Athentech Perfectly Clear Complete for Mac: The Complete Guide

Perfectly Clear Complete is an intelligent image auto-correction and enhancement software developed by Athentech Imaging. It is renowned for its advanced algorithms, capable of analyzing and correcting various issues in photos such as exposure, color, skin tones, sharpness, and noise with a single click, while also providing powerful manual fine-tuning tools, aimed at helping photographers and enthusiasts quickly achieve professional-grade, high-quality images. This guide will provide a detailed introduction to the core features and workflow of its Mac version.

I. Detailed Explanation of the Software’s Core Interface and Workspace

After launching the software, the main interface is divided into four main areas:

1. Top Menu Bar and Toolbar: Contains core commands such as file operations (open, save), editing mode switching, preset application, and batch processing entry points.
2. Left Panel – Preset Library and File Browser:
   • Preset Library: Displays various built-in and custom presets in thumbnail form, which can be applied to the current image with a single click.
   • File Browser: Used for navigating and selecting images from local folders, facilitating quick switching of processing targets.
3. Central Area – Image Preview and Comparison Views:
   • By default, it displays the processed result image. You can switch to “Split View” or “Side-by-Side View” using the view buttons above, making it convenient to check the differences before and after adjustments.

II. Complete Workflow: From Opening to Exporting

1. Create/Open a Project (Import Images)

Methods:

1. Launch the software. An “Open Image” button will appear in the central workspace; click it.
2. Or use the menu bar: File > Open Image....
3. Or use the keyboard shortcut: Command + O.
4. In the file picker that appears, navigate to the target image, select it, and click “Open.”

The software will automatically perform an initial intelligent analysis of the image and apply the default auto-correction.

2. Apply and Adjust Presets (Optional)

Location: The “Presets Library” panel on the left.

Method:

1. Scroll through the presets library and hover your mouse over a preset to preview its effect in real time in the main view.
2. Click any preset (e.g., “Portrait – Brighten & Smooth”) to apply it completely.
3. After applying a preset, the parameters in all the adjustment panels on the right will change accordingly, and you can make manual fine-tuning on that basis.

3. Manual Fine-Tuning

Location: The adjustment panel on the right.

Key Steps:

1. Adjust the auto-correction intensity: In the “Auto-Correction” tab, drag the “Correction Amount” slider to control the intensity of the global automatic adjustment.
2. Optimize exposure and color: Switch to the “Exposure & Color” tab.
   • Drag the “Brightness” and “Contrast” sliders to improve the basic tonal range.
   • Use the “Highlight Recovery” and “Shadow Recovery” sliders to restore detail in overly bright or dark areas.
   • Adjust “Temperature” and “Tint” to correct white balance.
   • Use “Color Vibrancy” instead of traditional saturation to enhance colors more intelligently without clipping.
3. Portrait optimization (if applicable): Switch to the “Skin Tone & Portrait Optimization” tab.
   • Enable “Auto Skin Tone” to let the software detect and optimize skin.
   • Use the “Skin Tone Brightness” and “Radiance” sliders to adjust skin appearance.
   • Use the “Eye Enhance” and “Teeth Whitening” sliders to brighten specific areas.
4. Enhance Details & Correct Lens Flaws: Switch to the “Details & Lens Correction” tab.
   • The “Sharpen” and “Noise Reduction” sliders are usually linked; it’s recommended to fine-tune them at 100% view.
   • Check “Chromatic Aberration Correction” and “Lens Distortion Correction” to automatically fix common optical issues.

4. Compare & View Results

Method:

• Use the shortcut D to quickly toggle between the “corrected” and “original” views.
• Click the “Side-by-Side View” icon in the toolbar above the preview image, and choose side-by-side or split view for precise comparison.
• Press F to view the image in fullscreen mode.

5. Save/Export the Final Image

Method:

1. After completing all adjustments, click the “Save” icon in the top toolbar, or use the menu File > Save Image..., or the shortcut Command + S.
2. In the save dialog that appears:
   • Choose the save location and file name.
   • Select the output format from the “Format” dropdown menu (e.g., JPEG, TIFF, PNG).
   • For JPEG, you can set the quality slider.
   • (Important) Check the “Include adjustments” option to save all adjustment steps as a dedicated file for the software (.clear), making it easy to re-edit later.
3. Click “Save” to complete the export.

III. Advanced Tips for Common Features

1. Create and use custom presets: After completing a set of adjustments you’re satisfied with, click the “+” icon at the top of the right panel, enter a name, and save. This preset will appear in the “My Presets” library on the left and can be used for batch processing other similar photos.
2. Local adjustments (brush and gradient filter): In the adjustment panel, some sliders have a “brush” icon on the right. Clicking it activates the local adjustment tool, allowing you to apply effects only to specific areas of the image by painting with the brush or dragging a gradient.
3. Batch processing: Click the “Batch” button in the top toolbar to enter the batch workspace. Drag multiple images in, select a preset or make general settings, then specify the output folder and format, and click “Process” to process all photos at once.
4. Use the histogram: View the histogram at the top of the “Exposure & Color” tab to ensure that pixel information isn’t heavily clustered at both ends when adjusting exposure (avoiding crushed blacks or blown highlights).

IV. Common Issues and Solutions

V. Keyboard Shortcuts Summary (Mac Version)