What steps should be done first

[Headcase650]

Currently I shoot a 300D in my home studio, using a 550ex in manual mode and a couple vivitar 283 slaves. I shoot ISO 200 and mostly large fine JPG, occasionly raw if need be. My softwear is photoshop cs and canon DPP. I recently downloaded the free version of noiseware and actually like it very much considering the price.

My question is should I use the noiseware fist on my unaltered jpg's or do my tweeking in photoshop then do the noise reduction for best results?

Thanks

Adrian

[Scottes]

Personally I like to do noise removal first with the thought that I get the "most pure" noise this way, which is what the NR software was designed to remove, not edited/processed noise. This is just theory though - I've never tried NR other than immediately after RAW processing. One of our residents PS gurus (Maderito or Jesper, I forget) says that it doesn't matter when NR is done. Which means that such a time-consuming task would best be left for the end when the image is as small as it's going to get.

One of these days I'll give the two a test in order to form an experienced decision...

[gmitchel]

Vlad at NeatImage claims it makes little practical difference.

I typically do it just before resizing and output sharpening. Contrast adjustments and color corrections can make noise more evident.

Cheers,

Mitch

[Scottes]

Well that's 2 PS experts who say "do it last." Needless to say I'll be on that bandwagon the next time I de-noise an image.

[Belmondo]

I'm with Scottes on this one...

Noise that has been sharpened or processed in some other way is going to be a bigger problem to deal with

[CyberDyneSystems]

I disagree with "Vlad"

Belmondos onto it.. and I will further it.. Sharpening is just one of the adjustments we make in post that increases the visibility of Noise.. color adjustments and saturation and even levels adjustment can make noise more perceptible.. thus waiting to run Noise removal means more work on the part of the program and les of a chance for it to do it well.

Noise reduction has allways been the firt step for me in PSCS (if I need to do it at all)
If other aspects of PP introduce additional noise after initial NR,. then I may do it a second time. But I still feel it is best to do it up front.

Sharpening is allways last.
In fact.. here's the order I use,

1: Crop (if needed)
2: Noise reduction (if needed)
3: Shadow/Highlight recovery (if needed)
4: Color Correction (if needed)
5: Levels (I almost allways tweek levels. As the previous are optional, levels is oftewn the first thing done)
6: Any other effects or trickery I might be trying
7: Sharpening
8: Tweek Sharpening (history brush, eraser etc.)

[Scottes]

Sharpening is one of those steps that I would still do after NR, but if Gmitchel and Jesper-or-Maderito say it doesn't matter then I'm going to listen to them - at least long enough to do some tests. :-)



8: Tweek Sharpening (history brush, eraser etc.) We gotta teach you about Creative Sharpening using a layer mask. Gotta get you away from that butcher tool called the History Brush. :-)

And with your Wacom you are going to love it.

[CyberDyneSystems]

No,. Actaully I am all over your Sharpening/NR mask workflow set up now! :mrgreen:

For Christmass I did a mess of Prints of Newfoundland for the parents.. and for all of them I used your techniques. Quite frankly.. they are the best Post processing I have ever done!

I can't thank you enough for getting this all through my thick skull!

Allow me,
http://images.fotopic.net/?iid=y5lh90&outx=600&noresize=1&nostamp=1



For those wanting to know more about what's being discussed as we went a little OT
Masking For Noise Reduction and Sharpening (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=48929)

[PacAce]

Why not do it at both places, before and after, like you can with sharpening?

[CyberDyneSystems]

I've done that as well Leo,. and I agree,. I'd rather do it twice then wait to do it all at the end.
Usually of a second run is needed ,. it is localized to specifi areas.

Obviuosly sharpening HAS to be done after NR though.

[PacAce]

CDS, you responded before I got a chance to edit my last post but I wanted to complement you on your picture above. It's really nicely done. And so sharp, too. :)

[Scottes]

And so sharp, too.
No doubt! And how about a warning next time? I need a band-aid...

[Scottes]

No,. Actaully I am all over your Sharpening/NR mask workflow set up now!
Now couple that with a very selective sharpening, exactly where you want to sharpen, and exactly how much sharpening you want to apply.

Your sharpening will improve as much as your noise reduction has improved.

If you're interested I can probably whip up a tutorial tomorrow. But if you're not interested...