Photoshop: Remove Moire Effect - Here's how

A moiré effect can arise if different grids overlap. We'll explain step by step how to remove this moire effect in Photoshop: First remove the rainbow pattern and then the interference pattern.

Remove moiré effect with Photoshop: Step 1 - Remove rainbow pattern

The moiré effect usually leaves an unsightly rainbow pattern on the surface that literally attracts the eye. First remove this:

1. Open the image you want to remove from the moiré effect in Photoshop.
2. Now make a selection of the entire area that is affected by the moiré effect. It is best to use the polygon lasso tool or mask mode.
3. Now use your eyedropper tool [I] to select a color from your selection that reflects the color of the area to be processed. Simply click on an appropriate position within your selection.
4. Now create a new layer. To do this, use the "New Layer" button in the layer overview. Select the "Color" property under "Mode" in the dialog window. You can still rename the layer, but you should not change the rest of the settings.
5. Now fill the area by clicking on "Edit" and then on "Fill area ...". Alternatively, use the shortcut [SHIFT] + [F5]. Select "Foreground Color" for "Content". The area is then filled with the previously selected color.

Remove moiré effect with Photoshop: Step 2 - Remove interference pattern

Now follows the more complicated part: remove annoying interference patterns.

1. First, turn off the newly created layer by clicking on the eye icon to the left of the layer.
2. Make sure that the selection you made is preserved. If you no longer have a choice, hold down the [CTRL] key and click on the layer preview of the hidden layer.
3. Now create a new layer in "Color" mode. Proceed as described in the first paragraph.
4. Fill the layer as before, but this time select "White" as the content. The surface to be processed is now shown in black and white, but the patterns are still visible.
5. Again, make sure that your selection still exists or recreate it as just described. Now select the background layer as the active layer and create a new adjustment layer by clicking on "Layer", "New Adjustment Layer" and then on "Hue / Saturation". Alternatively, you can also use the menu on the level overview. Apply the settings. The setting level should now have a mask in the form of your selection.
6. Set the view of your picture to 100%. To do this, use the zoom tool [Z] and right-click on the image. Select "100%" here.
7. Now move the hue slider until the pattern has been completely removed. There are several positions where an acceptable result can be possible. The controller must be set individually for each picture.
8. You can then use the saturation control to try to eliminate the noise pattern further. In some cases, it may be that you only emphasize the disturbance pattern again via saturation. Then leave the controller at "0".
9. Finally, check that the colored area is at the top and activate it again. The area should now have regained its color.

We will show you in the next practical tip how you can make the background of an image transparent.