PixelZap - Remove Hot Pixels from Digicam Images

Max Lyons has just released a new program called PixelZap which is designed to remove "hot pixels" from digital camera images caused by 1.) "Noisy" long-exposures and/or 2.) a defective or aging CCD.

When correcting hot pixels caused by long exposures, PixelZap is able to automatically detect, and correct hot pixels. When correcting hot pixels caused by a defective or aging CCD, PixelZap only corrects those pixels that are specified by the user.

One of PixelZap's most important features is its ability to save JPEG images in a "virtually lossless" fashion. PixelZap uses low-level JPEG compression/decompression techniques to resave a JPEG image with essentially no image quality degradation. This is particularly useful when correcting images with hot pixels due to a defective CCD -- only the specified pixels are changed, and the rest are left untouched.

PixelZap also includes a number of features designed specifically to work with the types of images created by current digital cameras. For example, it is able to retain EXIF data in the corrected image, and its default detection and correction algorithms search for hot pixels in 2x2 clusters. This 2x2 clustering occurs because of the way color information is recorded by digital cameras, and allows PixelZap to accurately detect problem pixels, and lowers the chance of PixelZap falsely detecting bright points in the image that are not caused by hot-pixels.

PixelZap is a command-line (DOS) program designed to be as small (approx. 130KB) and fast as possible. I have also released a Windows program (PZapGUI) for users who prefer a graphical version of the software. PZapGUI allows the user to process batches of images, and easily compare "before" and "after" pictures. PixelZap and PZapGUI are released as shareware, but will operate for an unlimited time without registration. However, the unregistered versions are limited to processing images no larger than 640x480.

PixelZap and PZapGUI can be downloaded here.