VFX Atlas
M 168 / 18307 Filters & Motionalgorithm output

Multi-Scale Retinex

filters & motion

Typeface · Victor Mono

Atlas demonstration: the free source photo and the computed Multi-Scale Retinex. This close-up captures the rough texture of a wooden beam and a dark metal hook in a dimly lit space. The processing recovers significant color information and surface detail from the deep shadows, revealing the organic grain of the wood.
Atlas demonstration: the free source photo and the computed Multi-Scale Retinex. This close-up captures the rough texture of a wooden beam and a dark metal hook in a dimly lit space. The processing recovers significant color information and surface detail from the deep shadows, revealing the organic grain of the wood.Image: Rusu George Lucian rgeorgelucian · CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons), processed for the AtlasView source ↗

Prompt

Apply Multi-Scale Retinex, lifting shadow detail and compressing broad illumination differences while strengthening local texture and contrast. Balance bright and dim regions, retain restrained natural colors, and reveal surface detail without flattening every contour or adding dramatic new lighting. Keep highlights controlled and edges clean. Keep the original subject and composition.

Paste it into LetzAI with your own image to apply the effect ↗

Identify

Shadow detail becomes clearer, while broad brightness differences shrink and local contrast grows.

Principle

At each scale, it subtracts the logarithm1 of a Gaussian-blurred image2 from the logarithm of the original image. It averages these differences across several blur scales to reduce illumination variation and emphasize local detail.

Try it out

Vary the blur scales and watch shadow textures, bright edges, and possible halos.

Classification

Calculated image processing result.

Further examples · 9 images

Multi-Scale Retinex, applied to “Le Roi Soleil (Unsplash)”
02 Multi-Scale Retinex, applied to “Le Roi Soleil (Unsplash)”A vast desert landscape features undulating sand dunes beneath a soft, hazy sky. The application of the algorithm dramatically lifts the dark exposure to show fine sand ripples and creates a balanced, high-key illumination across the vista.Nicolas Jehly le_photographe_francais (photo); processed for the Atlas · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Multi-Scale Retinex, applied to “Maafushi, Maldives (Unsplash)”
03 Multi-Scale Retinex, applied to “Maafushi, Maldives (Unsplash)”This overhead shot depicts a beach environment scattered with rocks and dark seaweed patches. The detail-enhancement process pulls out intense local contrast in the sand and reveals the complex textures of the tide-washed debris.Ahmed Saffu saffu (photo); processed for the Atlas · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Multi-Scale Retinex, applied to “Hayden hatch 2015 (Unsplash)”
04 Multi-Scale Retinex, applied to “Hayden hatch 2015 (Unsplash)”A monochrome landscape features a resilient tree perched on a rocky cliff overlooking a valley. The multi-scale filtering brings out sharp details in the distant mountains and cloud formations, resulting in a wide dynamic range across the scene.hayden hatch haydenhatch (photo); processed for the Atlas · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Multi-Scale Retinex, applied to “Tools in order (Unsplash)”
05 Multi-Scale Retinex, applied to “Tools in order (Unsplash)”A row of heavy metal wrenches hangs against a rough wooden wall in a workshop. The process reveals the intricate rust patterns and engraved numbers on the tools that were previously obscured by the dim lighting.Mikael Kristenson mikael_k (photo); processed for the Atlas · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Multi-Scale Retinex, applied to “Josh Nuttall 2017 (Unsplash)”
06 Multi-Scale Retinex, applied to “Josh Nuttall 2017 (Unsplash)”A bicycle is photographed in a minimalist style against a dark background. The application pulls the entire frame out of deep shadow, turning the pitch-black environment into a visible grey texture that reveals the bike's complete silhouette.Josh Nuttall jjnuttall (photo); processed for the Atlas · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Multi-Scale Retinex, applied to “Looking Out A Window (Unsplash)”
07 Multi-Scale Retinex, applied to “Looking Out A Window (Unsplash)”A lone figure sits in silhouette against a large window overlooking a modern office building. The contrast enhancement brightens the interior and clarifies the architectural grid of the background structures while maintaining the subject's outline.Alexandre Chambon goodspleen (photo); processed for the Atlas · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Multi-Scale Retinex, applied to “Layers. (Unsplash)”
08 Multi-Scale Retinex, applied to “Layers. (Unsplash)”An aerial view looks down upon a tropical shoreline where turquoise water meets pale sand. The logarithmic adjustments reveal submerged rock formations and subtle wave patterns that were previously obscured by low light levels.Syd Sujuaan sydsujuaan (photo); processed for the Atlas · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Multi-Scale Retinex, applied to “Strathcona vintage car (Unsplash)”
09 Multi-Scale Retinex, applied to “Strathcona vintage car (Unsplash)”A close-up view captures the headlights and chrome bumper of a vintage automobile. The transformation significantly clarifies the metallic reflections and the texture of the leaves scattered on the hood by reducing the overall dynamic range.Pravin Narsing pravinn (photo); processed for the Atlas · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

Sources