Why use it?
Having haze in your image can be an artistic choice, but if you want to brighten up your colours and bring out hidden detail, Haze Removal can take a misty image from pale to dynamic in one easy step. It analyses each image and enhances areas of detail and colour that were looking a little lost beheath the haze, stepping up the colours and contrasts of the image and sharpening up elements that are lost in the fog!
How to use Haze Removal
Simply open your photograph in Affinity Photo, either the desktop or iPad version. Go to Filters and select Haze Removal. Affinity Photo will analyse your image to give you optimal settings to enhance it. You will also be given the option to adjust your settings manually. Sliders for Distance, Strength and Exposure Correction allow you to fine-tune.
There are also options to view your image ‘before and after’. Use the Mirror View to see both full images side by side, pre and post Haze Removal. Use the Split View to slice the image down the centre and view the before on the right and after on the left (or move the centre line from side to side for the ‘big reveal’).
Tips
- Use Haze Removal when your image is pale and misty all over to make hidden colours ‘pop’.
- Use it as the first step to enhance your image, pairing it with other Adjustment Layers like HSL and Curves to make the most of your photograph.
Haze Removal is destructive so duplicate your original image and add Haze Removal to the top layer to preserve your un-edited image as you work.
Be mindful of your lightest tones as Haze Removal can cause them to blow out or can cause banding if over-done. Combat this by duplicating your original image and masking your lightest areas, such as the sky or clouds.
- Aerial and drone photos often suffer from atmospheric haze so Haze Removal is a great tool to keep in mind for post-editing.
- Use the Inpainting Brush Tool or other retouching tools to remove artefacts that appear or become more visible after applying Haze Removal.
You’ll be amazed at how efficient the Haze Removal filter is at boosting colour and bringing out hidden detail in one simple step. Why not give it a try on your own misty photos?