automated multi shot noise reduction software with RAW support?

as above - with a focus on automation, and it'd be a plus if it links up seamlessly with LR4. so far, i've only seen recommendations to use Photoshop to stack them together. any other alternatives?

Well, are you trying to do focus stacking, as in images with different focal planes, or batch processing images with matching noise reduction., or??

For the first, Photoshop, for the second, Lightroom is good...!

tonylong wrote in post #15538714
Well, are you trying to do focus stacking, as in images with different focal planes, or batch processing images with matching noise reduction., or??

For the first, Photoshop, for the second, Lightroom is good...!

none of the above actually.

it's shooting multiple similar images and combining together to get a lower-noise image..

PhotoAcute Studio: http://photoacute.com/​studio/
You need to have a compatable camera and lens, but it not only removes noise through stacking, but can increase the resolution of the image too.
It features a Raw-in, Raw-out workflow; so you can import the resulting image into LR and still have all your adjustments. And you can batch process.

Well then you could use stacking feature and have it average the pixels from each layer. This is handy for removing moving objects from a stack of images, and will also remove RANDOM noise as well. It won't though work for pattern noise, or long exposure noise as that is constant frame to frame. PS will automate the alignment of the stack for you and of course is well integrated into LR. I am planning to try producing a panorama at an aviation museum by stacking the images to remove other people that are moving around, then stitching the panoramic image afterwards. This will take a bit of shooting but should look good.

Alan

PixInsight or DeepSky stacker, I.e. astrophotography software, where this operation is common. PixInsight is an incredible image processing environment and highly scriptable.

To use PS stacks to remove random noise, stack in average mode. Use median stack mode to eliminate moving objects that change from shot to shot.

Astrophotography applications permit more control over removing long exposure noise and environmental light artifacts from long exposures.

Kirk

Kolor-Pikker wrote in post #15539086
PhotoAcute Studio: http://photoacute.com/​studio/
You need to have a compatable camera and lens, but it not only removes noise through stacking, but can increase the resolution of the image too.
It features a Raw-in, Raw-out workflow; so you can import the resulting image into LR and still have all your adjustments. And you can batch process.

seems to be the software i'm exactly looking for. how do the results stack up against photoshop?

the.forumer wrote in post #15542389
seems to be the software i'm exactly looking for. how do the results stack up against photoshop?

Well, I haven't exactly done any head-to-head tests of NR (I could though), but PAS claims that since it applies it's processing to the Raw data itself, it's more effective than stacking than photoshop. But photoshop won't simultaneously fix distortion and increase clairity at the same time.

But talking just from a resolution standpoint, at ISO100, here's what you can practically expect from this program, if you're on a tripod:

Before/After (4 shot)

Content warning: data | PHOTOBUCKET ERROR IMAGE

Content warning: data | PHOTOBUCKET ERROR IMAGE

Kolor-Pikker wrote in post #15539086
PhotoAcute Studio: http://photoacute.com/​studio/
You need to have a compatable camera and lens, but it not only removes noise through stacking, but can increase the resolution of the image too.
It features a Raw-in, Raw-out workflow; so you can import the resulting image into LR and still have all your adjustments. And you can batch process.

That doesn't sound right, as far as the "Raw in Raw out" thing -- I've never heard of a Raw processor that actually modifies the Raw data. Are you sure it's not "Raw-in, RGB image file out", as in a tiff or a jpeg?

tonylong wrote in post #15542572
That doesn't sound right, as far as the "Raw in Raw out" thing -- I've never heard of a Raw processor that actually modifies the Raw data. Are you sure it's not "Raw-in, RGB image file out", as in a tiff or a jpeg?

Nope, it actually outputs a .DNG file that you can load into a Raw converter, and have control over things like white balance and so on. Of course, you can output to Tiff or Jpeg too if you so want.

So here are my results using Photoshop smart object with median stack, and output from PAS, and also a shot with no NR.

Full-frame ISO3200:

Ahh, so it does a DNG conversion, good to know!

pretty impressive results compared to PS imo! did you manage to get similar results with 2 or 3 shots too?

the.forumer wrote in post #15545671
pretty impressive results compared to PS imo! did you manage to get similar results with 2 or 3 shots too?

4 shots is the minimum required, and you can go up from there as high as 16 shots, no limit really. For resolution increase, you seem to lose efficiency after 6 shots, and any further shots are for NR only. Doing a 4-shot even at ISO100 has its uses because you'll get very clean shadows.

To process a 4-image shot on my i7 quad core iMac w/ 8GB ram takes about 5 minutes, 6-shot takes 5m 30sec. But it wasn't much worse on my old-as-heck workstation. Watch out as you'll quadruple the pixel count of the images you process, my 5D2 files result in a 84mp, 660mb 16-bit Tiff.

Kolor-Pikker wrote in post #15547004
4 shots is the minimum required, and you can go up from there as high as 16 shots, no limit really. For resolution increase, you seem to lose efficiency after 6 shots, and any further shots are for NR only. Doing a 4-shot even at ISO100 has its uses because you'll get very clean shadows.

To process a 4-image shot on my i7 quad core iMac w/ 8GB ram takes about 5 minutes, 6-shot takes 5m 30sec. But it wasn't much worse on my old-as-heck workstation. Watch out as you'll quadruple the pixel count of the images you process, my 5D2 files result in a 84mp, 660mb 16-bit Tiff.

that's extremely useful info. guess i could use it in mission-critical work where i need maximum quality!

thank you!