Noise ninja User??

[inmotion]

I Have some images that may benefit from Noise ninja and I have the trial version but with inexperience using this I seem to loose detail at the same rate as noise.Can Anyone comment as a user or post a before and after shot?Even other sofrware I should consider as I have made no commitment yet.
Cheers Jim

[Wink]

Dfine from Nik Software is another option. Works well for me.

[surenj]

If you use LR, it has a basic built in option for this?

[ljxphotography]

I have Noise Ninja, I use it a little mostly when I had my D2h. Camera profiles are avaliable for download and have found these work best for detail and noise reduction compared to using the auto button.

The profiles don't work with aperture which kind of sux.

If I was to buy again, I would get Define. I have been very happy with all my Nik software.


Mick

[Wink]

Noise reduction in LR2 is average.
Apparently LR3 has a much improved version.

The Nik Software plug-ins work with PS and LR.

[inmotion]

Thanks for the reply's I will check out the nik option tonight--jim

[aim54x]

I have used noise ninja a bit, and have also noticed the drop in detail...works wonders in smoothing out portraits though.

[Murray Foote]

Sharpening in LR3 is much improved (at least in theory) because it includes masking. However, the problem is that it only operates for the whole of the image. If you have a studio portrait or a detailed landscape that may be fine, maybe, but even then you may want to do regional sharpening (or blurring). If you have a "mixed" subject (say musicians and a drum kit) where you may want to sharpen some parts of the image and blur others it may not work so well, even though the masks mean the sharpening is restricted to the contrast boundaries.

Noise reduction in LR3 doesn't include the masking and I think is probably unchanged from LR2 though it will probably receive an update for final release. Once again, it will affect the image as a whole which is generally not what you want.

I suppose one approach would be to have two virtual copies of a Lightroom image (1) denoised and then (2) sharpened for different parts of the image and combine them in Photoshop (in each case). Perhaps that might be worth trying if you don't have noise reduction/ sharpening utilites though it could take a while.

I use Neat Image for noise reduction on the minority of my images (even at high ISOs) that may need noise reduction. I then focus that by combining with the non-NR image using layers and masks, either surface masks or custom ad hoc masks.

When I was performing noise reduction on high ISO digican images I also used the Photoshop technique where you blur the colour layers and sharpen the luminosity layer in L*A*B mode.

Noise reduction happens before sharpening. I use PK Sharpener and still do round trips from Lightroom for sharpening. It provides sharpening layers so you can adjust parts of the image with masks or control highlights with the opacity sliders or blend-if sliders.

You can no doubt do the same sort of thing for sharpening manually and record actions to partially automate it in which case I would personally favour high pass filter but a utility such as PK Sharpener is useful because it make the whole process simpler and quicker while retaining full control. You can also get a free sharpening utility from The Light's Right.

[inmotion]

HI Guys Thanks to all and murray for the extensive comments the results I have achieved while ok will no doubt get better with practice the attached image was processed with Neat Image as suggested by Murray but the resullts seem pretty close to noise nija and the ability to batch process may sway my final decision but i am pleased with the outcome thus far--Thanks heaps and excuse the stripe for my protection
Cheers jim

[Murray Foote]

There's a very detailed review of Neat Image on The Light's Right (along with less detailed reviews of three other noise reduction products).

[Wink]

You could selectively sharpen with the adjustments brush in LR2.
I also find the mask and detail sliders useful for selective sharpening in the Detail panel. Just hold ALT (on PC) while on the slider to see where it is/isn't being applied. You need to be at 1:1 view to see this though. It can be seen at any view in LR3.

All reviews of LR3 Beta say the noise reduction is much improved from LR2.

[Murray Foote]

That's true. I'd forgotten about selective sharpening with the adjustments brush. Perhaps I need to put some more effort into reassessing all that.

[rarewaves]

I want a noise ninja that is not a trial version. Where can i find it?

ninja star

[Mr Darcy]

I want a noise ninja that is not a trial version. Where can i find it?

ninja star

google is your friend:
The manufacturers are at
http://www.picturecode.com/purchase.php
They will happily take your money in return for a full, non trial version. BTW, in case you haven't noticed, it is a requirement for membership on this site to place your location in your profile. This will enable us to help you better.

[biggerry]

I want a noise ninja that is not a trial version. Where can i find it?

ninja star

seriously why is this guy still here? methinks the mods need to crack down on these link spammers. not to mention the items that are advertised on his site are illegal in australia.