Topaz DeNoise 5 from Topaz Labs is the latest version 5 of the noise reduction program. Among other improvements Topaz Labs introduced two innovative noise reduction tools – a Dual-directional Debanding technology that tackles banding noise, and a Correct Black Level parameter that helps to restore shadow tones. Topaz claims that while other competing noise reduction tools utilize a range of subtle blurring techniques that often removes detail as well as noise, Topaz DeNoise 5 is the only software of its kind that is able to recover crisp detail while simultaneously removing up to four stops of noise with the utmost quality.
Below is the DeNoise screen that appears after you invoke the plugin from Lightroom, Photoshop or other host image editing program (click on the image to display it in full resolution).
Topaz DeNoise 5 Screen
The screen will be familiar to existing Topaz users, with several standard, easy-to-use presets on the left panel and detailed adjustable settings in the right panel.
Topaz DeNoise Presets
The right panel also includes a handy magnifying switch that allows you to view the noise reduction effects at 100-400%.
Topaz DeNoise Presets
In most cases, using one of the standard presets will be fully adequate. For images with a low amount of noise, use the Light or Moderate presets, and for really low-ISO images with a lot of noise and color contamination use one of the Strong presets (Strong, Stronger, Strongest, Strongest with Debanding).
If your image requires a more advanced treatment, start with the Moderate or Strong preset and then switch to the right Settings panel.
Typically, you’ll start with the luminance noise reduction. The Luma channel preview masks out the color information and makes it easier to see the luminance noise as you use the Strength, Adjust Shadows, and Adjust Highlights sliders to reduce the visible noise in Midtones, Shadows, and Highlights to an acceptable level. After making the luminance noise adjustments, use the Detail Adjustment controls to recover any details lost in the noise reduction process.
If your image contains color noise problems, switch from Luma to RGB mode or specific Red and Blue color modes and use the Red, Blue or Clean Color Adjustment sliders to neutralize the color spots. The Correct black slider is one of the new additions and it helps to eliminate haze from the black areas and make them darker.
Finally, if you see any banding noise, you can experiment with the horizontal or vertical sliders in the Debanding panel to clean it up. In my testing, I found that when debanding eliminated some abnormalities, sometimes it introduced new random patterns, but that might be what the designers intended.
Topaz DeNoise 5 is the most advanced noise reduction tool I used, yet it is very logical, easy-to-learn, and easy-to-use. Compared to Lightroom and NIK Dfine, the ability to restore fine edges, other fine details, and black levels is very good. DeNoise 5 works with both 32 bit and 64 bit versions of Photoshop CS5-CS6 and CS CC on Mac and Windows systems.
EXAMPLE 1:
Owl – Untreated Image – minimal noise, ISO 2500, D600
Owl – LR NR with Luminosity value 25
Owl – NIK Dfine Automatic
Owl – Topaz Denoise 5 – Moderate Preset
Owl – Topaz Denoise 5 – Strong Preset
Although this image didn’t require too much noise reduction, from the last two Topaz images it can be seen that the detail in eyes and feathers has been preserved better than in the LR and NIK treatments.
EXAMPLE 2:
Fruit – Untreated Image – heavy noise, H1.0/ISO 6400, D300
LR NR with Luminosity Value of 60
NIK Dfine – Automatic
Topaz DeNoise 5 – Moderate preset
Since this image started with a heavy noise, it required a more aggressive treatment. All three programs handled competently the large areas, but if you look at the end of the pepper stem, you can see significantly more detail in the Topaz result than in the other treatments.
EXAMPLE 3:
LR NR with Luminosity of 60
NIK Dfine, Automatic
Topaz Denoise 5 Strongest Preset with Debanding
In the last example, we applied the strongest possible Denoise preset that almost eliminated the really heavy noise, and although the image is much cleaner than the ones processed by LR
and NIK, the details are not preserved quite as well as with a slightly less aggressive treatment.
To download the latest Topaz Denoise version, use the following link to enter the Topaz Labs website to get a discount
http://www.topazlabs.com/861.html
You can use this link and a discount code “lespalenik” at anytime, also for other Topaz single plugins or a complete bundle at 15% off
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