I need help with what I call "Clipping"

[Teak McGlukes]

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_UYPtNsPVNgg/SmzPLV3b03I/AAAAAAAAAFU/_brzf2Vy-3A/s512/Example%20of%20Clipping%20copy.jpg

I have this problem I have been having. I am very new to digital photography.

I use a Cannon Rebel XTi.

I shot this image in full resolution.
f/4
1/1250 exp time.
ISO 100.

This happens with all of my pictures, I'm wondering if I have something set wrong or what. I'll take the picture, then I zoom in on parts with dark colors like black or dark blue, and they are super pixelated and grainy.

Help!!

Thanks,
levi

[Clay Kerri]

if this is the full size of the image, just cropped, then i see nothing wrong. it's a fantastic quality. the grain you are referring to is called noise. it occurs in all images. keep your ISO low and you shouldn't have to worry too much.

[LeuceDeuce]

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_UYPtNsPVNgg/SmzPLV3b03I/AAAAAAAAAFU/_brzf2Vy-3A/s512/Example%20of%20Clipping%20copy.jpg

I have this problem I have been having. I am very new to digital photography.

I use a Cannon Rebel XTi.

I shot this image in full resolution.
f/4
1/1250 exp time.
ISO 100.

This happens with all of my pictures, I'm wondering if I have something set wrong or what. I'll take the picture, then I zoom in on parts with dark colors like black or dark blue, and they are super pixelated and grainy.

Help!!

Thanks,
levi

Totally normal in the blocked up shadow areas. You won't see it in the print.

[Teak McGlukes]

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_UYPtNsPVNgg/SmzR8lKYoKI/AAAAAAAAAFw/SZ9Ws3fNJzw/s400/error.jpg

Here's another example, but I don't know how it will show up. This was shot at ISO 400 I think, but I am so frustrated, it just looks terrible, then with editing in PhotoShop, any adjustments I make really make it stand out.

[Teak McGlukes]

Oh, really? Well that is a relief then!! So is there a print size that would show something like that? What I mean is that if I do larger prints is there a chance that might creep in?

[m33p33]

What you are doing is called pixel peeping... No one ever looks at a photo that closely. Neither should you unless you are editing.

[Roy Mathers]

if this is the full size of the image, just cropped, then i see nothing wrong. it's a fantastic quality. the grain you are referring to is called noise. it occurs in all images. keep your ISO low and you shouldn't have to worry too much.

I don't think he could keep it much lower than 100!;)

[dgoakill]

Oh, really? Well that is a relief then!! So is there a print size that would show something like that? What I mean is that if I do larger prints is there a chance that might creep in?

I've done 16x20 prints that looked fine in print even though at 100% on screen looked exactly like what you've posted. you won't notice it in print at low ISO's. as has been mentioned no one will examine a print that close, and the bigger the print the further you have to stand back to view it.

[saintdave]

Would it be overkill to reduce noise like that before printing? Would the prints look too smooth? Too artificial?

[Roy Mathers]

As has been mentioned, there is no need to reduce noise like that.

[saintdave]

Maybe I should have been clearer. If you were to use Noiseware (or others) to get rid of the noise would the resulting print look any different from one with noise? Is there any subtlty lost or is there absolutely no difference?

By too smooth, I meant like this image:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/40623182@N08/3744046467/sizes/o/

I'm probably just being a perfectionist though.

(Sorry for the minor thread hijack)

[Roy Mathers]

What you have to remember is that reducing noise (eg in Noiseware) always reduces detail also - so if you don't need it, it's best not to use it. It's difficult to tell with the picture in the link, as the size is too small to judge - and you wouldn't expect grain in a shot that size. Having said that, the photography could well have used some sort of noise reduction.