Noise Reduction and or sharpening software

[Tom Camilleri]

I have found that with my 2200 watt (2 X 500 + 1200) total lighting setup I'm not quite in the range where I can make hand-held shots with my 300D. Also, I need to really open up my aperture sometimes and get off-focus shots as a result. I figure I can get around the problems by shooting at a higher ISO and using noise reduction software, or enhancing marginally focused shots. What are good Mac X based softwares that specialize in these tasks?

[w10d]

with my 2200 watt (2 X 500 + 1200) total lighting setup I'm not quite in the range where I can make hand-held shots with my 300D.

Can't help with the software, as any noise reduction I need (very rare) is done in PS. I'd suggest that starting out with the best possible capture is the way to go, more lights, flash, or a tripod should help you more than a post production fix. The results will be much better than shooting with excess noise & blur.

[mbze430]

how big are you subject? I am going to assume that is w/s....

[Tom Camilleri]

how big are you subject? I am going to assume that is w/s....

Anywhere from 1 to four feet.

[Tom Camilleri]

Can't help with the software, as any noise reduction I need (very rare) is done in PS. I'd suggest that starting out with the best possible capture is the way to go, more lights, flash, or a tripod should help you more than a post production fix. The results will be much better than shooting with excess noise & blur.

Makes sense.

[BigRed450]

First of all what ISO are you shootng at now? You should be able to shoot at 200-400 ISO without any real noise issues if your lighting is good.. All your Post Processing needs can be handled by PS CS....

[Tom Camilleri]

I try to shoot at 100. The shots I've taken at 200 or 400 do show a little noise but not much. I'm concerned that perhaps it would be more apparent after processing. I'm using PS 7 at this point.

[chris.bailey]

Can you give a bit more detail on your lighting. It sounds as though you should have plenty.

[Tom Camilleri]

I have two 500 w Lowell Totalights with diffusing umbrellas and a 1200 w softbox. I use the smaller lights closer and to the sides of subject. My original goal was to do all hand-held shots but I don't think it's feasible.

[Bodog]

Tom, I didn't see mention of what you are shooting. Is there a reason you have to hand hold the camera? If you're getting noise at 200-400, then is seems the images are probably under exposed. Why not use a tripod and get good exposures up front? The only time I have noticed noise at anything under 800 ISO is when I have to boost the exposure in post processing.

[DavidEB]

I have a digital rebel and use ISO 1600 for indoor sports. It generates noticeable color noise especially in darker parts of the image. NeatImage works very well. It can generate a noise profile for an individual image (or, if I've shot a bunch in one session with same settings, use a custom profile for that session), it can be applied to an entire photo or to a selection (so you don't loose detail in foreground), and has lots of adjustments to tweak. It runs well on my Mac OSX as a plug-in to photoshop elements 3, and their website says it also runs under standard photoshop. Cheap and well worth it.

I don't know any way to rescue an out-of-focus image or an image marred by camera shake. In other words, you can remove digital noise but you can't remove shakiness. So, crank the ISO, open the f-stop, use flash, tripod, anything, to get a fast enough shutter speed.

Good luck.