The human eye is sensitive to colors. When examining an image, it perceives color balance, tonal range, and contrast. Sharpness is the stage that follows color in this process.
If some online photo enhancer tools are better than others, it is because they follow a color-oriented approach.
The Human Eye Perceives Color Before Detail
Scientifically speaking, the human visual system is more sensitive to brightness and color information than to detail.
The cone cells in the retina are specialized for detecting color and tone differences. This means:
Incorrect white balance → the photo feels “wrong”
Distorted color tones → the image appears artificial
Excessive sharpness → details are present but realism is lost
Therefore, increasing sharpness without correcting colors generally makes the photo harsher and more unpleasant rather than better.
2. Color Balance, Contrast, and Tone: The Essential Trio
A successful photo enhancement sequence generally proceeds as follows:
- White balance
- Hue and saturation
- Tone curve and contrast
- Last: sharpness and texture
The reason is simple:If the colors and tones are not right, no matter how sharp the details are, the brain will not label it as “natural.”
For example:
Yellowish skin tones → unhealthy appearance
Excessive contrast → loss of detail
Flat tones → lifeless photo
Correct colors already ensure details are perceived more clearly. So, most of the time, extra sharpness isn't even necessary.
3. Why Does Excessive Sharpness Feel Artificial?
Sharpening doesn't actually create new details; it increases the contrast between existing pixels. This leads to the following side effects:
- Halo (edge glare)
- Increased noise
- Plastic, grainy appearance on skin
- Distortion of natural transitions
These effects become much more noticeable when colors are not properly adjusted.
However, if colors and tones are correct, even lower levels of sharpness can make a photo feel sharp.
4. Which Colors Yield Better Results?
There is no “one right color” in photo enhancement, but some principles are universal:
- Natural skin tones (slightly warm, not overly orange)
- Low-saturation shadows
- Softly transitioning blues and greens (especially in nature and backgrounds)
- Avoid overly saturated reds (they cause detail loss)
The general rule is: When colors are “a notch less,” the photo generally looks “a notch better.”