Noise removal software

[Jay Todd]

From a previous post, Neatimage seems to do a decent job at noise removal. Any other third party software, possibly cheap, that others like?

[cmM]

Noise Ninja gets pretty good reviews... I think it's free too

[Jim_T]

The GIMP.. (Gnu image manipulation program) can do a decent job on noise and film grain.. Below are a couple of links from a GIMP tutorial page..

http://www.gimp.org/tutorials/Reducing_CCD_Noise/

http://www.gimp.org/tutorials/Selective_Gaussian_Blur/

GIMP was created for Linux/Unix, but has been ported to Windows.

Best of all.. It's FREE :)

.

[FlyingPete]

I use NeatImage (www.neatimage.com), there is a free version that allows you to do one image at a time, but it strips the EXIF tags. I eventually upgraded to the Pro version that allows you to do batch processing, worth every cent for removing noise out of my ISO400 G3 shots! Haven't really tried it on my 20D yet, for some reason I don't seem to be having noise issues :D

NeatImage allows you to profile your CCD/CMOS sensor, or you can download profiles from the site, all the major digicams seem to be supported.

[Jesper]

Noiseware (http://www.imagenomic.com/) is also a good one. It doesn't have as much controls as Neat Image (which I'm using) but you can get the same results with it, and it's cheaper than Neat Image.

Also, have a look at Michael Almond's Noise Reduction Tool Comparison (http://www.michaelalmond.com/Articles/noise.htm). The page hasn't been updated since November 2003 (a year ago), but most of it is still valid.

[gmitchel]

From a previous post, Neatimage seems to do a decent job at noise removal. Any other third party software, possibly cheap, that others like?

NeatImage Por+ is a great add-in. It does an excellent job of removing noise. Vlad provides excellent customer service.

Cheers,

Mitch

[Scottes]

I've had excellent results with Neat Image, especially combined with edge masks. I'm very happy with it. I have no plans on trying another since I haven't heard about anything that is so much better that it's worth learning another program.

[gmitchel]

I've had excellent results with Neat Image, especially combined with edge masks. I'm very happy with it. I have no plans on trying another since I haven't heard about anything that is so much better that it's worth learning another program.

I think you mean surface masks (which are the inverse of edge masks). By keeping the noise removal away from the edges, you avoid softening the image as you remove noise.

Cheers,

Mitch

[Scottes]

Ya know, why is it this way? You use masking tape to stop the paint from getting on the glass when you paint a window. You're masking the glass, protecting it, right? A robber puts on a mask to cover his face and protect his identity. I'm masking the edges to protect them from getting softened. An edge mask - mask the edges, protect them.


Yep, just checked a few dictionaries and I'm still convinced that a mask is used to conceal or hide or protect. So if I select everything that isn't an edge, then I have concealed the edges, protecting them. Edge mask.

Even PS CS help says You can hide a portion of an image using a mask. And also Masks let you isolate and protect areas of an image as you apply color changes, filters, or other effects to the rest of the image.

So if I "hide" the edges to "isolate and protect" them when I "apply...filters" wouldn't that be an edge mask? Why would you call it a surface mask? Seems like it's a surface selection used to run the filter only on the selection. The opposite of a surface selection would be an edge mask.


I'm not trying to give you a hard time, I'm definitely curious now. It truly seems backwards to me.

[gmitchel]

Ya know, why is it this way? You use masking tape to stop the paint from getting on the glass when you paint a window. You're masking the glass, protecting it, right? A robber puts on a mask to cover his face and protect his identity. I'm masking the edges to protect them from getting softened. An edge mask - mask the edges, protect them.


Yep, just checked a few dictionaries and I'm still convinced that a mask is used to conceal or hide or protect. So if I select everything that isn't an edge, then I have concealed the edges, protecting them. Edge mask.

Even PS CS help says You can hide a portion of an image using a mask. And also Masks let you isolate and protect areas of an image as you apply color changes, filters, or other effects to the rest of the image.

So if I "hide" the edges to "isolate and protect" them when I "apply...filters" wouldn't that be an edge mask? Why would you call it a surface mask? Seems like it's a surface selection used to run the filter only on the selection. The opposite of a surface selection would be an edge mask.


I'm not trying to give you a hard time, I'm definitely curious now. It truly seems backwards to me.

I'll decline to play definition games. That was not my intent at all.

When we refer to edge sharpening, we customarily refer to the mask as an edge mask. What you are using is the inverse of that mask. ;)

Cheers,

Mitch

[Scottes]

I'll decline to play definition games. That was not my intent at all.

Oh, I'm not trying to play definition games either! This "reversing" just seems to be a habit, and I don't understand why. Like "Unsharp Mask" which sharpens things. OK, I understand that one, but it took a while.

I'm not trying to play games at all here. Just trying to understand.

[gmitchel]

We agree on the key point . . .

Keep noise removal away from edges. You'll have a sharper image. :)

Cheers,

Mitch

[maderito]

As used in post processing, you mask that portion of the image you wish to isolate for an image edit. A mask is typically but not always monochromatic.

Edge, highlight, shadow, color range, surface, and contrast masks aim to select these types of features and render them in monochromatic light tones relative to other image areas which are made dark.

Effects of mask can be implemented through layers (layer masks) or selections.

The point of the mask is to alter the image (e.g. sharpen/blur or modify hue/saturation/brightness) and restrict the change to portions of the image. Editing effects operate on the image through the mask in direct proportion to the lightness of tones in the mask.

Thus an image editing mask is often used to reveal (or select) - not conceal.

[mr.photoguy]

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1019&message=11157778

check that out.
I used it today on a really good portrait, that I had of my little brother.

[Jay Todd]

Thanks,
Noiseware looks great, but it's only Windows based....