Dustspots, dustspots, dustspots!
or 'How to eliminate dustspots from the photo'

by exem, 14 May 2014, 15:07 CEST

Dustspots (or another dirts) are often reason for rejection of the photo despite the fact that they can be easily eliminated. I don´t mean the removal of dirts from the camera chip but the removal of dustspots from the photo. The whole procedure takes a few seconds to a few minutes at most.

Notation: The described procedure is for Adobe Photoshop CS5 (EN).

Source JPG file

  • Open the photo (Ctrl+O).
  • Select 'Layer'->'New Adjustment Layer'->'Levels...' from the top menu Top menu... and press 'OK' (without any change) New layer window ... or press adjustments button button on side menu and then levels button button on 'ADJUSTMENTS' window menu Adjustments window
  • The histogram with three sliders is displayed in the 'ADJUSTMENTS' window now Levels window Move the middle slider closer to the left slider and then move the left slider toward the center of the histogram. This leads to the posterization of the photo and the dustspot accentuation. If necessary, adjust the position of the sliders Dustspots
  • In case of the dustspot detection, switch to the 'Background' layer in 'LAYERS' window Layers window.... and select the 'Spot Healing Brush Tool' from the tool menu Spot healing brush toolIf necessary, change the parameters of the tool by clicking right mouse button on the photoSpot healing brush setingsRemove the dustspot by one click of the left mouse button on the dustspot position. Continue like this while any dirt is detected. In some cases it is not possible to use 'Spot Healing Brush Tool' and so use another tool, for example 'Clone Stamp Tool' Clone stamp tool
  • Delete the adjustment layer (probably named 'Levels 1') in 'LAYERS' window Delete layer... and save the photo (Ctrl+S or Ctrl+Shift+S). That is all.