Denoise: If I intend to convert an image to B&W, when would I use denoise if it was necessary? Before conversion (while still in color) or after conversion to B&W? When would I denoise...

will47 Loc: Indianapolis, IN

If I intend to convert an image to B&W, when would I use denoise if it was necessary? Before conversion (while still in color) or after conversion to B&W? When would I denoise if I do not use either Siver Efex or Topaz and decide to do the conversion straight up in PS? Thanks.

rmm0605 Loc: Atlanta GA

will47 wrote:

If I intend to convert an image to B&W, when would I use denoise if it was necessary? Before conversion (while still in color) or after conversion to B&W? When would I denoise if I do not use either Siver Efex or Topaz and decide to do the conversion straight up in PS? Thanks.

IMHO, you should "denoise" at the origin of the process, i.e., before conversion to B&W. Otherwise you just amplify the noise and package it with the converted image.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

My routine is deNoise, Detail, Clarity making the photo as good as I can with post-processing, then apply any arty program such as BW. this agrees with rmm0605's opinion.

A hint in one of those tedious hour-long Topaz webinars ... the presenter suggested not using the 200x image in deNoise rather use the 100x, the reason being that is ok in 100x the remaining noise will never be seen.

Photoshop to me is a one sock fits all feet program; a Swiss Army Knife is not a good anything because it tries to be everything. Using a program that specialized in BW conversion to me is the better bet.

Topaz BW2 lets you select the color to be the major role player. That suggests deNoise in color. Nothing says you can not use deNoise only once. Playing around can find your best result... and then you can tell all of us in UHH what you found works well.

will47 Loc: Indianapolis, IN

dpullum wrote:

My routine is deNoise, Detail, Clarity making the ... (show quote)

Thank you.

joseph premanandan

Luminar 2018 also has a denoise option and works well.

Bipod

will47 wrote:

If I intend to convert an image to B&W, when would I use denoise if it was necessary? Before conversion (while still in color) or after conversion to B&W? When would I denoise if I do not use either Siver Efex or Topaz and decide to do the conversion straight up in PS? Thanks.

Noise is called "noise" because it's random. It represents the destruction of information.
You can cover it up, but you can't get the lost information back.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

I always do it first.

CaptainPhoto

will47 wrote:

If I intend to convert an image to B&W, when would I use denoise if it was necessary? Before conversion (while still in color) or after conversion to B&W? When would I denoise if I do not use either Siver Efex or Topaz and decide to do the conversion straight up in PS? Thanks.

Take a look at the image in LR - Detail Panel. First work with removing any Color Noise then remove any Luminance Noise, after that do any Sharpening that may be needed. Then make all your basic Globel and Local adjustments while still in color. Then convert to B&W. You can do this in LR using the B&W option in the Basic-Treatment Panel. Check out the LR presets for B&W or the Profiles on the right panel if you have LR Classic. Explore the B&W Mix Panel after you select B&W in the Treatment Panel. You can also try NIK Silver Effects Pro - it does a great job also. After you make your first B&W adjustments, make a print and see how it turns out. Once you see it in print form you may want to go back and make some more adjustments. Creating a good B&W is not a one-step process. B&W is lots of fun. Enjoy the process.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Though I rarely use any noise filters, I'd suggest doing it straight away in your processing. Like sharpening, doing this at the start of the process gives you a good foundation for the remaining work you intend to do.
--Bob

will47 wrote:

If I intend to convert an image to B&W, when would I use denoise if it was necessary? Before conversion (while still in color) or after conversion to B&W? When would I denoise if I do not use either Siver Efex or Topaz and decide to do the conversion straight up in PS? Thanks.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Use Denoise before conversion.

pahtspix

DENOISE before you do ANYTHING..It's my 1st step in editing ANY image in Photoshop CC 2018..

PierreD

I always thought that the general recommendation is to denoise at the BEGINNING of the image processing and to sharpen at the very END. Is there an advantage, in terms of final IQ, to sharpening at the beginning?

tropics68 Loc: Georgia

will47 wrote:

If I intend to convert an image to B&W, when would I use denoise if it was necessary? Before conversion (while still in color) or after conversion to B&W? When would I denoise if I do not use either Siver Efex or Topaz and decide to do the conversion straight up in PS? Thanks.

Generally removing noise from an image should be the first thing done. Since anything you do in post processing is going to add noise it only makes sense not to add noise to the noise from the OOC image and start with a clean image. I personally like to try it differently now and then. Why don't you make some copies of your image and play around until you get a result you like? It's your image.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

The advantage to sharpening at the start is that let's you know if the image is going to be a good one or not. Waiting until the end can waste a lot of time working on an image that just isn't going to amount to much.
--Bob

PierreD wrote:

I always thought that the general recommendation is to denoise at the BEGINNING of the image processing and to sharpen at the very END. Is there an advantage, in terms of final IQ, to sharpening at the beginning?

PierreD

Bob:

Oh, OK, this makes sense... I usually start by enlarging pictures on the computer screen to get a good idea of whether they are or not sharp. Then, throw away all those that are not sharp, keep the remaining few, and work on them with sharpening at the end of the processing. It probably comes to the same when it's all said and done!