hi everyone,

I would like to know how you guys deal with excessive noise in your images.

I mainly use Lightroom and I have been having problems with my some HDR and almost all my IR images with regard to excessive noise. I've tried using LRs Noise Reduction tools and PS Reduce Noise filter but they do not seem to be working with these images.

Any tips guys? Your help is definitely appreciated. Thanks.

-brian

Well, I use Noise Ninja mainly, but to be honest, getting the exposure right plays a HUGE part in noise control in post. An underexposed photo will cause a lot of noise to begin with and you have to understand the fact that if there are no data there to "clean up", you really aren't recovering anything with NR tools.

You mentioned HDR, that'd mean you probably have a tripod and have several exposures made, then in that case, why do you need to deal with noise? All the images should theoretically have the intended "correct" exposure for the merge, right?

I notice that noisy IR shots mean that they are underexposed. So am agreeing with David.

Well, I use Noise Ninja mainly, but to be honest, getting the exposure right plays a HUGE part in noise control in post. An underexposed photo will cause a lot of noise to begin with and you have to understand the fact that if there are no data there to "clean up", you really aren't recovering anything with NR tools.

You mentioned HDR, that'd mean you probably have a tripod and have several exposures made, then in that case, why do you need to deal with noise? All the images should theoretically have the intended "correct" exposure for the merge, right?

Hi David and Ray,

I agree with getting the exposure right.

With regard to the IR photographs, I made sure not to underexpose the shots. With my setup, I ensure the red channel in the histogram has data up to the third part of the graph. If I go all the way to the fourth area (the rightmost side), the red channel "blows out" when I import into LR. I also bracket my shots just to be sure. Given that I have the image is not under or overexposed, I am now considering that perhaps it was my pp technique. Maybe I am inadvertently adding noise with the adjustments I do in PS?

With regard to the HDR images, I have no idea why I can't remove the noise in certain images. I did some research and I want to try adding another overexposed image to give Photomatix another basis for the shadows. Perhaps that will work.

I will take a look into this Noise Ninja and redo my pp. Perhaps I might learn a thing or two...

Thanks for the feedback.

-brian

Brian,

one of the reasons why we stress getting the correct custom white balance for IR shots is that we need it to give us an accurate and useful histogram reading after the shot. depending on your IR workflow, you need to understand which channel can be clipped and which ones shouldn't. i really want to expound on this but that would take a thousand words.

but yeah...try noise ninja (neatimage, imagenomic noiseware and nik dfine are alternatives) for starters. it's a lifesaver :)

Brian,

one of the reasons why we stress getting the correct custom white balance for IR shots is that we need it to give us an accurate and useful histogram reading after the shot. depending on your IR workflow, you need to understand which channel can be clipped and which ones shouldn't. i really want to expound on this but that would take a thousand words.

but yeah...try noise ninja (neatimage, imagenomic noiseware and nik dfine are alternatives) for starters. it's a lifesaver :)

hi jay,

yes, I agree and i actually take a while getting my CWB before shooting my subjects. It really takes a lot longer than I prefer to be under the sun but it's the price I have to pay to get the images I want. I also made a profile in LR so I can fine-tune the WB in pp.

based on my research, I try to keep the red channel under control. In my particular case, I have to be careful because my setup moves all the values in the histogram further to the right during import in LR. Exposing to maximize the red channel in the histogram gives me a blown out red channel in LR upon import--just another example of why you should know your equipment...

thanks,

-brian

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2799/4235036459_6e92c926e4_o.jpg
Quezon Memorial Circle
taken January 1, 2010

Brian, if you shoot a high-contrast scene like this (IR or normal color) and then try to bring up the shadows during PP, then it's only normal that you end up with some noise in the dark areas. Bright sunlight can be a double-edged sword for IR shoots - it makes it easier to get enough IR light exposure but it also increases the DR of the scenery.

For extended exposures, I make it a point to use a VF cap to reduce noise.

Nols

Brian, if you shoot a high-contrast scene like this (IR or normal color) and then try to bring up the shadows during PP, then it's only normal that you end up with some noise in the dark areas. Bright sunlight can be a double-edged sword for IR shoots - it makes it easier to get enough IR light exposure but it also increases the DR of the scenery.

For extended exposures, I make it a point to use a VF cap to reduce noise.

Nols

Hi Noli,

Thanks for the info. I will see whether I did that in pp. Offhand though, I this may account for the noise in the dark areas at least.

I also use the VF cover that came with the strap. I used to cover it with my hand until I discovered the use of that piece of rubber.

Thanks again,

-brian

Brian

If your photo has heaps of noise it means that your recording too much shadows. The best way to avoid noise is they way you shoot your photo. Try shift to the right without clipping the highlights.

When it comes to HDR shooting, the best way to avoid noise is to record the whole dynamic range of the scene; and use 1EV spacing.


Anyway I'll teach some of my technique how to reduce or eliminate noise in PS. There are two types of noise these are luminance and color noise. To fix the luminance noise in PS add selective color adjustment. Under the colors, select black and adjust the black slider between 3 to 5.

To fix the color noise. use gaussian blur set it between 2 and 5; and then under layers blending mode choose color.

There are other 4 more techniques regarding ways to reduce noise, but its up to you to discover it :).

a 3RD party plug-in such as ninja noise and noise professional are pretty good in reducing severe noises.

Michael,

Probably for the benefit of us beginners here, you may share with us those 4 more techniques to reduce noise? Such sharing would be highly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

@ michael and ray: thanks for dropping by and giving your inputs.

I finally got a chance to review my images again and I re-did the pp using different processes. I believe the reason for the noise was over-sharpening on my part.

The shots are okay exposure-wise based on the histogram.

Sharpening is much easier in LR than PS but the result is not as appealing when sharpening images imported from PS--at least in my eyes for my images.

This only means one thing....more practice!!! I need to learn to sharpen in PS...

I still have to get a copy of Noise Ninja and I am quite curious to see what difference it will make...