Question about the iNova noise reduction PS action

• should/can I adjust the levels before or after running the action or does the order not matter?
• I typically use the unsharp mask to sharpen, should I sharpen after using the action or will that increase the noise removed by the action?
• Is the action geared more toward Coolpix images? I have a 995 but would like to use it with my Olympus E-100 which I frequently use to take high ISO action shots

mikebigkid said:

Hi,

I'm relatively new to Photoshop. I've tried out the iNova ISO
noise reduction action with some relatively good results. My
questions are:

• should/can I adjust the levels before or after running the action

or does the order not matter?

• I typically use the unsharp mask to sharpen, should I sharpen

after using the action or will that increase the noise removed by
the action?

• Is the action geared more toward Coolpix images? I have a 995

but would like to use it with my Olympus E-100 which I frequently
use to take high ISO action shots

Thanks in advance,
Mike

Click to expand...

qtiet said:

mikebigkid said:

Hi,

I'm relatively new to Photoshop. I've tried out the iNova ISO
noise reduction action with some relatively good results. My
questions are:

• should/can I adjust the levels before or after running the action

or does the order not matter?

• I typically use the unsharp mask to sharpen, should I sharpen

after using the action or will that increase the noise removed by
the action?

• Is the action geared more toward Coolpix images? I have a 995

but would like to use it with my Olympus E-100 which I frequently
use to take high ISO action shots

Thanks in advance,
Mike

Click to expand...

Mike, try Quantum Mechanic Plugin. I found it is the best colour
noise reduction around. I have used it and never looked back.

http://www.camerabits.com/

qtiet.

Click to expand...

Mathias Vejerslev said:

Now to your questions:

I´d think, if Peters action is anything like my own, that you
should do your levels adjustments prior to running the action.
Sharpening would probably be best applied before also.

= Run the denoiser as the last editing step.

Mathias

qtiet said:

mikebigkid said:

Hi,

I'm relatively new to Photoshop. I've tried out the iNova ISO
noise reduction action with some relatively good results. My
questions are:

• should/can I adjust the levels before or after running the action

or does the order not matter?

• I typically use the unsharp mask to sharpen, should I sharpen

after using the action or will that increase the noise removed by
the action?

• Is the action geared more toward Coolpix images? I have a 995

but would like to use it with my Olympus E-100 which I frequently
use to take high ISO action shots

Thanks in advance,
Mike

Click to expand...

Mike, try Quantum Mechanic Plugin. I found it is the best colour
noise reduction around. I have used it and never looked back.

http://www.camerabits.com/

qtiet.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

qtiet said:

Mathias Vejerslev said:

Now to your questions:

I´d think, if Peters action is anything like my own, that you
should do your levels adjustments prior to running the action.
Sharpening would probably be best applied before also.

= Run the denoiser as the last editing step.

Mathias

qtiet said:

mikebigkid said:

Hi,

I'm relatively new to Photoshop. I've tried out the iNova ISO
noise reduction action with some relatively good results. My
questions are:

• should/can I adjust the levels before or after running the action

or does the order not matter?

• I typically use the unsharp mask to sharpen, should I sharpen

after using the action or will that increase the noise removed by
the action?

• Is the action geared more toward Coolpix images? I have a 995

but would like to use it with my Olympus E-100 which I frequently
use to take high ISO action shots

Thanks in advance,
Mike

Click to expand...

Mike, try Quantum Mechanic Plugin. I found it is the best colour
noise reduction around. I have used it and never looked back.

http://www.camerabits.com/

qtiet.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

I have seen a few noise reduction actions in the past. I have
understand the steps these actions take, but all of them result in
lost of colour. However, Quantum Mechanic maintain the colour
superbly. Does anyone know how Quantum Mechanic does it? Although
it said to have worked with Lab colour space as well.

qtiet.

Click to expand...

qtiet said:

I will have to take my words back. I have just downloaded Peter's
action and wow, it was good. Compared to Quantum Mechanic, Peter's
action leave a slightly brighter image compare to the original,
while Quantum Mechanic don't. The action also result in a more
blurrier image compared to Quantum Mechanic. Some may like it that
way. The Action is free, who is complaining.

I will have to study his action and learn from him.

qtiet.

Click to expand...

qtiet said:

Haha, it is me again.

I have now compare the mention two noise reduction carefully. Just
look at the image below.



It seems that Peter's action (INova) introduced more dark noise in
the yellow area, and as I have mention previously, slightly more
blurry.

You can use the zoom in (on right clicking the pic) if you have IE6
to look at it closely. Otherwise you have to download it and use
your favourite viewer to zoom into it.

qtiet

Click to expand...

qtiet said:

jimmy, i have visited your site and downloaded the zip pack. I
have used the original photo and run it through Quantum Mechanic.
I did not lost the red colour as much as you have shown. I run it
again with a red radius set up to maximum of 16. Indeed, as
expected some red colour is lost. However, radius of 16 is over
kill. I set it to a radius of 6 and the result is much better. I
think you tried to prove a point. Quantum Mechanic does show some
colour lost, but not that apparent when use it in moderation.

qtiet.

Click to expand...

jimmy said:

The point was to remove as much noice as possible, taking no
compromises, and to obtain that result i used max. settings in each
technique.

In fact:

most people seem to prefer a "degraded" noiseless pic to a detailed
one with diminished, but still aparent noise. Quantum mechanic is
no way the best solution, might be the most expensive one though. I
have no experience in quantum mechanic and high end slr's. They
could exhibit different noise patterns but imho, for consumer
digital it can be left alone.

Click to expand...

jimmy said:

Hy,

a little while back i made a comparison for our site, regarding
noise "removing" actions. It's on our tricks&tips page and there is
an excellent freebie among them.

BTW, Quantum Mechanic does remove color... (. It can be seen in
the cars tallight in the article.

happy shooting and be well,

Jimmy
http://www.belgiumdigital.com

Click to expand...

jimmy said:

The point was to remove as much noice as possible, taking no
compromises, and to obtain that result i used max. settings in each
technique.

In fact:

most people seem to prefer a "degraded" noiseless pic to a detailed
one with diminished, but still aparent noise. Quantum mechanic is
no way the best solution, might be the most expensive one though. I
have no experience in quantum mechanic and high end slr's. They
could exhibit different noise patterns but imho, for consumer
digital it can be left alone.

Click to expand...

Mathias Vejerslev said:

http://www.2morrow.dk/75ppi/coolpix/actions/

Although tweaked for minimum loss of colour, the set features an
extra Colour restore action that will bring back any loss of
colour.

Regards

Mathias

qtiet said:

jimmy, i have visited your site and downloaded the zip pack. I
have used the original photo and run it through Quantum Mechanic.
I did not lost the red colour as much as you have shown. I run it
again with a red radius set up to maximum of 16. Indeed, as
expected some red colour is lost. However, radius of 16 is over
kill. I set it to a radius of 6 and the result is much better. I
think you tried to prove a point. Quantum Mechanic does show some
colour lost, but not that apparent when use it in moderation.

qtiet.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

John Davis said:

Mathias' digital_deluxe
http://www.2morrow.dk/75ppi/coolpix/actions/#denoise

Larry Lueck's e-10
http://netnet.net/~llueck/NR.htm
Note: previous Lueck's version. His current version is awfully slow

and jes:
http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/coolato/digitaltechniques.html

and even though I have not reached a final conclusion I think
Mathias has the edge - excellent noise reduction, detail
preservation and no color change.

John

Mathias Vejerslev said:

http://www.2morrow.dk/75ppi/coolpix/actions/

Although tweaked for minimum loss of colour, the set features an
extra Colour restore action that will bring back any loss of
colour.

Regards

Mathias

qtiet said:

jimmy, i have visited your site and downloaded the zip pack. I
have used the original photo and run it through Quantum Mechanic.
I did not lost the red colour as much as you have shown. I run it
again with a red radius set up to maximum of 16. Indeed, as
expected some red colour is lost. However, radius of 16 is over
kill. I set it to a radius of 6 and the result is much better. I
think you tried to prove a point. Quantum Mechanic does show some
colour lost, but not that apparent when use it in moderation.

qtiet.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Click to expand...