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How to Get Rid of Red-Eye in Photographs

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By eHow Contributing Writer
(7 Ratings)
Get Rid of Red-Eye in Photographs
Get Rid of Red-Eye in Photographs

Red-eye occurs when the camera flash reflects the blood vessels of the retina into the lens. Here are some ways to prevent and remove this devilish effect.

From Quick Guide: Eliminate Red Eye Easily
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Anti-red-eye Pen
  • Tissue Paper Or A White Filter
  • Scanner
  • Flash Diffuser
  • Image-editing Software
  • Image-editing Software

    Fixing red-eye

  1. Step 1

    Purchase a special pen that reduces red-eye from a photography shop. Draw over the red-eye on your photographic prints to reduce the red-eye effect.

  2. Step 2

    Or scan the picture into your computer and use image-editing software to fix the red-eye. Most such programs have a feature especially designed for this purpose. You can remove the spinach caught in your subject's teeth while you're at it.

  3. Step 3

    Bring the photograph to a photo-editing shop if you do not have a scanner and image-editing software.

  4. Preventing red-eye

  5. Step 1

    Try to put distance between the camera's lens and flash to reduce red-eye. If possible, hold the flash an arm's length from the camera or point the flash toward a white surface, such as a wall, so the flash does not flood the subject's eyes.

  6. Step 2

    If the flash is immobile, reduce the size of the subject's pupils by turning on bright lights or by shining a bright light briefly in the person's eyes prior to taking the picture.

  7. Step 3

    Use the red-eye reduction feature available on many cameras. This feature constricts the pupils with a series of low-level flashes prior to taking the picture.

  8. Step 4

    Put tissue paper or a white filter over the flash to diffuse its brightness. The tissue paper shouldn't come into direct contact with the hot flashbulb. Some camera shops sell flash diffusers.

Tips & Warnings
  • Pictures taken indoors or at sunset are more susceptible to red-eye because pupils dilate to adjust to the lowlight conditions.
  • For more photography tips, see How to Improve Your Photography Techniques.
  • The multiple flashes of red-eye reduction cause a brief delay in the taking of the picture and may increase the chances that your subject will blink.

Comments  

Anonymous

Anonymous said

Flag This Comment

on 11/22/2005 If you use a green smudge-proof pen/marker, it works just as well as a red-eye pen. The green somehow works to remove the red.

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