To remove sun haze in Lightroom, the primary tool you'll use is the Dehaze slider located in the Develop module.
Using the Dehaze Slider to Combat Haze
Lightroom's Dehaze slider is specifically designed to reduce atmospheric haze and fog, which includes the effect of sun haze that can wash out details and contrast.
Here's how to use it:
- Open the image you want to edit in the Develop module in Lightroom Classic or access the Edit panel in Lightroom (Cloud-based).
- Navigate to the Basic panel. This is usually the first panel you see in the Develop module.
- Look for the Effects section (in newer versions, Dehaze is often in the Basic panel or a dedicated Effects panel, but the reference points to the Basic panel). Find the Dehaze slider.
- Drag this slider to the right to reduce the haze in the scene. Moving the slider to the right (positive values) increases contrast and clarity by counteracting the scattering of light caused by haze.
Important Considerations When Using Dehaze:
- Start Gradually: Don't immediately drag the slider all the way to the right. Haze removal can sometimes lead to over-saturation or unwanted contrast changes. Start with a moderate adjustment and fine-tune.
- Monitor Other Settings: Increasing Dehaze can affect other aspects of your image, particularly Saturation and Contrast. You might need to adjust these sliders, or Vibrance, to achieve a balanced look.
- Local Adjustments: For very specific areas of haze (e.g., haze only visible near the sun or in a certain part of the sky), consider using a Graduated Filter, Radial Filter, or the Adjustment Brush and applying the Dehaze adjustment locally. This gives you more control than applying it globally to the entire image.
- Negative Dehaze: Dragging the slider to the left (negative values) actually adds haze, which can be used creatively to soften images or simulate fog.
By effectively using the Dehaze slider, you can significantly reduce the washed-out appearance caused by sun haze and bring back detail, contrast, and color to your photos.
