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: 
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II. Open input image in Neat Image Click the Open input image button: 
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III. Switch to Device Noise Profile Click the Device Noise Profile tab: 
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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: 
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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  1.
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: 
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Windows
Standalone 
Photoshop 
Mac OSX
