How to Convert a Low Resolution Picture Into a Sharp, High Quality Image

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In most cases, a low resolution picture can be improved with little effort, using Adobe Photoshop CS5. Several image editing programs come equipped with sharpening filters you can use to remove noise. Blurriness, too dark shadows, and overly bright highlights all bring down the quality of a shot. Set the degree of pixel sharpening and balance out the color tones to obtain the sharp, high-quality image conversion results that you seek.

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Step 1

Open your Adobe Photoshop CS5.

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Step 2

Locate and open the low resolution image you want to improve.

Step 3

Increase the document window size to 100 percent.

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Step 4

Click "Filter" from the menu toolbar.

Step 5

Navigate to "Sharpen."

Step 6

Click "Smart Sharpen," then click the "Preview" box.

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Step 7

Type in a value from 150 percent to 200 percent in the "Amount" field if you only want to view the file on-screen. Type in a value from 100 percent to 150 percent in the "Amount" field if you want to print the file.

Step 8

Type in a value from .05 to 1 in the "Radius" field if you only want to view the file on-screen. Type in a value from 2 to 3 in the "Radius" field if you want to print the file.

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Step 9

Click the "Remove" scroll-bar and select "Motion Blur" to reduce blur due to the subject or camera movement. Alternatively, select "Lens Blur" to reduce halos, or bright areas, due to over-sharpening.

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Step 10

Set the motion angle if you selected "Motion Blur." Otherwise, skip this step and go to Step 11. Drag the "Measure" tool along the blur's angle. The "Measure" tool is located under the "Eyedropper" tool in the "Toolbox." Type in the motion degree angle shown after the letter "A" in the "Motion Blur Angle" field.

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Step 11

Check the "More Accurate" box to more accurately, but slowly, remove the blur in the file.

Step 12

Click the "Advanced" button.

Step 13

Move the "Fade Amount" slider to the left or right to change the amount of fade on the shadows or highlights.

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Step 14

Move the "Tonal Width" slider to the left or right to change the highlights or shadow tone range.

Step 15

Move the "Radius" slider to the left or right to change the size of the space around each pixel.

Step 16

Click "OK" when finished.

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