Noise is a serious problem in digital imaging
In digital photography, the consumer- and prosumer-level cameras produce images with an easily noticeable noise component, which is especially strong in images taken at high ISO rates. Scanned photos contain a similar film grain component. The noise and grain reduce the visual quality of digital images and resulting printouts.

The solution to the noise problem: Neat Image
Neat Image is a digital filter specifically designed to reduce visible noise in digital photographic images produced by modern digital cameras, as well as film and flatbed scanners.

Three main reasons to choose Neat Image:

• Neat Image uses the most advanced noise reduction algorithms in the industry
  Neat Image noise reduction algorithms are developed specifically for digital photography applications by a highly-qualified professional image processing research group. These algorithms surpass the quality of all classic noise reduction methods and even that of the wavelet-based methods. Although the wavelet-based methods were developed only 15-20 years ago and are still considered relatively modern, Neat Image uses an even newer and more efficient approach to noise reduction. This approach enables drawing a more clear distinction between noise and details in noisy images. This helps Neat Image reduce more noise and better preserve true details in digital photos and scans.
  
  
• Neat Image builds and uses device noise profiles to adapt noise reduction to imaging device
  A device noise profile is a reusable analysis of noise properties of an image acquisition device (a digital camera, scanner, etc.) working in a certain mode. Using a noise profile for an imaging device in effect makes Neat Image noise reduction custom-tailored to this imaging device.
  Device noise profile is a novel concept originally introduced by Neat Image team and supported by Neat Image user community who create noise profiles for many digital cameras and scanners.
  
  
• Neat Image efficiently reduces most noise types typical for digital cameras, film and flatbed scanners (some examples):
  • high ISO noise produced by image sensors of digital cameras and scanners (CCD, CMOS, SuperCCD, Foveon, etc.)
  • film grain visible in scanned slides and negatives
  • JPEG artifacts in overcompressed images
  • grain aliasing
  • moire patterns
  • color banding
    
    
  A useful side effect of Neat Image noise reduction is that noise-free images are better compressable. By reducing noise you can reduce the JPEG file sizes by 30-40% (even if the same compression level is used to save both noisy and noise-free images).

2.

• Neat Image can be directly used in Photoshop-based workflow
  
  • Photoshop plug-in version of Neat Image can apply noise reduction and sharpening exactly where is required:
    in a layer, channel, or selection
    
    
  • The plug-in fully respects transparency of image data like the Photoshop built-in filters do, so you can apply noise reduction with different strength to different image areas
    
    
  • Neat Image Pro plug-in can work as a smart filter in Photoshop CS6 / CS5 / CS4 / CS3
    
    
  • Neat Image Pro plug-in can run in Photoshop actions and do noise analysis and apply filtration completely automatically
    
    
  • You can automatically batch process images using the Photoshop batch facility and an action with Neat Image Pro plug-in
    
    
  • Neat Image plug-in can be used with the following plug-in hosts:
    
    • Adobe Photoshop CS6 / CS5.x / CS4 / CS3 / CS2 / CS / 7
    • Adobe Photoshop Elements 11 / 10 / 9 / 8 / 6 / 4 / 3 / 2
    • Photoline 16 / 15
    • GraphicConverter X
    • other hosts supporting PS plug-ins
      
      
      
• Neat Image is highly automated
  
  • Building noise profiles:
    • Auto Profile provides the easiest and quickest way to automatically build a noise profile in just one click
      Auto Profile finds one primary analysis area (shown in GUI) and multiple secondary areas to build an accurate profile
      
    • You can also manually select an image area for primary analysis and let Neat Image do the rest
      
      
  • Choosing noise profile:
    • Auto Match can automatically select the best matching noise profile from a pre-built profile set using the EXIF data
      
    • You can manually select the desired noise profile as well
      
      
  • Adjusting filter settings:
    • Based on accurate noise profile, default filter settings automatically provide good filtration results without additional tweaking
      
    • Manual filter tweaking is always available too, if you want to get the result that looks perfect to your eyes
      
      
  • You can easily save and later re-use both noise profiles and filter settings
    
    
  • You can use Neat Image noise reduction in Photoshop-based batches
    
    
    
• Neat Image provides exactly the amount of control required
  
  • Standard mode offers a simplified control set that is very easy to use for new users
    
    
  • Advanced mode gives power users the most complete control set to tweak all filter settings
    
    
    
• Neat Image helps to adjust filter setting with efficient visual feedback
  
  • Embedded preview shows how the end result will look like and helps you visually compare 'filtered' and 'original' versions
    
    
  • Per-channel and per-frequency preview modes to identify most noisy components that require special attention; you can adjust the filter settings corresponding to those image components and immediately see the results
    
    
    
• Neat Image is fast and efficient
  
  • Neat Image v7 can use all available cores in multi-core processors as well as all processors in multiprocessor systems, which in effect makes filtration 1.5-1.9 times faster on dual-core / dual-processor systems and even faster on multi-core / multiprocessor machines
    Neat Image v7 processes a 10 Megapixel digital photo in 1-2 seconds on a modern Mac with Intel i7 processor
    
    
  • Neat Image v7 can use CUDA GPUs and certain AMD/ATI GPUs to further accelerate image processing
    for example, with NVidia GTX 470 Neat Image is about x2.5 faster than on Intel i7 and x3-x7 faster than on Intel i5 or Core2 Duo
    
    
    
• Neat Image supports the industry standard image types and file formats
  
  • 8-bit / 16-bit / 32-bit per channel RGB and grayscale images can be processed
    (individual channels of Lab and CMYK images can be processed by Neat Image plug-in as well)
    
    
  • Any file format supported by Photoshop can be used with the Neat Image plug-in
    (for example, you can open a PSD, JPEG2000, RAW, DNG, etc., image using Photoshop and then directly process it with the Neat Image plug-in)
    
    
  • Neat Image preserves all image metadata (like the EXIF and IPTC data)
    
    
    
• Several tools and resources help you customize Neat Image to your digital camera or scanner
  
  • Rich set of free ready-made noise profiles available in the online profile library helps to start using Neat Image faster and easier
    
    
  • Calibration Target and Batch Profiler make building a set of noise profiles for your camera or scanner very simple

3.

• Neat Image plug-in for Photoshop (Mac) is currently produced in three editions:
  
  
  • Demo plug-in: freeware edition with limited functionality; free; download
    This edition demonstrates the capabilities of Neat Image and can be used to process small images for non-commercial purposes.
    
    
  • Home plug-in: provides full support for 8-bit (per channel) images; $39.90; purchase
    This edition is intended for home users. Supports 8-bit images (like JPEGs produced by compact cameras).
    The perfect match for Photoshop Elements.
    
    
  • Pro plug-in: provides full support for 8- , 16- and 32-bit images and works in Photoshop actions; $79.90; purchase
    This edition is intended for professionals who process large amounts of images and work with high-bitdepth images.
    The best choice for the full version of Photoshop.
    
    
    See Neat Image features and feature map for detailed description of these Neat image editions.
    
    
    
• Order a license for Neat Image Home or Pro plug-in for Photoshop (Mac)