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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> Neat Image?????
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 03/24/2005 11:14:10 AM · #1
What is it and where is it available? I see a lot of photographers using it. Is it part of PS or Image ready. Are there tutorials available on this sight? I appreciate any help! (Anyone can see my photos do need some help)
03/24/2005 11:19:23 AM · #2
NeatImage is noise reduction software. The homepage is here. There is a demo version you can try for free. It only saves at low quality. Do experiment with it and if you feel it helps and you are going to use it on an ongoing basis, purchase the appropriate veriosn for your needs.
 03/24/2005 11:20:27 AM · #3
Click here to go to their web site, then download the free version.
Use the freebie for a while, it's very good. Then decide later on if you want to buy the full version.
Have fun using neat image, but be careful not to go overboard and end up having everything looking like plastic.

Edited to say: I was too slow - as usual *g*

Message edited by author 2005-03-24 11:21:09.
 03/24/2005 11:21:22 AM · #4
Is there an official position from SC on using NI in basic editing challenges?
 03/24/2005 11:27:07 AM · #5
thank you! How do you access the plug-ins in photoshop?
 03/24/2005 11:27:56 AM · #6
JPink could probably tell you a few things about it. -Sorry Jonathan, had to say it :-)
 03/24/2005 11:28:06 AM · #7
Here is a nice review on Neatimage with examples.

REVIEW

I use neatimage on some of my favorite shots.. The key for me is to not be able to tell its been used at all.
 03/24/2005 11:29:04 AM · #8
Originally posted by neophyte:
thank you! How do you access the plug-ins in photoshop?

You need to purchase it first (doesn't work with the trial version).
 03/24/2005 11:30:58 AM · #9
Originally posted by srdanz:
Is there an official position from SC on using NI in basic editing challenges?


From the "Basic Rules" (you should read them)

Filters: The use of filters (or non-Photoshop equivalent) is strictly limited. Any filter or stand-alone utility designed and used to preserve the integrity of the image and/or reduce the effects of noise, scratches, etc, are permitted. These include but are not limited to the Sharpen, Unsharp Mask, and Dust & Scratches filters, and standalone image cleanup utilities such as NeatImage. However, no effects filters may be applied to your image, with the exception of Noise and Gaussian Blur, which are allowed. Any filter permitted by this rule must be applied uniformly to the entire image. Selective application of any filter is prohibited.
 03/24/2005 11:34:11 AM · #10
Thank you! I'm leary of buying software on the web... Can I purchase a disc somewhere?
 03/24/2005 11:34:17 AM · #11
Originally posted by srdanz:
Is there an official position from SC on using NI in basic editing challenges?


Noise reduction software, including NeatImage, is legal in basic editing, if it is applied to the entire photo.

Message edited by author 2005-03-24 11:35:01.
 03/24/2005 11:43:05 AM · #12
Originally posted by neophyte:
Thank you! I'm leary of buying software on the web... Can I purchase a disc somewhere?


Try going to the purchase page on their site for info, you can purchase by telephone from 20 countries.
 03/24/2005 11:48:00 AM · #13
Originally posted by neophyte:
Thank you! I'm leary of buying software on the web... Can I purchase a disc somewhere?


I buy ALL my software on the Web, can't imagine not being able to, it's the greatest way to buy software there is... I suppose if it were some fly-by-night company, might be a problem, but those people definitely won't have it on disks anyway... But I only buy from established software companies. Just about everything on this machine came via download...

Robt.
 03/24/2005 12:35:31 PM · #14
Originally posted by kirbic:
Originally posted by srdanz:
Is there an official position from SC on using NI in basic editing challenges?


Noise reduction software, including NeatImage, is legal in basic editing, if it is applied to the entire photo.


How about this scenario? Following information came from the Neat Image website: //www.neatimage.com/tnt.html

Filtration of shadow areas
In some situations, it is preferable to filter only the shadow areas of images leaving bright areas intact. There is a method of doing this with Neat Image. The idea of this method is to use Equalizer to forbid filtration of bright image areas.

Sliders of noise profile equalizer correspond to particular ranges of brightness (individually for each color channel) of the RGB color space. The position of each slider changes (fine-tunes) parameters of the noise profile for the corresponding range of brightness. The lower a slider, the less filtration will eventually be applied to image elements that belong to corresponding range of brightness.

Therefore, to filter only shadows you can manually move all the 'bright' sliders down (refer to the gradients on the bottom of noise profile equalizer). For example, move down all but three most 'dark' sliders in all channels. Remember to move down the 'bright' sliders for each R, G, B channel.

Using that method, you can effectively prevent filtration of bright image areas.

This appears to work on select areas of an image, as you would to adjust shadows, midtones, or highlights, without actually "selecting" any part of the image. Sounds like fair use for 'Basic Editing' - yes? ;^)
 03/24/2005 12:46:57 PM · #15
Thanks for the advice about the discs. But what happens if you change your computer or it crashes? (Thanks Bear)
 03/24/2005 12:49:29 PM · #16
It's still being applied to the whole image, so yes, you should be able to use it.
 03/24/2005 12:52:25 PM · #17
I'll let someone from the SC render an official opinion, but here is my take on it:

you can (within basic editing) select only certain color channels for hue/saturation editing to achieve different effects. For example, you can simulate selective desaturation if your photo has distinctive colors that can be desaturated by picking on a specific color and leaving it alone, while desaturating all the other colors.

I would think that this way of NI editing fits into the same category.

ps. SC: It would be cool to have an appendix to the rules which would constantly be updated with specifics such as this one. I am suggesting the appendix form, as other specifications (in my industry) I worked on use appendices when it is meant to fortify and explain the existing rules, not replace or complement them.
 03/24/2005 12:54:03 PM · #18
Once you download the software, burn the CD with the downloaded files, including a text file containing any applicable registration information, activation codes etc. This way you'll be able to reinstall it in the future.
Originally posted by neophyte:
Thanks for the advice about the discs. But what happens if you change your computer or it crashes? (Thanks Bear)

03/24/2005 01:14:43 PM · #19
Thanks for the posts on NI!! I tried it quickly for the first time - I used all automatic settings and this is what I got...
Original
After Neat Image

Hmmmm......
 03/24/2005 01:16:50 PM · #20
Originally posted by ebertdj:
Thanks for the posts on NI!! I tried it quickly for the first time - I used all automatic settings and this is what I got...
Original
After Neat Image

Hmmmm......


You should only use it on a noisey photo. The original in this case is not noisey and all it's done is remove any texture from the boy's face and make him look like a plastic doll. Thats one of my pet hates about people using neatimage on this site, "Attack-of-the-Plastic-People!" Rated R
 03/24/2005 01:24:17 PM · #21
LOL - that is what I was starting to think - thanks for the confirmation ...
 03/24/2005 01:31:01 PM · #22
Good looking plastic though. ;^) Also removed most of the fuzzies from the polar fleece jacket and did an ironing job on the curtains.
 03/24/2005 01:42:55 PM · #23
Originally posted by Konador:
"Attack-of-the-Plastic-People!" Rated R

The 'R' rating is the only reason I use it!
 03/24/2005 02:01:21 PM · #24
Originally posted by Konador:
Originally posted by ebertdj:
Thanks for the posts on NI!! I tried it quickly for the first time - I used all automatic settings and this is what I got...
Original
After Neat Image

Hmmmm......


You should only use it on a noisey photo. The original in this case is not noisey and all it's done is remove any texture from the boy's face and make him look like a plastic doll. Thats one of my pet hates about people using neatimage on this site, "Attack-of-the-Plastic-People!" Rated R


I love Konador
03/24/2005 02:04:44 PM · #25
Ok - so I took the 2 photos and merged them and used the eraser tool to get rid of some of the plastic look ... and got this


Better?
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