels) more visible. This can happen for many reasons. Maybe the photo was too small, saved in poor quality, or you zoomed in way too close. Even heavy compression can cause issues. In addition, Pixelation can ruin a good photo, whether it's for a presentation, a blog, or just something you want to keep. That's why knowing how to fix pixelated image is super useful, it helps bring back clarity and make your pictures look sharp again. In this article, we'll show you simple ways to fix pixelated images using online tools, apps, or editing software.
Let’s Talk About Pixelation
Pixelation is something we've all seen, whether it's an old photo, a stretched image, or a low-quality screenshot. In this section, we'll walk you through what causes pixelation, how digital images work, how it's different from blurriness, and why fixing pixelation has its limits.
To start, let's understand how digital images work. They're made up of tiny blocks called pixels. Each pixel is a small square with color, and when you put thousands or millions of them together, they form a complete picture, kind of like a mosaic. If you zoom in close enough on any image, you'll begin to see those tiny squares.
That brings us to resolution, which refers to the number of pixels an image has. You'll usually see it written as something like 1920 x 1080. That means there are 1,920 pixels in width and 1,080 pixels in height. Furthermore, the higher the pixel count, the clearer and more detailed the image looks, especially when printed or viewed on large screens.
You might also hear terms like DPI (dots per inch) or PPI (pixels per inch). These measure how tightly those pixels or dots are packed in a certain space. PPI is mainly used for screens and shows how many pixels fit in one inch. More PPI means sharper images. On the other hand, DPI is more common in printing. It tells printers how many dots of ink go in one inch. In general, a higher DPI (dots per inch) results in better print quality.
Difference Between Pixelation and Blurriness
1. Pixelation
Pixelation happens when an image is too small and gets stretched or zoomed in too much. Since digital images are made of tiny squares called pixels, zooming in too far makes those squares more visible. You'll start to see rough, blocky edges and a "boxy" look, especially around shapes or text.
Common causes:
- Saving images in very low resolution
- Zooming in too close
- Enlarging a small image without resizing properly
- Screenshots of already low-quality images
2. Blurriness
Blurriness happens when the image is out of focus or has motion blur. It appears soft or smeared, lacking sharp edges and fine detail. Unlike pixelation, you don't see blocks. You just see a smooth, shadowy look.
Common causes:
- Moving the camera while taking a photo
- The subject is moving too fast
- Poor focus or shaky hands
- Image compression that smooths too much detail
Both problems affect image quality, but they need different tools or fixes. To fix pixelated pictures, enhance the sharpness, or upscale the image. For blurriness, use sharpening tools or retake the photo while ensuring it is in focus.
Limitations of Fixing Pixelation
While some tools can improve pixelated images, they're not magic. In this part, we'll explain what fixing can (and can't) actually do, so you know what results to expect.
- Lost Details Can't Be Fully Recovered: While many tools can increase resolution of image, they can only enhance what's there and can't restore all the lost details.
- Results May Still Look Artificial: Even after enhancement, the image might look slightly fake or overly smooth, especially around edges or faces.
- AI Tools Are Not Always Accurate: AI-based upscaling tools can improve images, but sometimes they add things that weren't in the original photo. This can lead to strange or unrealistic results.
- Very Low-Quality Images Might Not Improve Much: If the original image is too small or badly pixelated, even the best tools can only help a little.
- Limited Use for Print: Even when digitally fixed, pixelated images might still look bad when printed, especially in larger sizes.
- Time-Consuming for Manual Fixes: Fixing pixelation manually in editing software (like Photoshop) takes time and skill. It's not always practical for quick edits.
Tools to Use to Fix Pixelated Images
| Features | AceThinker Free AI Image Sharpener | Photoshop | Snapseed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accuracy | Moderate – Good for slight to medium pixelation using AI | High – Offers precise, professional-level results | Basic – Best for minor pixelation or quick edits |
| Difficulty | Very Easy – One-click tool | Advanced – Needs editing knowledge | Easy – User-friendly mobile interface |
| Platform | Web (Free) | Desktop (Paid) | Mobile App (Free) |
1. AceThinker Free AI Image Sharpener
One of the tools you can use to unpixelate an image is the free AI image sharpener of AceThinker. It is a browser-based tool that helps you enhance your pictures and restore their clarity. The tool also comes with two options for sharpening your photo. It is either Smooth or Detailed. The Smooth option applies a subtle correction to the overall image blur. In contrast, the Detailed option focuses on refining complicated textures and edges. Moreover, this AI online tool stands out with its various upscale levels, ranging from x2 to x16, allowing you to enlarge images without quality loss. Furthermore, this tool supports multiple image formats such as PNG, JPG, WEBP, BMP, and more. On top of that, AceThinker Free AI Image Sharpener is free and accessible on any device, so if you have to fix a pixelated image on your mobile or computer, you can easily do it. Below, we provide an easy guide on how to fix low resolution photos.
User Guide:
- To begin, access the online sharpener on your browser. Next, click "Upload Image" on its homepage and select the image you want to adjust its pixel size. Alternatively, you can drag the image directly onto the homepage and drop it there to upload.
- Once the photo is uploaded, choose how you want to sharpen your image, whether Smooth or Detailed. Then, select an upscale level from x2 to x16. After choosing the desired settings, hit the' Upscale" button and the AI tool will process your image immediately.
- Once the process is complete, you can download the enhanced image to your device. Simply click the "Download" button above, and it will save to your Downloads folder on your local storage. From there, preview the image to verify the improvements.
2. Photoshop
Photoshop is a well-known photo editing app that offers various features to enhance your images. It comes with advanced tools, including several that are useful for fixing pixelated photos. One common technique the tool offers is called Smart Sharpen, which helps bring back details by adjusting how sharp the edges in your image appear. You can also control the amount, radius, and reduce noise, great for slightly pixelated or blurry images that need more edge definition. Besides that, Photoshop also provides Reduce Noise and Unsharp Mask, which help you smooth out grainy or pixelated parts without making the whole image too blurry. Aside from that, you can also unblur images in Photoshop using its advanced filters, such as Gaussian Blur, which others also use to fix pixelated photos. Refer to the guide we provide for instructions on how to unpixelate an image using its Smart Sharpen feature.
User Guide:
- Launch Adobe Photoshop on your computer. If you don't have it, you can download it from its official website. Next, go to the "File" menu and select the "Open" option. Then, choose the pixelated image you want to fix. Once it opens, make sure the image is selected.
- After that, navigate to the "Filter" menu at the top, select "Sharpen," and then choose "Smart Sharpen." A box will appear where you can adjust some settings. Next, tick the "Preview" box to see the changes in real time. Within this dialog, modify the settings for Adjust, Radius, and Reduce Noise until you achieve the desired level of clarity.
- Once satisfied, click "OK" to apply the changes to your image. Then, save your enhanced image by going to the "File" tab, selecting "Save As," and choosing your preferred format and location. Lastly, locate the final image and check the improvements.
3. Snapseed
If you are looking for a photo editor on your mobile phone, you can try Snapseed. This app, owned by Google, offers various editing tools, including one that can fix pixelated pictures and remove date from photos. One of the standout features of this app is its Healing Brush that can effectively remove unwanted spots, marks, or small objects from images. Additionally, Snapseed comes with a Details tool. This feature allows you to adjust the structure and sharpness of your photos, which can reduce pixelation. Not only that, but this app also offers a selective adjustment tool that allows you to precisely control brightness, contrast, and saturation in specific areas, further refining image quality. Plus, it keeps your edits separate from the original image, so you can go back and change or undo anything at any time. See how to make a picture less pixelated by following these steps.
User Guide:
- Of course, before you begin to fix your pixelated photo, you need to get Snapseed installed on your mobile phone. To do that, go to the Google App Store or App Store and search for Snapseed. On the search result, click the Install or Get button to begin installing. Once done, find the app on your homescreen or list of apps and open it.
- Next, upload the picture on the app by clicking the big + button in the middle. Once uploaded, you can see three menus at the bottom. Tap the Tools menu and select the Details option from the pop-up window. Next, you will proceed to the Details section, where you can adjust the Structure and Sharpening. To do it, simply swipe from right to left or vice versa on the screen to increase or decrease the intensity of these effects. You can also see a before-and-after comparison by tapping and holding the image.
- Once satisfied with the adjustments, tap the checkmark icon to apply the changes. Then, tap the Export button, where you can choose to share the image directly, save it as a copy, or export it with different format and quality settings. Finally, locate the enhanced image in your gallery to check the improvements.
Wrap Up
Pixelation can make even your best photos look bad. But with the help of photo editing tools, there are ways to improve them. In this article, we introduced various tools that help you unpixelate image and bring back some clarity. These are the Free AI Sharpening Tool of AceThinker, Snapseed, and Photoshop. Each method has its strengths, and sometimes the best results come from using a mix of techniques, like sharpening, adjusting structure, or upscaling. But remember, while tools can make your images look better, they can’t work magic. Some lost details are gone for good, especially in low-resolution files. So, aim to improve quality without expecting perfect results every time. Also, try different tools, test what works for your photo, and don’t be afraid to experiment. With a little patience, you can turn a blurry, blocky image into something much clearer!
