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05/05/2007 02:33:43 PM · #1 |
Has anyone used neat image and is Noise Ninja that much better than neat image. I have had great results with Neat Image and can't see spending the money on Noise Ninja unless it is tons better.
Thanks, Jeremy |
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05/05/2007 03:08:49 PM · #2 |
I like NI much better, but I am sure that opinions differ. NN is not nearly as user-friendly s NI, and with great NI results, I'd have a hard time seeing reasons to add yet another piece of software. I've used both and I far prefer the results and interface of NI, but I have also concentrated MOST of my time with NI.
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05/05/2007 03:13:18 PM · #3 |
I'll second Eric on this one. I have used both but I always go back to Neatimage.. Noise Ninja has comparable results but I found it a tad more longwinded.
Why are you looking at an alternative to NeatImage? Are you dissatisfied with the results? Unless you are an avid pixel peeper (aren't we all?) then if you are already using Neatimage I really dont think you need to change. |
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05/05/2007 03:20:13 PM · #4 |
I haven't used NN much, but have been a long-time user of NI. From reviews I've seen, performance is pretty equivalent. The user interfaces are quite different; some prefer the NN interface, and some prefer NI.
Bottom line, if you're comfortable with NI, stick with it. |
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05/05/2007 03:29:41 PM · #5 |
| Although, and this is from memory so I may be wrong, Noise Ninja had a great feature where you could `paint` the noise reduction in actually in the NN interface.. or did I dream that? I'm pretty sure I didnt. |
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05/05/2007 03:36:19 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by Simms:
Although, and this is from memory so I may be wrong, Noise Ninja had a great feature where you could `paint` the noise reduction in actually in the NN interface.. or did I dream that? I'm pretty sure I didnt. |
Not sure about that, but in any case, it's certainly possible to do the same thing with the NI Photoshop plugin, although it means doing it on a separate layer. That, however, is definitely the preferred method, since the masking can be tweaked later (non-destructive). |
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05/05/2007 04:05:14 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by kirbic:
Originally posted by Simms:
Although, and this is from memory so I may be wrong, Noise Ninja had a great feature where you could `paint` the noise reduction in actually in the NN interface.. or did I dream that? I'm pretty sure I didnt. |
Not sure about that, but in any case, it's certainly possible to do the same thing with the NI Photoshop plugin, although it means doing it on a separate layer. That, however, is definitely the preferred method, since the masking can be tweaked later (non-destructive). |
It does ahve that feature, but kirbic's suggestion is spot on. Just use layers and mask away.
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05/05/2007 05:08:24 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by ericwoo:
..., but kirbic's suggestion is spot on. ... |
Seems like all of kirbic's suggestions are "spot on"!!
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05/05/2007 05:22:51 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by kirbic:
Not sure about that, but in any case, it's certainly possible to do the same thing with the NI Photoshop plugin, although it means doing it on a separate layer. That, however, is definitely the preferred method, since the masking can be tweaked later (non-destructive). |
This has me thinking is there a way to create a layer mask based on the darkness of an image? Maybe it's a bad idea, but since in my experience most noise show up in the darker parts of the images. Is there a way for me to create a layer mask selection of say the darkest 1/4 or 1/3 of the image then send THAT to the plugin?
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05/05/2007 05:46:09 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by _eug:
... is there a way to create a layer mask based on the darkness of an image? Maybe it's a bad idea, but since in my experience most noise show up in the darker parts of the images. Is there a way for me to create a layer mask selection of say the darkest 1/4 or 1/3 of the image then send THAT to the plugin? |
That is a great question. The closest you can come, I think, is to use a "color range" choice under the 'Select' menu. In that case, in Photoshop anyway, you would hold down the shift key and drag across the dark areas of the image to make the selection.
If you have the NI plugin you can make the selection before you invoke NI and it will be applied only to the selected area, just like selections work everywhere else in PS.
I've done this many times with sky selections and backgrounds where noise only appears in certain areas of the frame or where I want noise reduction smoothing for soft focused backgrounds.
Message edited by author 2007-05-05 17:49:01.
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05/05/2007 05:51:25 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by kirbic:
Originally posted by Simms:
Although, and this is from memory so I may be wrong, Noise Ninja had a great feature where you could `paint` the noise reduction in actually in the NN interface.. or did I dream that? I'm pretty sure I didnt. |
Not sure about that, but in any case, it's certainly possible to do the same thing with the NI Photoshop plugin, although it means doing it on a separate layer. That, however, is definitely the preferred method, since the masking can be tweaked later (non-destructive). |
NN does have that feature. If I understand it correctly, you can either paint it in, or paint it out, so to say. In other words, you can paint the areas where you want to reduce noise, or paint the areas where you don't want to reduce noise. At least that's the way I understand it. I hope I'm not wrong :)
BTW, I like Noise Ninja. I tried NI, but somehow NN makes more sense to my way of thinking.
Message edited by author 2007-05-05 17:58:49. |
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05/05/2007 05:54:48 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by _eug:
Originally posted by kirbic:
Not sure about that, but in any case, it's certainly possible to do the same thing with the NI Photoshop plugin, although it means doing it on a separate layer. That, however, is definitely the preferred method, since the masking can be tweaked later (non-destructive). |
This has me thinking is there a way to create a layer mask based on the darkness of an image? Maybe it's a bad idea, but since in my experience most noise show up in the darker parts of the images. Is there a way for me to create a layer mask selection of say the darkest 1/4 or 1/3 of the image then send THAT to the plugin? |
One way that I like to work on noise is to make a mask by selecting one of the channels, and then either using NN on that selection, or, in some cases, inverting the selection and using the inverse.
It works particularily well for images where noise is in the sky. Select the blue channel (as a mask), then run NN on the image with the selection on, and your sky gets a nice noise reduction without other areas being affected.
Selecting the green channel and inverting tends to work a bit like selecting by darkness, because the green channel seems to have the lightest values overall (I might be wrong, but it seems to be that way). If you select the green channel, and invert, what you got left is a lot of dark areas. Run NN with that selection on, and you'll be able to reduce noise only in dark areas.
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05/05/2007 06:31:12 PM · #13 |
Originally posted by Simms:
Although, and this is from memory so I may be wrong, Noise Ninja had a great feature where you could `paint` the noise reduction in actually in the NN interface.. or did I dream that? I'm pretty sure I didnt. |
It's true, but I find it easier to just use a second layer and layer masks.
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05/05/2007 06:33:07 PM · #14 |
Originally posted by _eug:
Originally posted by kirbic:
Not sure about that, but in any case, it's certainly possible to do the same thing with the NI Photoshop plugin, although it means doing it on a separate layer. That, however, is definitely the preferred method, since the masking can be tweaked later (non-destructive). |
This has me thinking is there a way to create a layer mask based on the darkness of an image? Maybe it's a bad idea, but since in my experience most noise show up in the darker parts of the images. Is there a way for me to create a layer mask selection of say the darkest 1/4 or 1/3 of the image then send THAT to the plugin? |
Yup, Use ~ to select highlight, invert the selection and then create the mask.
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05/05/2007 06:54:38 PM · #15 |
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
It's true, but I find it easier to just use a second layer and layer masks. |
This would normally be my first choice to.
It is fast, easy and completely non-destructive and if you retain the layers in a master file you can later make fine adjustments any time long after you initially saved the image.
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05/05/2007 06:56:45 PM · #16 |
Thanks for all the replies. I was just wondering if I was missing out on something since I use Neat Image and all I ever hear on this site is Noise Ninja.
Thanks Guys, Jeremy |
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05/05/2007 06:57:16 PM · #17 |
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
Originally posted by _eug:
Originally posted by kirbic:
Not sure about that, but in any case, it's certainly possible to do the same thing with the NI Photoshop plugin, although it means doing it on a separate layer. That, however, is definitely the preferred method, since the masking can be tweaked later (non-destructive). |
This has me thinking is there a way to create a layer mask based on the darkness of an image? Maybe it's a bad idea, but since in my experience most noise show up in the darker parts of the images. Is there a way for me to create a layer mask selection of say the darkest 1/4 or 1/3 of the image then send THAT to the plugin? |
Yup, Use ~ to select highlight, invert the selection and then create the mask. |
Isn't it to select highlights and invert to get dark areas. |
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05/05/2007 07:34:21 PM · #18 |
Originally posted by Monique64:
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
Originally posted by _eug:
Originally posted by kirbic:
Not sure about that, but in any case, it's certainly possible to do the same thing with the NI Photoshop plugin, although it means doing it on a separate layer. That, however, is definitely the preferred method, since the masking can be tweaked later (non-destructive). |
This has me thinking is there a way to create a layer mask based on the darkness of an image? Maybe it's a bad idea, but since in my experience most noise show up in the darker parts of the images. Is there a way for me to create a layer mask selection of say the darkest 1/4 or 1/3 of the image then send THAT to the plugin? |
Yup, Use ~ to select highlight, invert the selection and then create the mask. |
Isn't it to select highlights and invert to get dark areas. |
Wow, and I thought I was being so smart working with channel masks! :)
Learn something every day :) |
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05/05/2007 07:51:47 PM · #19 |
Originally posted by ursula:
Learn something every day :) |
You and me both. ;)
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