Using Neat Image

[Old Timer]

Just installed Neat Image to try and combat high ISO noise. Just trying to learn use to use it. Here is the same shot processed with and with out Neat image any feed back?

[Bob32]

Larry,

Perhaps I'm not the best one to comment, because people in the past have reported seeing noise in my images that wasn't apparent to me. I've recently undertaken significant workflow changes to eliminate or at least minimize the noise that I can't detect!

For whatever it's worth I don't see much difference in these two shots, and I'm having a tough time trying to decide which one was treated with neat Image. To these senior citizen eyes neither one seems to have a noise problem. That's probably not what you wanted to hear! Better not take my word as final in this evaluation! I use Noise Ninja, but I frequently see Neat Image mentioned alongside NN as good noise reduction programs.

At what ISO was this image shot? When images are properly exposed and not under-exposed I'm impressed at how low the noise levels are with the D700 even at high ISO settings. I've gone as high as ISO 12,800 in some poorly lit high school gyms. I hasten to add that I have no plans to go to ISO 25,600 under any circumstances that I can imagine short of a dire emergency!

Bob

[Old Timer]

Here is a drastic crop of an image shot at ISO 6400, D700, 1/500 at f2.8 with the 80-200. First shot is my standard processing contrast, levels and unsharpmask. The second is with the use of the Neat Image filter.

[Old Timer]

Here is a drastic crop of an image shot at ISO 6400, D700, 1/500 at f2.8 with the 80-200. First shot is my standard processing contrast, levels and unsharpmask. The second is with the use of the Neat Image filter.

Here is the original uncropped image.

[Grandpaw]

This is coming from another set of older eyes but the only difference I can see is the right has a little more contrast, Jeff

[Old Timer]

Well maybe I am to sensitive to the noise but it really bugs me.

[Bob32]

Larry,

Like Grandpaw the only difference that's apparent to me is that the second image is a bit darker than the first one. You may have to post a crop of a portion of the image that is under-exposed and where more noise resides.

Do you have in-camera High ISO NR activated? I have High ISO NR set to Off per recommendation of Noise Ninja tech support personnel.

Bob

[DHMN69]

The 'free' version of Neat Image only allows low quality saves also, so unless you're using 'Pro' your image quality will be less than it was before cleaning. I try to take a shot during warmups, after a WB shot, of a player or coach with enough dark area showing to create a noise profile for the entire game (since I haven't messed around with preset profiles in Neat Image yet)

[armando_m]

I do see a reduction in the noise amount,
at this size is complicated
you should see it a lot better being able to zoom at 100%


I usually do not apply unsharp mask to noisy areas
and usualy do not use noise reduction where I want to see more detail
this can sometimes keep me busy for a long time

[Old Timer]

The 'free' version of Neat Image only allows low quality saves also, so unless you're using 'Pro' your image quality will be less than it was before cleaning. I try to take a shot during warmups, after a WB shot, of a player or coach with enough dark area showing to create a noise profile for the entire game (since I haven't messed around with preset profiles in Neat Image yet)

Good tip! Thanks

[mjs1973]

Well maybe I am to sensitive to the noise but it really bugs me.

Me too! That being said, I don't see a big noise issue in the first photo you posted, but I do think the image processed in Neat Image looks better. It looks a bit sharper to me. One of the problems that I have had trying to reduce noise it that I also reduce sharpness.

On the second set of images you posted, I can see the noise better and the Neat Image processed shot does look much better. It's especially noticeable in the ball, and in the people in the background that are a bit out of focus.

[Old Timer]

Me too! That being said, I don't see a big noise issue in the first photo you posted, but I do think the image processed in Neat Image looks better. It looks a bit sharper to me. One of the problems that I have had trying to reduce noise it that I also reduce sharpness.

On the second set of images you posted, I can see the noise better and the Neat Image processed shot does look much better. It's especially noticeable in the ball, and in the people in the background that are a bit out of focus.

Thanks Mike, I see exactly what you do in these images. I've been supplying some photos to OVC schools and want to put my best foot forward.