Sharpening noisy photos

[tim]

Anyone got any tips on sharpening noisy photos? I have around 100 photos taken at ISO 1600, sharpening them makes the noise more visible, even after running it through noise ninja. Anyone got any techniques they'd like to share?

[JBillings]

I have good luck using NeatImage. One of it's many settings for removing noise also sharpens the image. Making editing a much easier proposition.

[tim]

Noise Ninja has a USM option, maybe I should look at that. Maybe I should read the manual too...

[markubig]

I always run the NR filter before applying USM if there is any hint of noise in the picture. this picture was shot at 1600. There was a considerable amount of noise. I use Photoshop Elements 3.0 and applied the NR filter before I applied USM. I think I also applied a "despeckle" and then another USM after that.

http://gallery.photo.net/photo/3369789-lg.jpg

I know that too much NR can result in "plastic"-looking skin, but I've noticed that the right amount of NR can actually clean-up skin very nicely. For example, I did the same workflow for the below picture, which was accidentally taken at ISO1600. The NR filters actually smoothed out the skin pretty nice
http://gallery.photo.net/photo/3392322-lg.jpg

[tim]

What's despeckle Mark?

I "cleverly" underexposed some RAW images at ISO 1600, so I can boost the EC, but I end up with horrendous noise. That's a lesson learned the hard way.

[JakeC]

Are you lab sharpening? If not try switching to lab mode once you're happy with the image and have ran it through noise ninja. Targeting the lightness channel only 'should' reduce the amount of noise getting sharpened as the bulk of this is 'usually' found in the blue channel.

A good tip when you know that you'll be removing noise in post pro is to shoot an out of focus frame....why do this? You can use this frame to build a profile so that your noise removal program does not confuse your precious detail with evil noise.

Jake.

[markubig]

What's despeckle Mark?

I "cleverly" underexposed some RAW images at ISO 1600, so I can boost the EC, but I end up with horrendous noise. That's a lesson learned the hard way.I, too, wonder exactly what despeckle does . . . what it's difference is from "Dust & Scratches" and "Reduce Noise", all of which fall under Filter>Noise in PSE3.0 (i assume they also appear in PSCS). All I know is that smooths out the noise when I'm too lazy to play with the NR sliders. I would think that it looks for random "speckles" of color on areas where it should be one color tone. that's my guess.

I've also learned that slightly overexposing helps compensate for high ISO noise. An underexposed picture (even slightly) in high ISO will definitely result in lots of noise, especially in the dark areas of the picture.

[tim]

Thanks guys, i'll play with that filter and lab noise reduction later. I've used lab before, never in conjunction with noise ninja though.

Either way, batch processing these could take a bit of time!

[PhotosGuy]

Either way, batch processing these could take a bit of time! You can do the equivalent of that in RawShooter. If you shot RAW, of course. ;-)

[cmM]

hmm, I wonder why NeatImage doesn't support images in lab mode :confused:

[HJMinard]

You can also bump up the "Threshold" setting in USM ... with a zero setting PS will sharpen the entire image and it sort of sees noise as an "edge" to be sharpened ... higher settings cause PS to be more particular in what it considers an edge for sharpening purposes.

At least that's how I understand it ... it seems to help with high ISO images.

[tim]

You can do the equivalent of that in RawShooter. If you shot RAW, of course. ;-)

The equilivent of what? I use CS2 because I like the workflow, but I use RSE for the occasional picture. I love the fill light tool :)

[PhotosGuy]

Equilivent of batch processing for sharpening, noise reduction, & a lot of other processing I used to do in PS.

[tim]

You still have to batch process in RSE, though the background task option means it could finish sooner.