Learn How To Reduce Red-Eye Effect in Your Digital Camera

Everyone has seen that dreaded demon-eye effect that occurs when the camera flash bounces off the eye of a person or pet.  It goes without saying that any otherwise wonderful picture can be ruined by this. The phenomenon is called red-eye and it is caused when the pupil of the subject’s eye is wide open and the light from the camera’s flash reflects off the subjects retina. For people, the color ends up red; for pets the color is often green. 

On the whole, a lot of photo editing programs include a red-eye correction filter, but this option may prevent your photograph subject from appearing natural. These filters also do not work on the green effect produced in a pet’s eyes. Photo stores sell pens that are used to clear up red-eye, but again they are not always natural-looking and do not work on the green. Consequently, the best idea is to prevent the demon-eye effect from the very beginning.

Generally, digital cameras with red-eye reduction feature which can be either turned off or on, are not hard to find. It should be noted that this option should be left on in all circumstances other than direct sunlight. The red-eye reduction feature works by flashing a short burst of light at your subject before you snap the picture. Therefore, this burst of light causes the subject’s pupil to close and makes it less likely for the camera’s flash to reflect off the retina, thus, reducing a red-eye effect.

Another advice is not to direct the flash of your camera on your subject’s eyes. Bouncing the flash off a nearby wall or other object will soften its effect and reduce the chances of this unwanted malady. Between bouncing the flash and using your digital camera’s red-eye reduction feature, your little angel, whether human or animal, will have eyes that don’t glow.