Neat Image plug-in for Photoshop 32-bit and standalone (Windows) 
To make images look better. 

Neat Image plug-in
for Photoshop 32-bit
and standalone

for Windows


Quick start guide

This guide is for Neat Image v6 32-bit /Win, specifically for the standalone version included in all editions.
Also see how to use the plug-in version.

If you use another version of Neat Image, please check its documentation.

 

I. Start Neat Image

Filtration Job Editor will open up:

 

II. Open input image in Neat Image

Click the Open input image button:

 

III. Switch to Device Noise Profile

Click the Device Noise Profile tab:

 

IV. Build noise profile using Auto Profile

1. Click the Auto Profile button to build a new noise profile for the input image:

Auto Profile will try to automatically find and analyze a flat featureless image area that contains only noise and no important details:

2. Visually inspect the selected image area - it should contain NO VISIBLE DETAILS, only noise; otherwise the noise profile 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 32x32 pixels large). Then click the Auto profile button again.

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

 

V. Switch to Noise Filter Settings

Click the Noise Filter Settings tab:

 

VI. Use preview

Click the Preview button to prepare a preview based on default filter settings:

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

Hint: click in the selected area in Neat Image to compare before and after versions.

 

VII. Adjust Filter Settings to achieve desired level of noise reduction and sharpening

Noise Filter panel of Neat Image software1. Reset the filter settings using the Trash Can buttons (for noise filter and sharpening).

2. 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, so you can just leave the default values.
If the noise analysis was accurate in step IV 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.

3. When you are happy with the preview results proceed to the next step below.

 

VIII. Switch to Output Image tab and Apply filter

Click the Output Image tab and then click the Apply button to start processing:

When the filtration is completed, click the image in Neat Image window to temporarily switch back to the input image to compare the original and filtered images.

 

IX. Save output image

Click the Save output image button to save the filtered image:

 

The above steps explain the basic Neat Image standalone 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:

 

 Changed on:  December 4, 2008  Copyright © 1999-2009 ABSoft. All rights reserved.  Privacy Statement