How to Remove the Glow Around a Lamp in a Photo

When photographing lamps and other light fixtures, the camera can capture a halo glow surrounding the lamp. This halo effect detracts from the image so the photographer may need a way to remove the effect. While a lens filter can cut down on the halo glow in future shoots, the only way to remove the effect post-shoot is to edit the photo with an image-editing program.

Instructions

1. Highlight the original photo file and press “Ctrl + C” to copy it. Create a new folder and click to open it, then press “Ctrl + V” to paste the file inside the folder to create a backup of the original file.

2. Open the original file in an image-editing program. Enter the program’s “Quick Mask” mode and paint a mask over the lamp and any other portion of the image you do not want to disturb.

3. Click on the “Clone” tool and press the “Alt” key. Click on a space just outside of the glow while holding down the “Alt” key. Release the key and carefully “clone” the area surrounding the lamp, with the goal of cloning out the glow from the lamp. Repeat the step until you have successfully “cloned” out the glow.

4. Click on the “Burn” tool to slightly darken any highlighted areas caused by the glow. Save the file when you are finished.