How to Fix Sun Glare in Photos and Restore Details

How to Remove Sun Glare from a Photo Using Editing Tools

Manually editing an image tends to give you more control; it is the go-to method for most professionals still, but it requires skill and can be daunting for beginners. The recommended tools for that are Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, GIMP, or Snapseed on mobile. These tools are best for landscape shots with blurry sky, portraits with facial glare, washed-out colours, and product photos with hand reflections.

Method 1: Adjust Highlights and Exposure

Start by lowering the Highlights to recover detail in the brightest areas, then reduce the Whites if needed. If the image still looks overexposed, make a small adjustment to exposure and raise the Shadows to restore balance. Whenever possible, edit the original RAW file, as it preserves more highlight detail than a JPEG.

Method 2: Use Healing and Cloning Tools

For a more localized glare, such as lens flare, reflections on glasses, or bright spots on reflective surfaces, use the Spot Healing Brush or Clone Stamp tool in Photoshop. Work with a soft brush and make small adjustments for a more natural result.

Method 3: Use AI Photo Enhancement

When glare has obscured too many details for manual adjustments to recover, AI enhancement tools can often produce better results. Upload the image, let the AI process it, and compare the

A Faster Way to Remove Sun Glare from Photos on PC/Online/Mobile

If you are looking for a faster alternative to manual editing, these tools can help reduce sun glare with minimal effort.

1. HitPaw FotorPea: AI Glare Remover

It is an AI-powered desktop photo editor that reduces sun glare and restores image detail automatically. Unlike traditional editing tools that require manual masking and adjustments, HitPaw FotorPea uses AI-powered glare removal technology to automatically detect and fix unwanted reflections. Whether it's sunlight glare, eyeglass reflections, glass reflections, or screen glare, it restores clearer details while keeping the photo natural.

Why Choose HitPaw FotorPea

• Remove unwanted reflections from glasses, windows, and screens
• Reduce strong light glare caused by sunlight or flash
• Recover details hidden behind glare and reflections
• Maintain realistic skin tones, textures, and photo quality
• Enhance photos automatically with one click

Step to Remove Sunlight Glare with HitPaw FotorPea

• Step 1.Download and install HitPaw FotorPea, then open the AI Generator module.

  

• Step 2.Choose Text to Image and then import your image by dragging it into the workspace or browsing your files. The software supports JPG, PNG, and most RAW formats.

  

• Step 3.Write your idea to remove the sunlight glare, like " remove the sunlight glare from the photo and enhance the image quality".

  

• Step 4.Click Preview to review the result, then export the edited image when you are satisfied.

  

Pro Tip:

Although AI tools can often improve moderate sun glare and restore natural-looking detail, they cannot recover information that was never captured. If important highlights are completely blown out, the restored areas are generated rather than recovered. When possible, shoot in RAW format, as it retains more image data for editing.

2. Claid AI - Batch Product Image Enhancer

Claid AI is a browser-based AI image enhancement platform focused on automated photo processing for businesses. It helps improve product images by reducing unwanted reflections, adjusting lighting, and enhancing visual consistency across large batches of photos, making it suitable for e-commerce images with reflective surfaces.

Key Features:

• Reduce reflections on product surfaces
• Improve lighting and image consistency
• Process multiple product images in batches
• Optimize photos for e-commerce use

Steps to Remove Glare from Product Images

Step 1: Log in to Claid AI and Open AI Edit

Visit the Claid AI website, log in to your account, and open the AI Edit feature. This tool allows you to enhance images and apply AI-powered edits based on your instructions.

Step 2: Upload Your Image and Enter a Glare Removal Prompt

Upload the product image with unwanted sunlight glare or reflections. Then, enter a clear editing request, such as:"Remove the sunlight glare from the photo and enhance the image quality." The AI will analyze the image and automatically adjust lighting, reduce reflections, and improve overall image clarity.

Step 3: Preview the Result and Download the Enhanced Image

After AI processing is complete, preview the edited image to check the glare removal effect. If the result meets your needs, click the download button to save the enhanced product photo.

Pro Tip:

Claid AI works best for product photos with visible details; heavily overexposed glare may be difficult to fully remove.

3. Luminar Neo -AI Photo Lighting Corrector

Luminar Neo is an AI-powered desktop photo editor designed to fix lighting issues caused by harsh sunlight. Its AI tools help reduce overexposed highlights, balance brightness, and improve image exposure, making outdoor photos look more natural.

Key Features:

• Correct harsh sunlight and overexposed areas
• Adjust exposure and improve image brightness
• Enhance shadows and recover visual details
• Balance lighting for more natural-looking photos
• Improve overall image quality with AI tools

Pro Tip:

Luminar Neo is great for correcting lighting and exposure issues, but it may not fully remove complex reflections or glare-covered details.

4. YouCam: AI Portrait Enhancement App

YouCam is a mobile photo editing app focused on portrait retouching and selfie enhancement. It provides AI-powered tools to reduce facial glare, improve skin appearance, adjust lighting, and refine portrait details, making it suitable for users who want quick edits directly on their phones.

Key Features:

• Reduce facial glare in selfies
• Enhance portraits with AI retouching tools
• Improve skin tone and facial details
• Adjust lighting and exposure for better selfies
• Apply quick mobile photo enhancements

Steps to Remove Glare from Photos with YouCam

YouCam provides AI-powered portrait editing tools to improve selfies and reduce facial glare. Follow these steps to edit your photos on mobile.

Step 1: Open YouCam and Select the Object Removal Tool

Click the provided link to open YouCam, then upload your photo and use the removal brush to paint over the unwanted areas. This feature works better for removing small objects or distractions, but the glare removal effect may be limited, especially for strong sunlight glare.

Step 2: Use AI Agent to Upload Your Photo and Enter Your Request

Open the AI Agent feature from the left navigation bar. Upload the image you want to edit and describe your request, such as: "Remove facial glare from the photo and improve the overall image quality".

Step 3: Generate and Review the Enhanced Photo

Wait for YouCam to complete the AI editing process, then preview the generated result. Check whether the glare has been reduced and the portrait details have been improved before saving the final image.

Pro Tip:

YouCam works best for portrait and selfie improvements, but it is less suitable for removing complex reflections from objects or backgrounds.

5. Built-in Photos: Basic Photo Adjustment Tool

Built-in Photos is the default photo editing solution available on most phones and computers. It provides simple adjustment features, such as brightness, contrast, highlights, and exposure controls, making it suitable for basic glare reduction and quick photo corrections without installing additional software.

Key Features:

• Adjust brightness and exposure levels
• Reduce overly bright highlights
• Improve contrast and image balance
• Apply quick edits without extra apps
• Built-in and easy to access on most devices

Pro Tip:

Built-in photo editors can help reduce bright areas, but they usually cannot remove strong glare or recover details hidden behind reflections.

Quick Table of AI Glare Remover

Choosing the right tool to remove sun glare depends on your photo type, editing needs, and device. Some tools focus on AI-powered glare removal and detail restoration, while others are better for adjusting lighting, enhancing portraits, or making quick basic corrections. The comparison table below highlights the best glare removal tools based on their strengths, platforms, and ideal use cases.

Essential Tips for How to Take Photos Without Sun Glare

Preventing sun glare is often easier than correcting it during editing. Here are some pointers to keep in mind.

• 1. Shooting straight into the sun:Position yourself so the light falls from the side or behind you. If you are intentionally shooting with backlighting, expose for the subject and allow the background to become brighter if needed.
• 2. No lens hood:A lenshood helps block stray light from reaching the front of the lens, reducing the chance of flare in bright conditions.
• 3. Shooting at midday:Midday sunlight is usually the harshest. Shooting during the golden hour provides softer, more directional light that is less likely to produce harsh glare.
• 4. Dirty lens:Dust, fingerprints, and smudges can scatter light and reduce image clarity. Wipe the lens with a microfiber cloth before shooting.
• 5. Ignoring polarizers:A circular polarizing filter can reduce reflections on glass, water, and other reflective surfaces, making it a useful accessory for outdoor photography.

If you are taking a photograph of a printed photo, the same principles apply. Avoid using flash, position the print at a slight angle to the light source, and minimize strong overhead lighting to reduce reflections.

FAQs

Conclusion

Sun glare can ruin a good photo, but it can be edited and reduced with the right editing tools. In many cases, adjusting Highlights and Exposure is enough, while healing tools work well for smaller reflections. For more severe glare, AI-powered editors can simplify the process and reduce the amount of manual editing required.

If you want a faster workflow, HitPaw FotorPea can automatically reduce sun glare and enhance image detail. Choose based on the job in front of you: manual editing when you have a RAW file and time, AI when you have a folder full of photos and neither.

Combining good editing with simple shooting techniques such as using a lens hood, keeping your lens clean, and avoiding harsh midday light can help you achieve better results from the start.