Embodiments include a computer implemented method of processing images of material surfaces to identify defects on the imaged material surface, the method including training a neural network to generate reduced-defect versions of training images of material surfaces; acquiring an image of a subject material surface; inputting the acquired image to the neural network to generate a reduced-defect version of the acquired image; and comparing the reduced-defect version of the acquired image with the acquired image to identify differences. Defects on the subject material surface at locations of the identified differences are identifiable.