Neat Image Pro 8
Kasey Finkenbinder
Better cameras generate less image noise. Neat Image processing minimizes the noise out of your photos. So your point-and-shoot camera can produce pro-quality results. Neat Image reduces image noise so that shots taken at faster shutter speeds and higher ISO become more usable with Neat Image post-processing.
We've also optimized Neat Image for speed by taking full advantage of multi-core CPUs and GPUs. Superior noise reduction combined with blazing speed makes Neat Image the most efficient noise reduction solution available.
Your product is absolutely incredible! So pleased to demo your software and able to recover photographs from my Canon Powershot SX60's over-enthusiastic JPEG compression!
Noise and artefacts are gone!
Neat Image is superb! Well done.
Recently I had to take photos at ISO 6400, it was portraits. I am not eligible to publish them. But I was not satisfied with my skills in denoising with darktable. So I was seeking a more satisfactory solution.
Sluggy warrior recently mentioned Nind Denoise , a Linux tool using convolutional neural networks that was written as a Master thesis. To me, it seemed a bit complicated to get it running. Maybe I am wrong.
Screenshot from Neat Image, 12800 ISO. The selection shows a preview of the result after denoising & sharpening. The rest is from darktable tiff export, without any denoising and without sharpening.
In contrast to darktable, Neat Image does not offer the option to work with masks, at least not in the current version 9 and when used as a standalone. But of course one can produce multiple outputs and then selectively overlay with a software that allows to work with layers, such as GIMP.
In case you meant to work with darktable only and selectively denoise certain areas more and others less with darktable - well, yes, darktable offers excellent masking (no automatic recognition of shapes, though), but I personally with my skills am unable to achieve the same or similar level of denoising with darktable as Neat Image does, also locally. So that's not an option for me.
I think NeatImage does that automatically but with its own algorithm. It won't de-noise the contour areas and it won't apply sharpening on low contrast parts of the image. I find it quite good and quite useful for batches of pictures when I need it.
I always thought Neat Image did a great job (still does) but, for me, Topaz DeNoise (with a little fiddling) does a significantly better job of retaining and enhancing fine detail. I'm a Windows guy, so issues for me on that count...
I think this has been the way NeatImage has worked since the beginning at least for noise removal. I recall reading a blog on the NeatImage website years ago giving those details about the algorithm. The author does not expand on the details of the algorithm though . I am now using V8 too.
12800 ISO. Screenshot from a Windows machine. Left: Topaz DeNoise AI test version v3.7.0 standard settings. Right: Neat Image v9.0.2 standard settings. Both processed from exactly the same tiff exported from darktable. Topaz provides a smoother image. Neat Image maybe a little more vivid an image.
12800 ISO. At 109 % we see a clearly better result of Topaz (left) vs Neat Image (right). I do not know whether this shows the full performance each. But if it needs to be quick, in this case, yes, Topaz is the winner.
I'm sure it could be attributable to user error, but I downloaded the demo version of Neat Image and didn't like it so much. I think it is great for smoothing out the grain, but I feel it degraded the sharpness too much. I even had the sharpness setting to high. Maybe my expectations were too high. I've seen what Topaz can do.
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A pattern I noticed throughout my tests was that practically every image that DeNoise AI was applied on had a few areas that were either completely smudged due to excessive NR or had too much noise due to no/low NR. My theory is that DeNoise AI sometimes fails to separate areas of detail and noise in the image. The problem with this is that there is no opportunity to manually reduce/apply NR in those areas; it can only be done by the software.
NI v8 is certainly pretty good at reducing noise, but the learning curve can be slightly steep. DeNoise AI, on the other hand, is much easier and also quicker. The main issue with DeNoise AI is the lack of user control over the noise reduction process, though. Considering your interest in photographing deep sky objects, I presume your primary consideration would be whether you require full manual control over the process vs. a simple, non-complex software that provides you with just a few basic NR sliders.
In which case, under Windows you simply install NeatImage (to its default location, or elsewhere if you wish) and when you are asked to select the plugin folder you should be able to choose whichever one(s) you have dsignated in AP (via Preferences>Photoshop Plugins). I would guess installation under OSX should be the same?
Long-time user of Serif products, chiefly PagePlus and PhotoPlus, but also WebPlus, CraftArtistProfessional and DrawPlus. Delighted to be using Affinity Designer, Photo, and now Publisher, version 1 and now version 2.
So are you saying that NeatImage 8 does not work as a plugin in Photoshop Elements? Have you tested it in AP? When, in AP, you go to Preferences>Photoshop Plugins, do you see NeatImage listed? If so, it's likely to be listed as "Unknown", so have you also ticked the box in that preferences screen to "Allow "Unknown" Plugins to be used"?
Also, the support forums for NeatImage are very useful for directly contacting the developers. I know Neat is supposed to work in Photoshop Elements so it might be worth your while to post there if you cannot get the plugin to work properly.
I have been trying to install Neat Image. I can do everything you suggest except that I cannot see any Authorise Global button anywhere. The target directory appears in the list after restarting, but no plugin in the list below. I have authorised Unknown plug-ins.
Yes, the instructions above are for the Mac version only. The Authorise Global button allows the plugin to access other folders/files it may need to work (config files etc) since Affinity Photo is a sandboxed app.
I uninstalled Neat Image and downloaded the Neat Image photoshop plugin 64-bit demo version and re-installed. The NI setup did not offer to install into Affinity. However, I pointed AP to the right directory, and it now works.
I am keen to try Neat Image as it seems to offer a lot of flexibility in cleaning up images from scanned slides.
John
I uninstalled Neat Image and downloaded the Neat Image photoshop plugin 64-bit demo version and re-installed. The NI setup did not offer to install into Affinity. However, I pointed AP to the right directory, and it now works.
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