Whats the best noise reduction software/plugin?

Noise Ninja? NeatImage? Something else? Or all they all compatible.

It's pretty much a matter of personal preference. I have Neat Image and Noiseware. Both are good. Noiseware is a little faster. I've never used Noise Ninja but have heard it is also very good.

All of them work.

I have downloaded and tested many of them.

For me the best twoi were Neat Image and Noise Ninja. I ended up with Neat image becuase it seemed to be the most intutive for me. In other words, it did a very good job, the controls gave me a wide range of ways to reduce noise and sharpen and finally using it became second nature to me almost immediately.

My second choice was Noise Ninja. It seemd more powerful, but not as user friendly for ME---- others would probably like it and hate Neat Image.

The free trials don't cost anything--- I'd download them and play with them.

Good Luck,
Rolando

Neat Image, I agree 100% with Rolando. Just don't over do it....

John

I've used Neat Image for ages now and am so familiar with the interface, I'm unlikely to change unless some big change is made in NR engines - ie. maintaining perfect detail while reducing noise. As it is, none do that now although you can help out any of these programs by creating masks so that NR is directed toward where the noise is in an image. See the last link here.

That said, if starting out new I'd do a thorough trial of all of the below, based on what I've seen from various posters using them. I'd esp. take a hard look at Noiseware after seeing the masking capabilities in Portraiture made by the same company. The worst possible use of any of them is to just do an overdone global treatment - ie 'the plastic' look. All are capable of it.

Neat Image

http://www.neatimage.com/index.html

Noise Ninja

http://www.picturecode.com/

Noiseware

http://www.imagenomic.com/

Grain surgery

http://www.visinf.com/

CS2 Noise Reduction

http://www.photoshopuser.com/photoshopcs2.html
Scroll to PHOTOSHOP CS2 TUTORIALS & VIDEO TIPS
http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/photoshop/ss/cs2reducenoise.htm
http://www.rickbakerimages.com/photography_advice/reducing_noise_photoshop.html

Digital Noise Reduction

http://www.thelightsrightstudio.com/TLRDigitalNoiseReduction.htm

--
Kent

http://www.pbase.com/kentc
For prior discussions on most questions:
http://porg.4t.com/KentC.html
or d/l 'archives' at:
http://www.atncentral.com

Last I tested things a couple months back, Noiseware won for me hands down. (And their free community edition is nice.)

Seem to recall reading more recent formal noise reduction reviews that liked it most, too, but can't find them immediately.

used neat image for years, and just made the switch over to noiseware. i think it does a great job!

janetg

Have been useing Grain Surgery for the last couple of years. Superb program.

I use noiseware and drive a Ford.

llenoir said:

I use noiseware and drive a Ford.

Click to expand...

Kudos for Noiseware ... sorry about the Ford! HA!

wiz

Whether you choose Neat Image, Noiseware or NoiseNinja the important thing is to go through the learning curve so that you get the most out of the program. All three are good and as previous posters have said it is personal preference. Which ever you choose you will be happy with it if you take the time and trouble to learn to use it correctly.

Is there a significant difference between the 8 bit and 16 bit processing? Am an amateur and have only free version of Neat Image and (occasional) full version of Picture Cooler.

Gary Borba