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04/07/2004 06:36:29 PM · #1 |
During the past couple of challenges I have been getting increase amounts of comments about the colored noise in my pictures. I am currently using a 2.1 MP camera and there isn't much that I can do about this problem out of the camera. Any suggestions of how to fix this problem in the future? I only have photoshop 6 in my arsenal to fix the images. Thanks for your help, and buying a new camera is out of the picture.
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04/07/2004 06:44:14 PM · #2 |
You can use neatimage to get rid of noise. You can download the standalone copy which you can use for free until your conscience says otherwise. The pro version for around $80 has a very nice PS plug in that eliminates the need to be exchanging files between PS and NeatImage.
NI is an indispensible tool for your photos as long as you don't "overdo" it. At least until cameras become more noise free! |
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04/07/2004 06:45:08 PM · #3 |
//neatimage.com/. The DPC rules even mentions that it's a legal filter.
Message edited by author 2004-04-07 22:47:25. |
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04/07/2004 06:48:25 PM · #4 |
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04/07/2004 06:49:12 PM · #5 |
| I've noticed the same problem with my C-700UZ. The noise gets really obnoxious with exposures longer than 1 second or an ISO of more than 200. I'd recommend setting the ISO to 100 instead of auto for starters. I've heard lots of photographers swear by a program called NeatImage for cleaning up noise. I haven't tried it personally since it's for PC only at this time. |
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04/07/2004 07:03:31 PM · #6 |
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04/07/2004 07:06:53 PM · #7 |
Yeah the C-700UZ does have a lot of issues when the iso is high, but it also occurs alot when using the flash too, so in low light situations it is hard to not come up with noise. I know it's about time that I got myself a new camera, but the DSLRs are still too expensive for me to put out right now (though i want one pretty badly).
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04/07/2004 07:17:27 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by nshapiro:
You can use neatimage to get rid of noise. You can download the standalone copy which you can use for free until your conscience says otherwise. The pro version for around $80 has a very nice PS plug in that eliminates the need to be exchanging files between PS and NeatImage.
NI is an indispensible tool for your photos as long as you don't "overdo" it. At least until cameras become more noise free! |
I very much like NeatImage, and I often use it, however...
I recommend strongly against using the free trial for challenges, since it will only save at very low quality, and your score is likely to suffer, you will get comments on visible artifacts on many photos.
Also in general be conservative in appliying NeatImage to avoid a "plastic" look to skin tones and other smooth areas. Unless that's what you're going for, and if it is, be prepared for the comments...
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04/07/2004 07:25:00 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by alternarule:
During the past couple of challenges I have been getting increase amounts of comments about the colored noise in my pictures. I am currently using a 2.1 MP camera and there isn't much that I can do about this problem out of the camera. Any suggestions of how to fix this problem in the future? I only have photoshop 6 in my arsenal to fix the images. Thanks for your help, and buying a new camera is out of the picture. |
i took a look at some of your pics..i see some noise in the night and dark lighting type shots, but then that is when noise is most obvious - the longer exposure means the sensor gets hotter and that makes more noise, or the camera will crank up the ISO and make noise. Also i see that many of your shots have effects applie d(watercolor or a texture etc) and that may part of what is getting critiqued.
the MP of your camera has no bearing on teh noise level, and even at 2Mp you should be able to make large nice pics. My older Fuji 1400 (a 1.3mp cam) makes 1024x768 images, larger than you are allowed to enter here. |
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04/07/2004 07:30:08 PM · #10 |
| NeatImage has been promising a Mac version forever. I doubt they're really working on it. For us Mac users, is there an equivalent solution out there? |
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04/07/2004 08:16:26 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by boomer:
NeatImage has been promising a Mac version forever. I doubt they're really working on it. For us Mac users, is there an equivalent solution out there? |
texttexttext
While NeatImage may not be available for the Mac users, there is a PS 'Action' that affords some noise relief at this url:
//www.nickgallery.com/web_pages/technical%2011.htm
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04/07/2004 08:23:19 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by kirbic:
I recommend strongly against using the free trial for challenges, since it will only save at very low quality, and your score is likely to suffer, you will get comments on visible artifacts on many photos. |
Can't you copy the corrected image and then paste it into a Photoshop file? That's a way around the compresion issue. Although, I've never used NeatImage, but I have done it quite often in other programs.
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04/07/2004 08:36:12 PM · #13 |
Color noise has always been a problem for devices using a ccd image sensor. The noise produced in the image sensor is related to it's temperature.
The amount of noise is an exponential function the temperature, so reducing temperature even a few degrees can dramatically lower image noise. A few photographers keep their camera in an insulated container until ready to shoot. Leaving a camera in the sun will naturally increase noise.
The LCD display on most cameras produces considerable heat as well, leave it off unless it's use is essential to get the shot. Astrophotographers often cool the image sensor with thermoelectric devices to reduce noise during long exposures. Noise is also related to amplifier gain used to adjust the ISO of the camera.
Lower ISO means lower gain and lower noise. Low light means longer exposures and lowered signal to noise ratio (S/N). Use the shortest exposure possible to reduce noise, bearing in mind that a much too short exposure can have the opposite effect because of the ccd 'threshold noise', that is, the ambient noise floor at a given temperature.
Each camera is slightly different so experimentation is in order to achieve acceptable results for your camera and style of shooting. |
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04/08/2004 05:35:00 AM · #14 |
| I def. need to pick up one of these programs too. Damn 1.92 MP's. Thanks for the links. |
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04/09/2004 10:49:09 AM · #15 |
Originally posted by Ami Yuy:
Can't you copy the corrected image and then paste it into a Photoshop file? That's a way around the compresion issue. Although, I've never used NeatImage, but I have done it quite often in other programs. |
Also:
If you can select the whole image and then press Ctrl+C (on a PC) it will copy it, whether or not NeatImage has that feature...Although, depending on your computer, the file size may be too large to copy.
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04/09/2004 01:28:19 PM · #16 |
For color noise (=Chroma Noise) I prefer Photoshop + Fred Miranda's Chroma Noise Reduction action. You can make that action yourself as well, because the basics are described in several books. I got it for free from FM after buying Dynamic Range Increase (8-bit old version).
I absolutely hate Neat Image. It is so often over-used, blurring details into oblivion and mixing colors to boring patches. I have tried it but was never happy with the results. Too soon too much.
About 2mp camera's and chroma noise; I just did some tests with my newly acquired Canon A60 and it definitely blows the S602Z away when it comes to chroma shadow noise. I could push an ISO100 underexposed pic from the A60 much further and get rid of the chroma noise with ease. The S602Z pics at the lowest ISO160 show chroma noise in the shadows right from the start and are harder to get rid of when you push the shadows.
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04/09/2004 03:25:55 PM · #17 |
Originally posted by Ami Yuy:
Originally posted by kirbic:
I recommend strongly against using the free trial for challenges, since it will only save at very low quality, and your score is likely to suffer, you will get comments on visible artifacts on many photos. |
Can't you copy the corrected image and then paste it into a Photoshop file? That's a way around the compresion issue. Although, I've never used NeatImage, but I have done it quite often in other programs. |
Yes, true. You can copy anything that will fit on the screen... and there's the catch. You should run NeatImage before resizing, not after, for best quality. But virtually all images are larger than can be displayed on-screen at full size.
The other end of the equation is that if you are using NeatImage regularly, you should pay for it. If we want software developers to treat us fairly, we should do no less for them.
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