When do you use noise reduction?

[gh patriot]

I am new to photography and I would love to know how you get your best results.

I shoot with a 40D and I am wondering what gives you the best results. Do you use the in camera high ISO noise reduction or use software in post processing, or both? I currently shoot RAW with no in camera adjustments and use Digital Photo Professional and its Luminance and Chrominance noise reducing sliders conservativly.

I do understand the importance of proper exposure and how it affects noise at high ISO levels.

So what do you do, in camera high ISO noise reduction or PP noise reduction or both?

I do not own noise ninja, I do have copy of Noiseware Community Edition but I dont like that because it strips the exif. Maybe thats a setting Im screwing up.

Thanks,

Kevin

[yogestee]

Kevin,,, noise is a very subject thing.. Some people detest it,, some (like me) don't mind it as long as it's not too intrusive.. You find old film shooters like me don't mind it or just put up with it.. High ISO film has heaps more grain than noise in high ISO digital..

I will assess every image on its own merrits.. Sometimes I'll use the noise reduction filter in CS2 which in all honesty it's all that effective.. If the noise is really bad I'll use Noiseware Community Edition which works fine but does strip the EXIF out of the image.. The Pro version of Noiseware Community Edition doesn't but then again it's not free..

I'll post two pics shot at 1600 ISO one without and one with noise reduction,,tell me what you think??

[DDCSD]

I personally quit using NR altogether. I would consider using it if needed, but I just haven't felt the need for a very long time. I rarely notice noise unless I look at images at 100% or crop very heavily, and more times than not you won't see any noise when you print.

Its really a personal choice. If the noise bothers you, then use NR. If you're like me, just let it ride.

[PhotosGuy]

I use PP noise reduction when I need it so I can put it only on the part of the image that needs it most.

[S.Horton]

I will selectively reduce noise in post-processing only if it benefits the final result.

When I do reduce noise, I tend to use Noiseware/Pro, and I've become pretty picky about being precise with it.

I also add noise for the same reason.

Noise <> evil.

;}

[Quad]

..

I'll post two pics shot at 1600 ISO one without and one with noise reduction,,tell me what you think??


Well the second one has NR applied and did that ever screw up the image. Stop doing that.

When do I use NR? Whenever I need to. I have Noise Ninja and I did not bother to put it back in when I installed CS4.

[neumanns]

When do I use noise reduction? ....Only when I'm blowing leaves in the fall,The muffler fell off the leaf blower 3 years ago.

Huh, what,...Oh you mean in photography! I don't. To stupid to find a method I like I guess. Noise for the most part is the domain of computer moniters as far as I'm concerned.

[gh patriot]

Kevin,,, noise is a very subject thing.. Some people detest it,, some (like me) don't mind it as long as it's not too intrusive.. You find old film shooters like me don't mind it or just put up with it.. High ISO film has heaps more grain than noise in high ISO digital..

I will assess every image on its own merrits.. Sometimes I'll use the noise reduction filter in CS2 which in all honesty it's all that effective.. If the noise is really bad I'll use Noiseware Community Edition which works fine but does strip the EXIF out of the image.. The Pro version of Noiseware Community Edition doesn't but then again it's not free..

I'll post two pics shot at 1600 ISO one without and one with noise reduction,,tell me what you think??


The second looks better IMO. It doesn't appear to be to soft which is what sometimes happens to my images if I dont use the reduction sparingly.

[Nistelrooydude]

I can deal with a reasonable amount of regular noise, but if color noise is messing with my image, it's out of there. I find the CS3 NR filter pretty effective for my uses. Some people don't like the look of de-noised and then sharpened images for some reason, but it's fine with me.

[yogestee]

The second looks better IMO. It doesn't appear to be to soft which is what sometimes happens to my images if I dont use the reduction sparingly.

Kevin,,,I have a 18x12 inch print of the unfiltered version hanging on my wall at home.. I prefer this version to the filtered version because it has a film look about it to me..

Over appliction of noise reduction can make your image look a tad soft.. I sometimes use the Blur brush in CS2 on the background and selected areas,,this also kills noise..

[gh patriot]

Kevin,,,I have a 18x12 inch print of the unfiltered version hanging on my wall at home.. I prefer this version to the filtered version because it has a film look about it to me..

Over appliction of noise reduction can make your image look a tad soft.. I sometimes use the Blur brush in CS2 on the background and selected areas,,this also kills noise..


Thats a good Idea. The blur brush. Thanks so much everyone for posting!:-D

[USER876]

I noticed on a lot of wedding photographer blogs, the low light high iso pics they take, they tend to keep the noise and turn them into vintage looking B+W's.

[jgrussell]

Kevin,,,I have a 18x12 inch print of the unfiltered version hanging on my wall at home.. I prefer this version to the filtered version because it has a film look about it to me..The unfiltered version is much better on the person -- the texture of the face adds character. But like you I wouldn't hesitate for a second in an appropriate shot to use NR on the background.

[gh patriot]

The unfiltered version is much better on the person -- the texture of the face adds character. But like you I wouldn't hesitate for a second in an appropriate shot to use NR on the background.


I see the point now of the character. I now see the point and agree that it is sometimes better to leave the noise and keep detail rather than loose detail and the noise.

[S.Horton]

I think things can get confused when the chase for less noise is discussed in a technical way.

I do recall B/W film as a child, developing it at home, and noise was just part of the picture.

It was normal.

I think the digital revolution and the marketing has caused a change in expectations of the consumer.

[tonylong]

I approach noise reduction differently depending on how I'm going to use the image. When I'm putting something on my PBase Web site, I almost always stick with developing and Exporting from my RAW converter (Lightroom) because I consider that sufficient for the majority of my Web displays. This includes Lightroom noise reduction and sharpening.

A different approach would be required for printing at any size or for submitting to, say, a magazine or stock agency. I'd lean a lot toward selective NR and sharpening for those situations, and likely leave Lightroom out of the picture if I needed that type of work done.

In general, though, I do some noise reduction from ISO 800 and up, depending of course on the original IQ.

[mattia]

I use DxO Optics Pro, and tend to apply some chrominance NR, and only a little luminance NR, if any. Depending entirely on the ISO and the particular subject, of course. Thing about digital camera high ISO noise is it sometimes looks a little too 'regular' to do the nice filmy grainy thing.

On the 300D, I did it on 800 iso and up, on the 5DII I start gently at 1600 and a bit more seriously and 3200, although unless I'm printing really absurd sized prints, the grain is really quite tiny (one of the advantages of stupid amounts of available res).

[gh patriot]

I have really appreciated the comments so far. Thanks for taking the time to help out and if anyone else has input Id appreciate that also.:D