noise reduction software

[Elaine]

All I know about is Noise Ninja and Neat Image. Are there others worth looking at? Are there real differences between these two programs, or just personal preference type stuff? Does it make a difference that I only have PSE 5? I think either one can be used stand-alone and not have to be combined with Photoshop.

Anyway...just looking and wondering.

[arodney]

Noiseware is absolutely outstanding. Lots of geek buttons and controls if you're into that OR the auto presets do the job just fine IMHO.

[Duffy Pratt]

I'm a big fan of Noiseware as well. This is one of those areas where you pretty much can't go wrong between the big three, and the price differences are negligible. All three have trial downloads, so if you want, you can see which interface you like the best. I downloaded noiseware for free, tried it, bought it, and have never looked back. I know people who did the same with Neat Image and Noise Ninja.

Duffy

[Elaine]

Great! Thanks for the input! :thumb

[pathfinder]

I have Noiseware and Neat Image on my computer, and find myself using Noiseware far more often in automatic pilot. I still do not fully understand all the controls, dial and sliders in some of of the various anti-noise programs.

I strongly recommend that you use your noise removal software on a layer - hit ctrl-J to make a copy of your image and do the noise removal on that layer. You can then paint out areas where you do not need or want noise removal, and can them blend the Opacity slider to get the final adjustment of your image. You can also do selections on a layer before running your noise software as well.

This helps keep the sharp edges of the parts of your image where shape is more important than a little noise, while allowing you to lose all the noise in a smooth even area like the sky.

[Elaine]

I have Noiseware and Neat Image on my computer, and find myself using Noiseware far more often in automatic pilot. I still do not fully understand all the controls, dial and sliders in some of of the various anti-noise programs.

I strongly recommend that you use your noise removal software on a layer - hit ctrl-J to make a copy of your image and do the noise removal on that layer. You can then paint out areas where you do not need or want noise removal, and can them blend the Opacity slider to get the final adjustment of your image. You can also do selections on a layer before running your noise software as well.

This helps keep the sharp edges of the parts of your image where shape is more important than a little noise, while allowing you to lose all the noise in a smooth even area like the sky.

Thanks for the tip! I've downloaded a trial version of Noiseware, and I'm wondering when in the process it's recommended to do a noise reduction layer...at the very end, at the beginning before doing all the curves adjustments and tweaks, before or after USM???

[arodney]

Thanks for the tip! I've downloaded a trial version of Noiseware, and I'm wondering when in the process it's recommended to do a noise reduction layer...at the very end, at the beginning before doing all the curves adjustments and tweaks, before or after USM???

Do it first, prior to capture sharpening.

[Elaine]

Do it first, prior to capture sharpening.

Oh boy...I had to go look up what "capture sharpening" was! The last I knew, no sharpening was to be introduced until the very end. Seems times have changed!

Thanks for the info...I've got a lot of reading to do!

[arodney]

Oh boy...I had to go look up what "capture sharpening" was! The last I knew, no sharpening was to be introduced until the very end. Seems times have changed!

Thanks for the info...I've got a lot of reading to do!

Start here:

http://www.creativepro.com/story/feature/20357.html

[kriyababaji]

Hello

I have used them all - for me nothing is easier or more effective than "Nik Define". Awesome product, it practically illiminates noise with no lose of detail!

Consider a trial.

Shane

[Icebear]

Start here:

http://www.creativepro.com/story/feature/20357.html

Andrew, do you have an opinion on Lightroom's Print Sharpening options?

[arodney]

Andrew, do you have an opinion on Lightroom's Print Sharpening options?

Capture sharpening (new in 1.2) is quite good and based on the work of Fraser.

There's no output sharpening (yet...)

[davidweaver]

Noiseware Pro is now
best noise managment software
for all my workflows