Banding in photos shot under artificial lighting appears as dark and light stripes across the frame, and it comes from lights that flicker faster than your eye can see. The best fix is to change your shutter speed or camera mode so the exposure matches the flicker. If the photo is already taken, careful editing can soften the bands, but prevention works much better.

How to Fix Banding in Photos Shot Under Artificial Lighting

Why Banding Happens

Many LED, fluorescent and screen based lights turn on and off or change brightness many times per second. A fast shutter catches only part of each cycle, so some rows of the sensor receive more light than others. Cameras with an electronic shutter or rolling readout show the stripes most clearly, especially in video and at fast speeds.

The flicker rate often relates to the mains frequency of your region, commonly 50 or 60 cycles per second, and the stripes can move from shot to shot.

Step by Step: Preventing Banding

  1. Slow the shutter. Try a speed that matches the flicker, such as 1/50 or 1/100 in regions with 50 cycle power, and 1/60 or 1/120 where power is 60 cycle. Treat these as general guidance, as lights differ.
  2. Switch to the mechanical shutter. If your camera has both, a mechanical or electronic first curtain shutter usually reduces banding.
  3. Use anti-flicker settings. Many cameras offer a flicker reduction or flicker detection feature that times the exposure to the light cycle.
  4. Check the video settings. Match your frame rate and shutter angle to the local power frequency.
  5. Take a burst. A short series of frames often includes a clean one, because flicker changes the pattern each time.
  6. Change the light. Turn off the problem lights if you can, or add steady light from another source, such as a continuous studio lamp or daylight from a window.
  7. Adjust your settings together. If a slower shutter overexposes the photo, lower the ISO, narrow the aperture or add a neutral density filter.

Reducing Banding in Editing

  • Use a graduated filter or a brush in your editor to even out brightness in the affected band, using small changes in exposure.
  • Lower contrast slightly in the area, since stripes look stronger with high contrast.
  • Try noise reduction on the affected area, which can soften fine bands.
  • In video, use a deflicker plug-in or a built-in deflicker effect.
  • If the band is severe, crop around it or plan a reshoot.

Where It Shows Up Most

  • Indoor sports halls and gyms.
  • Concerts and stage shows with LED walls.
  • Photos of television, computer or phone screens.
  • Offices, shops and street scenes with older tube lights.

FAQ

Why do I see banding in the photo but not with my eyes?

The flicker is too quick for people to notice, but a fast shutter and a sensor that reads in rows can capture it clearly.

Does a better camera remove banding?

Not by itself. Anti-flicker features and global shutter designs help, yet the shutter speed and the light source still matter most. Confirm what your model offers on the maker page.

The Short Version

Slow the shutter to match the flicker, use a mechanical shutter or anti-flicker setting, and shoot a burst. Editing can soften the stripes, but fixing the problem in camera is easier.