Fixing common problems

PaintShop Pro provides many fast and powerful commands and tools to help you correct some common photographic problems. You can use the table below as a starting point for making your photos as good as they can be. Some correction commands open a dialog box in which you can choose options and modify the correction.

If you intend to crop or resize the photo, you should perform this action first and then apply a correction from the following table.

Problem	How to solve it from the Edit tab
The overall photo should look better.	To apply a set of basic photo corrections automatically, choose Adjust One Step Photo Fix. To fine-tune and apply a set of basic photo corrections, choose Adjust Smart Photo Fix.
Part of the photo is too dark (underexposed).	To apply a quick adjustment to a photo’s dark regions, choose Adjust Fill Flash or Adjust Brightness and Contrast Fill Light/Clarity. To apply a comprehensive set of adjustments, choose Adjust  Smart Photo Fix. To access commands for correcting brightness and contrast, choose Adjust Brightness and Contrast. In particular, try the Curves and Levels commands.
Part of the photo is too light (overexposed).	To apply a quick adjustment to a photo’s light regions, choose Adjust  Backlighting. To apply a comprehensive set of adjustments, choose Adjust Smart Photo Fix. To access commands for correcting brightness and contrast, choose Adjust Brightness and Contrast. In particular, try the Curves and Levels commands.
A specific part of the photo is too dark or too light.	Carefully using a selection tool, select only the overexposed or underexposed part of the photo. Then, apply one of the adjustments previously described in this table. Note: The One Step Photo Fix and Smart Photo Fix commands work on the entire image, even if you’ve made a selection. For more information, see Working with selections.
The photo’s contrast is too low or too high.	To adjust the contrast and optionally adjust other settings, choose Adjust Smart Photo Fix. Or, choose Adjust Brightness and Contrast Brightness/Contrast.
You have a set of bracketed digital photos, but need a way to merge them into one.	Choose File HDR Exposure Merge, and use this command to combine the best details from two to nine bracketed photos into one photo.
The photo has a color cast or other unnatural colors resulting from its being taken indoors without a flash.	To remove a color cast, choose Adjust Brightness and Contrast Curves. To apply a comprehensive set of adjustments, choose Adjust Smart Photo Fix. To access commands for making various brightness and contrast corrections, choose Adjust Brightness and Contrast.
Someone in the photo has unnatural-looking skin tones.	To adjust the photo’s tonal balance, choose Adjust White Balance.
A scanned photo has scratches or tears.	On the Tools toolbar, choose the Scratch Remover tool , the Makeover tool , or the Clone Brush tool . For more information, see Retouching and restoring images.
Tiny specks (noise) of unnatural color can be seen, especially on a magnified view.	To apply noise correction automatically, choose Adjust One Step Noise Removal. To use advanced options for noise correction, choose Adjust Digital Noise Removal or AI Denoise. To remove artifacts from compressed JPEG images, choose Adjust Add/Remove Noise AI Artifact Removal.
Purplish fringe and other color aberrations can be seen on edges in the photo.	To remove purple fringe automatically, choose Adjust One Step Purple Fringe Fix. To use advanced options for correcting chromatic aberrations, choose Adjust Chromatic Aberration Removal.
Someone in the photo has red-eye.	To remove red-eye quickly, choose the Red Eye tool . To use advanced options for red-eye removal, choose Adjust Red Eye Removal.
Someone in the photo has skin blemishes, unpolished teeth, or washed out skin tone.	On the Tools toolbar, choose the Makeover tool . On the Tool Options palette, set the mode to Blemish Fixer , Toothbrush , or Suntan .
The photo appears foggy or hazy.	To improve a poorly exposed image, choose Adjust Brightness and Contrast Levels. To improve overall clarity, choose Adjust Brightness and Contrast Local Tone Mapping.
The photo doesn’t appear sharp.	To apply high-frequency sharpening, choose Adjust Sharpness High Pass Sharpen. To apply other forms of sharpening, choose Adjust Sharpness and choose a command.
The photo needs to be straightened.	On the Tools toolbar, choose the Straighten tool . For more information, see Retouching and restoring images.
The perspective of objects in the photo appears incorrect.	On the Tools toolbar, choose the Perspective Correction tool . For more information, see Retouching and restoring images.
The photo quality is affected by a lens distortion.	Choose Adjust Barrel Distortion Correction, Adjust Fisheye Distortion Correction, or Adjust Pincushion Distortion Correction. For more information about lens distortions, see Correcting lens distortions.
An unwanted pattern appears on a scanned image.	Choose Adjust Add/Remove Noise Moire Pattern Removal.
A scanned photo appears old and faded.	Choose Adjust Color Fade Correction.