noise reduction

Hi,
I accidently post this question in a wrong section. Here we go again.
What's you opinion on NR process, in camera or PP? If PP, will that be in ACR or further down the process. (I use PSE 6 for pp)
Thanks for any input.

I use a plugin for Noise Ninja in PSE 5. This seems to giveme the best result. If I use it it is the first step I use in PP.

Most DSLRs include noise reduction as part of the digital signal processing. That will help at low ISO, like 100 and reduce noise at higher ISO, too. You will still likely find your photoraphs require additional noise reduction.

It is best to do it as early as possible in your workflow. Noise reduction and sharpening are antagonistic. If you do noise reduction after capture sharpening, you will likely lose all benefit from capture sharpening.

Cheers,

Mitch

Good points. Thanks.

It should be the first thing you do because any PP will alter the image and alter/change the noise characteristics.

I have always been dissatisfied with noise reduction because of the decrease in sharpness. I have used Noise Ninja. On some images, I now use sharpening on just part of the image.

I try very hard now not to have excessive noise in the first place. As we all know, sometimes it's a noisy image, or no image at all!

Don:

You might try using a surface mask for noise. That ould keep noise reduction away from edges, which is what causes sharpening to suffer.

I have a tip and a couple of toolsets that can help you make surface masks:

http://www.thelightsri​ght.com/UsingSurfaceMa​sk
http://www.thelightsri​ght.com/tlredgeandsurf​acemasks
http://www.thelightsri​ght.com/tlrprofessiona​lmasktoolkit

Cheers,

Mitch

Noise ninja here
I believe there is a trial version, you should give it try , is pretty amazing, plus it does more than mere NR

Neat Image works great for me.

I am also happy with NeatImage.

+3 on NeatImage.
I use the PS plugin, run it on a separate layer, then blend and occasionally mask to get the right compromise between noise and detail. Always the first step after in PP after RAW conversion. No sharpening applied before noise reduction in or out of camera, as that just sharpens the noise and makes it harder to clean up.
In camera noise reduction tends to kill too much detail. It just can't compete with PP as it is under severe time, power usage and processing power constraints. You also have no manual control over it, as every shot has different requirements.

If we're on the subject of "what NR software": Have a look at NoiseWare.
(Slightly) Better then Noise Ninja and Neat Image IMO.

Can NeatImage read RAW files?