How to restore or fix old blurry photos on a windows pc?

Using LibRaw combined with Darktable on Windows is an excellent and powerful approach for fixing old blurry photos, especially if those photos are scanned images or raw files. Here's an overview of how this combo works and why it can be effective:

What are LibRaw and Darktable?

LibRaw:

It’s a library that handles raw image files. It helps you load and process these images in a way that retains maximum quality.

Darktable:

It’s a free, professional-grade photo editing software similar to Adobe Lightroom. It offers advanced editing tools for raw images, including sharpening, noise reduction, and enhancement features.

How they work together for fixing old blurry photos on Windows PC

1. Import your scanned photos:

If your old photos are scanned as raw images , LibRaw can open them directly.

If your scans are in common formats like JPEG or PNG, you can still process them in Darktable, but LibRaw is mainly for raw formats.

2. Edit and enhance in Darktable:

Darktable uses LibRaw to load raw images, giving you access to high-quality editing tools.

You can apply sharpening, adjust contrast, brightness, and reduce noise.

Darktable’s sharpening modules (like “Shaping,” “Contrast equalizer,” or “Sharpen”) are very effective at improving detail and clarity.

Use masking tools to selectively sharpen areas that need it most, avoiding noise amplification.

3. Refine the photo:

Besides sharpening, you can tweak levels, color correction, and reduce artifacts.

Use denoise modules if the scan has grainy or noisy areas.

4. Export the improved photo:

Once satisfied, export the image as a high-quality JPEG, PNG, or TIFF.