Red Eye Tool

The Red Eye Tool is a simple yet highly effective tool designed specifically to remove the red-eye effect caused by camera flashes reflecting off the retina. With a single click on each eye, the tool automatically detects and corrects the red coloration.

Red-eye occurs when a flash is too close to the camera lens, causing light to reflect off the blood vessels in the back of the eye. The Red Eye Tool replaces the red tint with a natural dark color, preserving the highlight that gives eyes their natural sparkle.

Where to Find It

The Red Eye Tool is nested under the Spot Healing Brush Tool (band-aid icon) in the toolbar. Click and hold the band-aid icon, then select Red Eye Tool from the flyout. Press Shift+J repeatedly to cycle through the group.

How to Use

• Zoom in on the eyes: Use the Zoom Tool (Z) or Ctrl++ (Cmd++) to zoom into the subject's face for precise targeting.
• Select the Red Eye Tool: Press Shift+J until the Red Eye Tool is active, or select it from the toolbar flyout.
• Click on the red area: Simply click on the red portion of the eye. Photoshop automatically detects the red and replaces it with a natural dark tone.
• Adjust settings if needed: If the correction doesn't look right, undo (Ctrl+Z) and adjust the Pupil Size and Darken Amount in the Options bar before clicking again.
• Repeat for the other eye: Click on the other eye to correct it as well. The tool remembers your settings.

Settings & Options

• Pupil Size: Sets the radius of the area to be corrected (as a percentage of the eye). Increase it if the correction misses the red edges; decrease it to avoid darkening the iris.
• Darken Amount: Controls how dark the correction will be. A higher value produces a darker pupil; a lower value is more subtle.

Pro Tips

• If the Red Eye Tool doesn't fully correct the red, try clicking directly on the center of the red area rather than the edges.
• For stubborn cases where the tool doesn't work well (e.g., animal eyes that reflect yellow or green), use the Color Replacement Tool or a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer targeted to the red channel.
• Always zoom to at least 200% when working on eyes to ensure precise clicks and accurate results.

Common Mistakes

• Clicking outside the red area: The tool only works when clicked directly on the red reflection. Clicking on the iris or white of the eye may darken those areas incorrectly.
• Over-darkening: Setting the Darken Amount too high can make the eyes look unnatural and hollow. A value of 50–70% is usually sufficient.