How much noise reduction should I apply in post-processing?
Asked 7/3/2012
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When editing a photo—especially a high-ISO image—how do you decide how much noise reduction to use? I know the answer depends on the image, the sensor, and the intended output, but I’m looking for practical guidelines or best practices: how much is too much, how much is too little, and what’s a good starting point for general-purpose editing?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
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There is no "technically correct" answer either, for a number of reasons:
- Noise in images varies based on the actual exposure, and unless every image you take is evenly lit across the frame, the right amount of NR will vary.
- Different sensors have different noise characteristics. This year's models are so much better than those from five years ago that any fixed answer would have to change anyway. This isn't just in the quantity of noise, but in the amount and character of the noise.
- Noise reduction comes at the expense of detail. The "technically correct" answer varies depending on where you want to make that tradeoff for each image.
- Noise reduction algorithms will affect different details differently, and human perception of the change may be better or worse. Generally, I can tolerate a lot less noise reduction smoothing in human faces than I can in other subjects, for example.
- Different output media (for prints and even for digital viewing) tolerate different levels of noise.
If there were a technically correct answer, all software would just do that. But there isn't.
Originally by user1943. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1943
14y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
There isn’t a single “correct” amount. Noise reduction always trades detail for smoothness, so the best amount depends on the image, the camera’s noise characteristics, the exposure, and your taste.
A good baseline is: start with no noise reduction, then increase it only as needed. In general, use the lowest amount that makes the noise acceptable for the image’s intended use.
A practical rule of thumb is to raise luminance noise reduction until the grain stops being distracting, then back it off slightly so a little texture remains. If you remove all visible grain, images can start to look plasticky or smeared.
So, in short:
- too little = noise is still distracting
- too much = fine detail and natural texture are lost
- good starting point = none, or a very small default amount if you consistently prefer it
Evaluate at a sensible zoom level and remember that different photos will need different settings.
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