Neat Image :: How to use :: Quick start guide

Neat Image /Win

To make images look better.

Win | Mac

How to use Neat Image :: Quick start guide

This quick start guide is related to the latest version of Neat Image: Neat Image v5 ( download )
If you use an older version of Neat Image, please download the latest version.

This quick start guide illustrates use of the standalone Neat Image. Also see how to use the plug-in version.

1. Start Neat Image

- Filtration Job Editor will open up:

2. Open the image that you want to process

3. Switch to Device Noise Profile tab

4. Build a noise profile for this image using Auto Profiler

Auto Profiler will automacally find, select and analyze a featureless image area that contains only noise and no important details:

Visually inspect the selected image area - it should contain NO VISIBLE DETAILS, only noise; otherwise analysis and subsequent noise reduction may be inaccurate.

If the selected area does contain any details, move the selection to a featureless area or simply draw a new selection in such an area (the selection should be more than 60x60 pixels large). Then click the Auto profile button again.

After that, a new noise profile is ready and the input image can be processed.

5. Switch to Noise Filter Settings tab

6. Use preview

Neat Image will automatically select an area in the image and prepare a preview in the selection:

You can click on the selected area to compare before and after versions.

7. Adjust filter settings

Noise Filter panel of Neat Image software a) reset the filter settings using the Trash Can buttons (both noise filter and sharpening settings).

b) default filter settings should produce good results but try to vary the settings and see how the preview changes:

Start by varying Noise Reduction Amounts: Luminance channel. This controls how much of the detected noise is removed in the luminance channel of the image. Too high value of the noise reduction amount can lead to unnatural (oversmooth, plastic-like) results. Too low values may be not enough to sufficiently reduce objectionable noise. You have to balance the noise reduction amount in the luminance channel to get the result that looks best to YOUR eyes.
Default values of Noise Levels usually provide good results. If the noise analysis was accurate in step 4 above then you do not have to adjust the Noise Levels settings. You only have to change them if you see that there is any objectionable residual noise or JPEG compression artifacts remaining after applying filter, even if the Noise Reduction Amounts settings are set to remove 100% of the detected noise. In such a case, increase the Noise Levels values to tell Neat Image that there are some residual noise elements remaining in the luminance or chrominance channels.
You can find more details about noise filter settings in the User Guide, the Filtration process details section, the Stage III. Adjust filter settings subsection.

c) when you are happy with the preview results proceed to the next step below.

8. Switch to Output Image tab and apply the filter to the whole image

When the filtration is done, click on the image to temporarily switch back to the input image to compare original and filtered images.

9. Save output image

The above steps explain the basic Neat Image workflow. There is a lot more information about building noise profiles, adjusting filter settings, using the calibration target, etc.

Please use the following materials to learn more about using Neat Image:

More information on device noise profiling with examples of good and bad areas for noise profiling
Recommended: the Filtration process details section of the user guide
Questions and Answers
Tips and Tricks
Neat Image community forum - a lot of useful information and practical experince of Neat Image user can be found there
Technical support by e-mail

Changed on: September 26, 2006