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Noise Reduction Software

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ericktodd

ericktodd

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Ok so it seems like for a while still yet noise is going to be an issue for me with my 4/3 system, especially since I always shoot RAW.

But unlike many other cameras I still have detail so I have come to the conclusion that maybe its time to invest in a better noise reduction software.

There are SO many that I was hoping you might be able to recommend a couple that would be a marked improvement over what I already have in Lightroom and Photoshop.

Specifically in the balance between reduction and maintaining detail.

I heard good things about Dfine, NeatImage and noise ninja.

Thanks.

p.s. I am on a Mac if that matters
 
erick4x4 said:
There are SO many that I was hoping you might be able to recommend a
couple that would be a marked improvement over what I already have in
Lightroom and Photoshop.

Specifically in the balance between reduction and maintaining detail.

I heard good things about Dfine, NeatImage and noise ninja.
Click to expand...
I have started to use Noiseware Pro as a plug-in via Photoshop CS3 on my Macbook. I am impressed. Noise is reduced without any loss of detail.

--
Regards,
Tony

--------
“To see a world in a grain of sand, and a heaven in a wild flower,

Hold infinity in the palm of your hand, and eternity in an hour.” – William Blake –
--------



http://www.flickr.com/photos/26154011@N07/
 
But there are others out there that I'm sure are good too. Just not the one built into Photoshop
--
Make it a Great day!
 
--
-Anthony
 
I found some review of related software on Internet.
Hope some of this info can help you out.
I really dont think its posible to point out one winner here.

http://www.michaelalmond.com/Articles/noise.htm

I use Noiceware pro, and im pleased to the point that I no longer bother about noice issues. Removing noice is just a few minutes more when doing PP so not really an issue in the workflow.

--
Steen
 
AFAIK Neat Image (NI) works better than Noise Ninja (NN) because you have total control on the amount of noise reduction/sharpening at each frequency. Profiling is more dynamic too.

Ironically I use NN 99% of the time because it's shipped with Bibble, but when I have a demanding image iload it up on PS CS4 and pass it trough NI.
Unfortunately none of these can help with banding...
--
Duarte Bruno
 
I like Topaz Denoise. I previously used Neat Image, but to be fair I doubt if it was the latest version.
 
I vote for Noise Ninja as it integrates well with Apple Aperture. Haven't really used others to compare, but it seems to do a fine job of retaining detail and has just enough control without all that extra control being useless or overwhelming.
  • Scott
--
http://www.lightriverphoto.com
 
While I find LR2 adequate for most shots, I've had to use NeatImage for some ISO 1600 shots, which is a bit of a hassle. I'd be interested in a plugin for LR if the price was right (ie: free or nearly free)

--
Shawn Wright
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zuikowesty/
 
I have both Neat Image and Noise Ninja. I think Noise Ninja works great for 90% of the images I use noise reduction on. However, if I might need to get a little more 'dirty' with the efforts, I use Neat Image.

I love Lightroom 2... I think it's absolutely fabulous. However, I wouldn't use the noise reduction in it on anything other than the most basic, minimal levels.

--
Scott
 
My favorite (from very recently) is Topaz Denoise, from Topaz Labs (http: w w w.topazlabs.com/).

It has a great degree of user control; you can balance at will, from within the plug-in, noise reduction and contrast. Even at default settings, a degree of detail is maintained than in other software I tried.

It is a PS plug-in. Unfortunately, it only runs in MacOS 10.5 (Leopard), not in 10.4 (Tiger). I have no idea about Linux or other OS

The downside is that it is very heavy on the computer, not a blinding fast plug-in.
Oh, and it works in PS layers, to increase the degree of user control.
There is a trial version.
--
Antonio

http://ferrer.smugmug.com/
 
dotweb said:
I found some review of related software on Internet.
Hope some of this info can help you out.
I really dont think its posible to point out one winner here.

http://www.michaelalmond.com/Articles/noise.htm

I use Noiceware pro, and im pleased to the point that I no longer
bother about noice issues. Removing noice is just a few minutes more
when doing PP so not really an issue in the workflow.
Click to expand...
Though given how the review has not been modified since 2005, I suspect it may not reflect the behavior of the current version of each of the software reviewed.
 
I also do like noiseware. Try to apply noise reduction directly on the channels and not on the RGB channel. I usally look at the channel with most noise and apply noise reduction on it. There are presets in noiseware as landscape etc.. and they give a good results.

Some articles about noise and channels
http://www.libraw.org/articles/channel-noise-and-raw-converters.html

Another method for reducing noise is explain in this article and was discussed in dpreview:
http://www.guillermoluijk.com/article/nonoise/index_en.htm

I never managed to work with his program but I have used the method by mr Juan Trujillo with success, you find the link in the above article.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31941466@N08/
 
TonyinJapan said:
erick4x4 said:
There are SO many that I was hoping you might be able to recommend a
couple that would be a marked improvement over what I already have in
Lightroom and Photoshop.

Specifically in the balance between reduction and maintaining detail.

I heard good things about Dfine, NeatImage and noise ninja.
Click to expand...
I have started to use Noiseware Pro as a plug-in via Photoshop CS3 on
my Macbook. I am impressed. Noise is reduced without any loss of
detail.
Click to expand...
i have experience with dfine, noise ninja, neat image but have been using Noiseware Pro for some weeks. IMO it really is the best NR tool around and does remove noise without adversely affecting detail, or at least less than anything else ive tried, and ive tried a lot !

http://www.imagenomic.com/nwpg.aspx

apparently the plugin has its own 'self learning technology'

http://www.imagenomic.com/nwpg.aspx?f=ip

--
ʎǝlıɹ

plɹoʍ ǝɥʇ ɟo doʇ uo ǝɹɐ ǝʍ 'ɐılɐɹʇsnɐ uı
 
Full test http://www.michaelalmond.com/Articles/noise.htm

Conclusion from Michael Almond

The latest versions of Noise Ninja and Neat Image just keep getting better, and newcomer Noiseware is close to them. Grain Surgery is now falling behind. Picture Cooler produced very good results too. Noise reduction techniques are obviously continuing to be improved upon. The other good news is that these tools are becoming available for Mac users too.

My recommendations are:

1. Noise Ninja
2. Neat Image
3. Picture Cooler (PC-only) freeware http://www.focusforensic.shorturl.com/
 
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