redpepper Loc: Central NY

Hi all,

I was just editing a batch of images and noticed that there was considerable noise on images after exporting cr2 (raw) w/standard sharpening for matte paper.

I've uploaded two images: 1 has standard sharpening upon export. Image 2 has additional sharpening of 25 in develop module.

I understand that raws need some sharpening. How can I alleviate this noise and sharpen too? My images captured in high quality jpeg w/o sharpening do not have this noise.

Standard sharpen on export


With add'l sharpening

Bret Loc: Dayton Ohio

Looks like maybe a slight color difference in red..the hat and the lips just a tad.

robert-photos Loc: Chicago

Did you change the exposure in LR? Changing the exposure in post introduces the same noise as increasing the ISO in camera.

You can run your photos thru Topaz DeNoise and then sharpen using the high pass method instead of unsharp mask in post as your last step. Just a suggestion. :thumbup:

redpepper Loc: Central NY

Thats a very good point. I noticed the little speks when zooming 1:1. If you download the pics and view at 100% youll see the difference between the levels of sharpening. I think its the sharpening doing it, because my captured jpgs that also have had exposure adjusted in pp dont have these speks when viewing 1:1.

Hmm..

birdpix Loc: South East Pennsylvania

Your JPEGs already have some noise reduction applied in camera. LR may or may not have a minimal amount of NR applied upon import. You need to check the NR setings in LR and increase them an appropriate amount. Noise reduction and sharpening always need to be done together to get the optimum photo.

As stated, increasing exposure in PP can result in additional noise being introduced.

redpepper Loc: Central NY

Birdpix, so if I typically sharpen on export, how would I NR? Its fruitless for me to do it individually before export. Should I do it by batch? As much as I love the color gamut of raw....Im seeing the convenience of jpeg.

birdpix Loc: South East Pennsylvania

I think the problem here is that you are used to seeing JPGs that are both sharpened AND have noise reduction applied in camera. RAW files, when imported to lightroom, usually have a small amount of sharpening applied by LR but don't have any luminence noise reduction applied. You can create a preset in LR that you can apply during import that can automatically add some sharpening and noise reduction. I do that regularly. My preset also includes a certain amount of clarity and vibrance. This saves me a lot of time as I then only have to adjust these values if the photo needs extra attention.

Here is a link to a tutorial I did some months ago about sharpening and noise reduction that may be of help to you.
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-45979-1.html

Don't confuse output sharpening with capture sharpening.

Output sharpening is done on export and varies depending on whether the photo is to be seen on the screen or in print and by how much the photo is enlarged or reduced and the paper surface being used.

Capture sharpening is done "in camera" for JPGs and in Post Processing for RAW files and is an integral part of processing a photo.

Photos that look sharp on the screen will look less sharp when printed. That is why we add some additional sharpening on export.

redpepper Loc: Central NY

Ok, now I understand. I will look at the link first thing in am. What values do you use for import preset? I'll try and mimic that on a few images and see what happens. Thanks so much for clearing that up. BTW, I love your avatar. I just joined a nature/outdoor photog group and I've got a new appreciation for nature by seeing it thru the camera.

DPFotos Loc: Pembroke, Ma

A rule of thumb I have been told many times, and one I always go by is that with babies never sharpen or increase the clarity. In fact I would use the noise reduction tool in ACR 7.3 or Lightroom 4 to reduce my noise then use the adjustment brush to selectfully sharpen parts of the image like the eyes and maybe the lips. The noise will be mostly in the shadows and darker parts of the image. Use the adjustment brush and decrease clarity in these areas.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

One way to figure out if you have noise induced from sharpening in LR is to hold down the alt key while you move the sliders...that will show you what you are doing much easier...in this screen shot, i was moving the "masking" slider...you can see that I'm sharpening more than just what I intended...I've got noise all through the skin area.

The second thing is...what ISO were these shot at? You can't underexpose and fix and not expect noise.

DPFotos Loc: Pembroke, Ma

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

oldtool2 Loc: South Jersey

Many do not realise the advantage of using the mask slider in LR. Any time you sharpen a photo you will induce some noise.

By holding down the alt key and moving the mask slider you will see areas becoming black. These black areas are areas that will not be sharpened in your photo so these black areas will not have the noise in those aeas sharpened or increased. This helps a great deal in keeping noise down in areas you do not want to increase it in.

Jim D

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

You can create a preset so minimal or no sharping is performed when you import RAW files into LR the same preset can bet also set in regards to noise reduction

I STOP TO SHOOT Loc: By the No. CA Sea

That, is a cute baby in the Santa outfit...

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

If you are printing on matte paper you want the extra noise. Matte paper tends to soften an image and extra sharpening is the answer most of the time.

If you're just going to view on screen use the mask slider in LR. Hold down the Alt key while sliding the slider. You will see your screen go from all white with slider to the left to parts being black as you slide it t the right. Slide it to the right and when the parts that have noise are back you've 'masked' the extra sharpening out of those parts and you are only sharpening the edges. If you can't do it this way, you'll need to do selective sharpening in CS or PSE.