Snapped a picture that looked fantastic in your camera but turned out way too bright when you checked it later? This is called overexposure – it occurs when too much light hits the camera sensor, making bright areas lose detail. This can leave your photo looking flat and lacking in color. But you don’t have to worry. The good news is that you can easily fix your overexposed photos in post-production.
In this guide, we are going to walk you through the editing process step by step. We’ll be using an automatic photo editor. You will also discover alternative ways to try. Let’s get started and figure out the best ways to get rid of overexposure in photos.
To perfect images with no hassle, you can AI fix overexposed photos with PhotoWorks. This is a beginner-friendly Photoshop alternative with similar features and quality. It lets you effortlessly change the background, crop and resize a picture, overlay images, and stylize photos using 200+ effects and 3D LUTs.
Correcting overexposure in pictures is also a breeze in this software. There are several tools that allow you to do it, so we’ll show you how to edit overexposed photos in different ways. So, let’s explore them all right now.
If you are short on time, this automatic tool will come in handy. Just hit the Auto Correction button and preview the result. In the Auto Correction settings, you can select the adjustments you want to make.
Another easy way to improve your picture’s quality is by adjusting the Whites and Highlights values. All you have to do is drag the corresponding sliders to the left. But don’t make the amount too low to maintain a natural look.
If you don’t want to edit the whole picture and only need to tweak some parts of it, then you can use Radial Filter, Adjustment Brush, or Graduated Filter. They allow you to make a selection of the overexposed area and apply changes by moving the sliders – Exposure, Whites, Highlights, etc. This method is especially useful for correcting sky exposure in your shots.
To get rid of overexposure like a pro, you can also use the Curves tool. In PhotoWorks, this feature is quite handy. You need to go to the Tools tab and select Curves. Next, choose the Decrease Brightness option in the Preset drop-down menu. You can keep it as it is or make some changes by adding dots to the curve and dragging them up or down. This way, you can correct overexposure with precision.
PhotoWorks also offers tools for retouching portraits, and they can help you fix overexposed faces, too. First, you need to choose the Portrait Magic feature. Then open Custom Settings and drag the Glare slider to the left. You can also apply a ready-made preset – click Select Style and pick the Remove Face Shine preset. Change the amount of the effect with the slider, if necessary.
Liked this method but would like to see some alternative ways? Read on to find other tools you can use to adjust exposure in your images.
You can easily fix overexposed photos in Adobe Lightroom. Just open your image in the Develop module and adjust the Exposure and Highlights sliders to improve the brightness.
For specific areas that need attention, you can use tools like the Adjustment Brush or Graduated Filter. Keep an eye on the histogram at the top to see how bright or dark your photo is, which can guide your adjustments. Once you’re happy with your edits, remember to save your work.
However, the interface in Lightroom might seem confusing. Some tools are difficult to use, and adding pictures is not as straightforward as in other commonly-used photo editors.
If you are an iOS user, start by opening the Photos app and selecting the picture you want to fix. Next, tap on the Edit button in the top right corner. Once you are in editing mode, look for the dial icon, which is usually labeled Adjustments. Here, you can find a Brightness slider – you need to drag it to the left to reduce the brightness of your photo.
Additionally, you can adjust Exposure and Highlights to recover details in the bright areas of your image. After making your adjustments, simply tap Done to save the changes.
As for Android devices, the process is similarly user-friendly. You have to open the Google Photos app and find the photo you want to correct. After that, tap the pencil icon to enter editing mode, where you will see an Adjust section. Here, you can move the Brightness slider to the left to tone down the brightness. You can also explore the Highlights option to bring back detail in those overly bright areas and adjust the overall contrast to enhance your image.
If you feel that these options lack functionality, you can try some third-party tools. There are various mobile apps available in Google Play and App Store. To choose the right one, consider the app size, set of tools, and ease of use. It is also important to check out the in-app purchases before installing a program on your mobile device.
This is how you can edit your overexposed images. The methods we have shown you in this guide are suitable for personal and professional use alike.
So, let’s sum things up! To tweak images on the go, you can use your iOS- or Android-run smartphone, be it an embedded photo editor or a third-party tool. Fixing overexposure with Lightroom is also a popular option, but this way involves a steep learning curve as it’s mainly used by seasoned photographers. If you want professional-looking results in a few clicks, it’s better to use an AI-powered photo editor like PhotoWorks.
