EXIF data for DPCPrints - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

02/19/2006 11:59:31 PM · #1

Does the image submitted for DPCPrints need to have EXIF data? I use free version of NeatImage, and it strips off EXIF data and I need to use it for most of my images for noise reduction (and sometimes for sharpening also).

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

02/20/2006 12:13:46 AM · #2

No.

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

02/20/2006 12:22:45 AM · #3

Originally posted by cpanaioti:

No.

Thanks! But does it impact the quality of print in any way? I believe free copy of NeatImage saves the file at "high" quality JPEG ... but I'm not too sure if its "hightest". I'm also planning to interpolate my 6MP images by around 50% (Overall size of 150%).

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

02/20/2006 12:26:37 AM · #4

The free version of NI actually comppresses the result quite a bit. On some images it may look fine but you should review the result at 100%.

If you're planning interpolation I would apply the NI last to reduce the compression effects or use your editing software to do the noise reduction.

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

02/20/2006 12:32:24 AM · #5

Originally posted by cpanaioti:

Thats a good idea but I'm not very comfortable using Noise reduction in PS. I have tried but never got results as good as NI. I'm actually confused between what options to use in PS. There are four sub-commands under Noise Reduction - Pixelate, Median, Dust and.., and there is some fourth one also. Which one can give me results equivalent to NI?

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

02/20/2006 12:38:24 AM · #6

Which version of PS are you using? CS2 has an actual Noise Reduction option on that menu.

Median and Dust and Scratches do work but you have to play with the parameters so as not to lose too much detail (less is more). Applying it to a layer and changing the opacity can work as well.

Another option is to create a duplicate layer and use gaussian blur then change the blend mode to colour. This changes the noise to b/w and it looks more like film grain. Adjust the opacity of the layer to get the effect you want.

You may only want to apply it to a selection such as the sky or some dark problematic area.

Message edited by author 2006-02-20 00:39:03.

02/20/2006 12:52:29 AM · #7

Originally posted by cpanaioti:

These seem to be helpful :) I'll try them out from home tonight (In office. From India).

I'm using PS7. It has noice reduction under "filter" with these four options - Despeckle, Add Noice, Dust and Scratches, Median.

Anyway, I just found this good article on reducing noise by "image averaging". Though this only works for multiple exposures, but it surely interesting. :)

Artifacts

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

02/20/2006 01:02:07 AM · #8

Originally posted by tejinder:

Originally posted by cpanaioti:
If you're planning interpolation I would apply the NI last to reduce the compression effects or use your editing software to do the noise reduction.

Thats a good idea but I'm not very comfortable using Noise reduction in PS. I have tried but never got results as good as NI. I'm actually confused between what options to use in PS. There are four sub-commands under Noise Reduction - Pixelate, Median, Dust and.., and there is some fourth one also. Which one can give me results equivalent to NI?

An issue you face is that it is preferable to apply NI early, not late in your workflow. The reason for that is that subsequent actions will have better results if the noise has already been removed.

Only PS CS has an actual "reduce noise" selection. It is new. As you have already discovered the other PS tools are not very good. But I can tell you, having used both, that NI does much better at artifact reduction than PS CS2. PS, ironically, does do a better job at color noise reduction. Since CS2's "reduce noise" can be set to just remove color noise I use both together as needed.

I cannot remember if the free NI will open different formats but only save in .jpg or not. If it does then you have the option of taking your pictures in raw or .tiff (whichever is smaller) and then be sure it is converted to .tiff before opening in NI. Then you send to NI right away and you will have only 1 .jpg conversion before you opened it for the rest of your post processing. That is like taking it as .jpg in the first place, only without the noise. :) That avoids one .jpg save.