Looking for a free Ai denoiser program

[skyglider]

Looking for a free Ai image denoiser program.

The pictures I normally take (mostly on vacations) have decent lighting, and using ETTR for every shot, noise reduction/removal is not needed.

But my latest project is to restore some old photos. Not many, maybe about 10 or so. When I scanned a couple of them, there is substantial noise/grain. So it would be nice to reduce the noise/grain using an Ai denoiser program.

Because of the limited quantity of photos I want to restore, I'm looking for a free Ai denoiser program. Would like one that runs locally and does not require uploading pictures online.

The scanned photos can be in the TIF or JPG formats. My Win11 PC is running an Intel Core Ultra 7, 265K CPU with integrated graphics so the software needs to work with that. It's OK if the denoise takes many minutes to complete.

Anyone with experience using a free Ai denoiser program have a suggestion?

 

[brn]

I'd be careful with "AI" claims for free software. I'd be careful with paid software. You may want to just use free version from legitimate companies. Neat Image is one I use (and paid for). There are limitations on the free version, but the limitations might not be a big deal for you.

 

[BobKnDP]

I've seen free denoising software, and paid AI denoising software.

I'm unaware of any free AI denoising software that isn't online only.

Faststone (widely used viewing software) has a denoising capability, but it's not AI. Resolution suffers. (Open an image. Right click. Select Colors. There you are.)

I wonder how many digital photogs refuse to own at least one AI software? My indoor ambient light shots usually want some noise reduction (Canon R5, usually with the 24-105 f/4 L.)

 

[drj3]

I have two AI programs for noise/sharpening. One was free with my camera software (requires a separate GPU) and DXO PL8 (not free - will run very slowly without a GPU) however, both only work with RAW files. They use non-AI algorithms for Tiff and jpeg files. Whether the software is free or paid, make sure that it will work with non-RAW files.

 

[arrow501]

Did you scan the photos or negatives? Are the original images noisy? What settings did you use to scan the images?

 

[skyglider]

I'd be careful with "AI" claims for free software. I'd be careful with paid software. You may want to just use free version from legitimate companies. Neat Image is one I use (and paid for). There are limitations on the free version, but the limitations might not be a big deal for you.

Good advice. Must be careful when it comes to security. Will put Neat Image on my list. Thanks.

 

[skyglider]

I've seen free denoising software, and paid AI denoising software.

I'm unaware of any free AI denoising software that isn't online only.

Faststone (widely used viewing software) has a denoising capability, but it's not AI. Resolution suffers. (Open an image. Right click. Select Colors. There you are.)

I wonder how many digital photogs refuse to own at least one AI software? My indoor ambient light shots usually want some noise reduction (Canon R5, usually with the 24-105 f/4 L.)

Although I prefer a local denoise software, trying an online version may be in the cards.

Faststone does a terrible job of denoising (I just tried it) as resolution suffers as you mentioned.

No need for my use to buy a denoise software for limited amount of scanned photos.

Thanks.

 

[skyglider]

I have two AI programs for noise/sharpening. One was free with my camera software (requires a separate GPU) and DXO PL8 (not free - will run very slowly without a GPU) however, both only work with RAW files. They use non-AI algorithms for Tiff and jpeg files. Whether the software is free or paid, make sure that it will work with non-RAW files.

Yes, I have noticed that some Ai denoise software will only work on raw files.

Thanks.

 

[skyglider]

Did you scan the photos or negatives? Are the original images noisy? What settings did you use to scan the images?

I'm scanning paper photos, no negatives. Original images are noisy/grainy.

Scanning images at 300 dpi, color, with no scanning enhancements to the photos. Will do all image enhancements in post.

Thanks.

 

[skyglider]

I'd be careful with "AI" claims for free software. I'd be careful with paid software. You may want to just use free version from legitimate companies. Neat Image is one I use (and paid for). There are limitations on the free version, but the limitations might not be a big deal for you.

Good advice. Must be careful when it comes to security. Will put Neat Image on my list. Thanks.

brn,

I downloaded Neat Image via the link you provided, and installed it.

It denoised the image I tried it on fine. Not as good as the samples I've seen for Topaz and LR denoisers but good enough for my purpose. Also the sharpness was not as good as the Topaz and LR denoisers but I improved the sharpness in Photoshop and it too is good enough for my purpose. BTW, the Neat Image denoise on my integrated graphics PC was instant.

For lurkers, the free demo version of Neat Image can save the the image in the JPG format with good quality. It cannot save in the TIF or other lossless format but the quality of the JPG save is fine.

I'll keep an eye open for a free "Ai" denoiser but using Neat Image will be fine for my current scanned photos project.

So thanks for your tip.....

 

[SC489]

Looking for a free Ai image denoiser program.

The pictures I normally take (mostly on vacations) have decent lighting, and using ETTR for every shot, noise reduction/removal is not needed.

But my latest project is to restore some old photos. Not many, maybe about 10 or so. When I scanned a couple of them, there is substantial noise/grain. So it would be nice to reduce the noise/grain using an Ai denoiser program.

Because of the limited quantity of photos I want to restore, I'm looking for a free Ai denoiser program. Would like one that runs locally and does not require uploading pictures online.

The scanned photos can be in the TIF or JPG formats. My Win11 PC is running an Intel Core Ultra 7, 265K CPU with integrated graphics so the software needs to work with that. It's OK if the denoise takes many minutes to complete.

Anyone with experience using a free Ai denoiser program have a suggestion?

It will be a denoising algorithm and nothing to do with Artificial Idiots!

 

[hampshirejohn]

If you only have a few to do, is it worth considering free trial versions of any of paid for software. You’d need all the scans done beforehand, and it may put you under some time pressure, but it’s a route I’d consider

 

[brn]

I'd be careful with "AI" claims for free software. I'd be careful with paid software. You may want to just use free version from legitimate companies. Neat Image is one I use (and paid for). There are limitations on the free version, but the limitations might not be a big deal for you.

Good advice. Must be careful when it comes to security. Will put Neat Image on my list. Thanks.

brn,

I downloaded Neat Image via the link you provided, and installed it.

It denoised the image I tried it on fine. Not as good as the samples I've seen for Topaz and LR denoisers but good enough for my purpose. Also the sharpness was not as good as the Topaz and LR denoisers but I improved the sharpness in Photoshop and it too is good enough for my purpose. BTW, the Neat Image denoise on my integrated graphics PC was instant.

For lurkers, the free demo version of Neat Image can save the the image in the JPG format with good quality. It cannot save in the TIF or other lossless format but the quality of the JPG save is fine.

I'll keep an eye open for a free "Ai" denoiser but using Neat Image will be fine for my current scanned photos project.

So thanks for your tip.....

Nothing is ever as good as the samples.

Glad it worked out for you in the short term.

 

[skyglider]

If you only have a few to do, is it worth considering free trial versions of any of paid for software. You’d need all the scans done beforehand, and it may put you under some time pressure, but it’s a route I’d consider

I'm not sure if all free trial versions are similar but I believe the Topaz free trial version cannot save the edited image. So it won't work even for my limited use ... sniff.

 

[New Wrycuda]

I'd be careful with "AI" claims for free software. I'd be careful with paid software. You may want to just use free version from legitimate companies. Neat Image is one I use (and paid for). There are limitations on the free version, but the limitations might not be a big deal for you.

Good advice. Must be careful when it comes to security. Will put Neat Image on my list. Thanks.

brn,

I downloaded Neat Image via the link you provided, and installed it.

It denoised the image I tried it on fine. Not as good as the samples I've seen for Topaz and LR denoisers but good enough for my purpose. Also the sharpness was not as good as the Topaz and LR denoisers but I improved the sharpness in Photoshop and it too is good enough for my purpose. BTW, the Neat Image denoise on my integrated graphics PC was instant.

For lurkers, the free demo version of Neat Image can save the the image in the JPG format with good quality. It cannot save in the TIF or other lossless format but the quality of the JPG save is fine.

I downloaded the trial version for Windows, and tried it on several images that already had minimal noise (high quality JPEGs from 24Mpix camera). There were only subtle improvements, but I need to experiment more with the parameters.

Possibly it’s more useful for scanning prints, but in many cases I’m dealing with gross defects, stains, added comments in ink, and half-tone.

 

[skyglider]

I downloaded the trial version for Windows, and tried it on several images that already had minimal noise (high quality JPEGs from 24Mpix camera). There were only subtle improvements, but I need to experiment more with the parameters.

Possibly it’s more useful for scanning prints, but in many cases I’m dealing with gross defects, stains, added comments in ink, and half-tone.

Try resizing your image to print size and then applying the Neat Image denoise. My test photo was sized to print as 5x7. Could be that Neat Image has an easier time doing it's denoise with smaller images.

To clarify, my test image was scanned at 300 dpi and then cropped and resized at 300 ppi to print on 5x7 glossy photo paper. Then I applied the Neat Image denoise to it. The result was not as good as samples for Topaz or Light Room denoise but was OK for an old photo that was scanned and reprinted. Much better than the original scanned image anyway.

Do let us know if applying Neat Image to a smaller image makes a difference if you try it.