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Bilateral Filter

Apply bilateral filter for edge-preserving smoothing that reduces noise while maintaining image details

Click to upload file or drag and drop file here

Maximum file size: 20MB Supported formats: image/jpeg, image/png, image/webp, image/gif, image/bmp, image/tiff

Upload any image file (JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF, BMP, TIFF) to apply edge-preserving bilateral filtering

0.5 3 10

Controls spatial smoothing. Higher values smooth larger areas

5 30 100

Controls edge preservation. Higher values preserve fewer edges

3 5 15

Size of the bilateral filter kernel (must be odd). Larger kernels consider more neighbors

Number of bilateral filter passes. More iterations = stronger smoothing

Maintain fine details and textures while smoothing

Choose which color channels to process

Choose output format or keep original. PNG recommended for maximum quality

Output quality for lossy formats (JPEG, WebP). Higher = better quality but larger file size

Key Facts

Category
Design
Input Types
file, range, number, checkbox, select
Output Type
file
Sample Coverage
4
API Ready
Yes

Overview

The Bilateral Filter tool provides advanced image smoothing that effectively reduces noise while preserving sharp edges and fine details. Unlike standard blur filters that soften everything, this tool uses both spatial and intensity differences to maintain structural integrity, making it ideal for photography and digital image restoration.

When to Use

  • •Removing digital noise from high-ISO photographs without losing subject definition.
  • •Smoothing skin textures or surfaces while keeping facial features or object edges crisp.
  • •Pre-processing images to improve clarity before applying further artistic effects or analysis.

How It Works

  • •Upload your image file (JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF, BMP, or TIFF).
  • •Adjust the Spatial Sigma to control the area of smoothing and Range Sigma to define edge preservation sensitivity.
  • •Select your preferred output format and quality settings.
  • •Click process to generate the denoised, edge-preserved image.

Use Cases

Restoring old or grainy scanned photos by removing sensor noise while keeping text and lines sharp.
Enhancing portrait photography by smoothing skin tones without blurring eyes, hair, or jewelry.
Refining digital illustrations to remove pixelation artifacts while maintaining clean line art.

Examples

1. Denoising Night Photography

Amateur Photographer
Background
A low-light city shot taken with a high ISO setting resulted in significant grain across the sky and dark areas.
Problem
Standard noise reduction tools made the building edges look soft and blurry.
How to Use
Upload the JPEG file, set Spatial Sigma to 5.0, and keep Range Sigma at 30 to ensure the architectural edges remain sharp.
Example Config
spatialSigma: 5.0, rangeSigma: 30, preserveDetails: true
Outcome
The sky is smooth and free of grain, while the sharp lines of the buildings remain perfectly defined.

2. Portrait Skin Smoothing

Graphic Designer
Background
A close-up portrait had visible skin texture irregularities that needed to be softened for a professional look.
Problem
Traditional blurring ruined the clarity of the subject's eyes and eyelashes.
How to Use
Upload the portrait, select 'Luminance Only' for channel processing, and use a moderate kernel size to smooth skin while preserving high-contrast features.
Example Config
kernelSize: 7, preserveDetails: true, channels: 'luminance'
Outcome
The skin appears soft and even, while the eyes and hair retain their original sharpness and detail.

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FAQ

How does a bilateral filter differ from a standard Gaussian blur?

A standard blur averages pixels regardless of their color, which causes edges to become fuzzy. A bilateral filter considers both the distance between pixels and the difference in their intensity, allowing it to smooth flat areas while leaving sharp edges untouched.

What is the difference between Spatial Sigma and Range Sigma?

Spatial Sigma determines how far the filter looks for neighboring pixels to average; higher values create stronger smoothing. Range Sigma determines how much intensity difference is allowed between pixels; higher values preserve fewer edges.

Can I process multiple images at once?

No, this tool is designed to process one image file at a time to ensure high-quality, precise filtering results.

What is the recommended output format?

PNG is recommended if you want to maintain maximum image quality without compression artifacts, though JPEG and WebP are available for smaller file sizes.

What is the maximum file size I can upload?

You can upload image files up to 20MB in size.

API Documentation

Request Endpoint

POST /en/api/tools/image-bilateral-filter

Request Parameters

Parameter Name Type Required Description
imageFile file (Upload required) Yes Upload any image file (JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF, BMP, TIFF) to apply edge-preserving bilateral filtering
spatialSigma range No Controls spatial smoothing. Higher values smooth larger areas
rangeSigma range No Controls edge preservation. Higher values preserve fewer edges
kernelSize range No Size of the bilateral filter kernel (must be odd). Larger kernels consider more neighbors
iterations number No Number of bilateral filter passes. More iterations = stronger smoothing
preserveDetails checkbox No Maintain fine details and textures while smoothing
channels select No Choose which color channels to process
format select No Choose output format or keep original. PNG recommended for maximum quality
quality number No Output quality for lossy formats (JPEG, WebP). Higher = better quality but larger file size

File type parameters need to be uploaded first via POST /upload/image-bilateral-filter to get filePath, then pass filePath to the corresponding file field.

Response Format

{
  "filePath": "/public/processing/randomid.ext",
  "fileName": "output.ext",
  "contentType": "application/octet-stream",
  "size": 1024,
  "metadata": {
    "key": "value"
  },
  "error": "Error message (optional)",
  "message": "Notification message (optional)"
}
File: File

AI MCP Documentation

Add this tool to your MCP server configuration: 

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "elysiatools-image-bilateral-filter": {
      "name": "image-bilateral-filter",
      "description": "Apply bilateral filter for edge-preserving smoothing that reduces noise while maintaining image details",
      "baseUrl": "https://elysiatools.com/mcp/sse?toolId=image-bilateral-filter",
      "command": "",
      "args": [],
      "env": {},
      "isActive": true,
      "type": "sse"
    }
  }
}

You can chain multiple tools, e.g.: `https://elysiatools.com/mcp/sse?toolId=png-to-webp,jpg-to-webp,gif-to-webp`, max 20 tools.

Supports URL file links or Base64 encoding for file parameters.

If you encounter any issues, please contact us at [email protected]