Lets Talk about NeatImage

[dsze]

I've been talked into purchasing the pro+ version of NeatImage for the purpose of saving from noise, some very important recent shots. I've got some great wedding shots during ceremony (no flash allowed) that I was forced to hand-hold. So, I had to use ISO 800, which gave me more noise of course. They are great shots otherwise, and I'd really like to use them.

Does anyone have any general advice for using Neat Image? Better to use as a stand alone or as a PS Action? Where to use Neat Image in the workflow, first/last step?

I did a quick search, which didn't result in anything I was looking for. Sorry if this is an old discussion.

thanks,
daniel

[Scottes]

I wouldn't bother with a noise reduction package unless it was a PS plugin. It's too disturbing to the workflow I think. And you lose a lot - and I mean a LOT - of Photoshop power with a standalone.

Edge masks and the history brush are far too useful and powerful to lose. You can get around most things by using multiple layers, but this requires RAM and added time. A plugin is the way to go, IMHO, even though it costs more.

The very first thing I do in PS is NR, if necessary. I don't like the idea of mucking with an image and possibly screwing up the noise patterns - which might defeat NR. I have no basis on this other than my thoughts on the way I think NR works. But I'm pretty darn sure that I'm right, and it works very well as a first step, so I'm not going to change or test this until someone gives me a good reason to do so. (Gosh I guess I'd better get off my soapbox now...)


Just in case you missed it, the topic Feeder Birds Saved From ISO 1600 (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=38794) has some info on using edge masks with noise reduction. (And note that a simple Invert makes the same edge mask perfectly suitable for sharpening.) The topic 4 Finches up close (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=39355&highlight=iso+800) has another example and a little more info. And finally this topic ISO 800 lowlight+PSCS+NeatImage (10D) (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=38481&highlight=iso+800) has some more info, including sharpening settings for noisy images.

[dsze]

Thanks Ninja. The pro+ version of NeatImage does have Plug-In capability with PS... or so it says. I'm still waiting for my download link. I paid for it about an hour ago and still no email with my link in it.

Thanks for the links to the other threads!

-daniel

[robertwgross]

I use Neat Image in stand-alone mode, partly because it takes so damn long to run on a big file. I use it more on scanned film images than I do straight digital images.

---Bob Gross---

[dsze]

Hmm? Well, I'll have to play with it and see which works better for me. This version should do the stand-alone and/or the Plug-in. ....I'm still waiting for the link BTW. How long did it take you guys to recieve it?

-daniel