4.9. Despeckle

4.9.1. Overview

This filter is used to remove small defects due to dust, or scratches, on a scanned image, and also moiré effects on image scanned from a magazine. You should select isolated defects before applying this filter, in order to avoid unwanted changes in other areas of your image. The filter replaces each pixel with the median value of the pixels within the specified radius.

4.9.2. Activating the Filter

This filter is found in the main menu under FiltersEnhanceDespeckle….

4.9.3. Options

Figure 17.46. Despeckle filter options

“Despeckle” filter options

Preview

If checked, parameter setting results are interactively displayed in preview.

Median
Adaptive

Adapts the radius to image or selection content by analyzing the histogram of the region around the target pixel. The adapted radius will always be equal to or smaller than the specified radius.

Recursive

Repeats filter action which gets stronger.

Radius

Sets size of action window from 1 (3×3 pixels) to 20 (41×41). This window moves over the image, and the color in it is smoothed, so imperfections are removed.

Black level

Only include pixels brighter than the set value in the histogram (-1-255).

White level

Only include pixels darker than the set value in the histogram (0-256).