Keeping Noise down in PP...

[greenx]

Hey all just was wondering what are usually the biggest things in PP that adds more noise to your photo... I've noticed when messing with Lr4 in PP sometimes it adds more noise...

Any thoughts/help?

Thank you!

 

[Ysarex]

Are you using LR to adjust raw files or camera JPEG files?

Joe

 

[Big Mike]

Increasing brightness/exposure is the big one that tends to bring out noise. Increasing contrast can also add to it.

So if you want to avoid noise in your photos, it's best to nail your exposure (or slightly overexpose) in-camera, so that you don't have to increase exposure in post.

 

[KmH]

The way digital images work, darkening them is pretty easy, lightening them up is problematic.

Like Mike suggests, the first consideration needs to be directed to camera exposure settings.
Digital photos demand exposing for the highlights in the camera and develop for the shadows post process.

Also, noise reduction and image sharpening are 2 sides of the same coin, such that you really can't do one without also doing the other.

Lightroom 4's Develop module, and CS 6 Camera Raw both use ACR (Adobe Camera Raw).

Consequently a couple of books you may want to have for education and reference are - The Digital Negative: Raw Image Processing in Lightroom, Camera Raw, and Photoshop
Real World Image Sharpening with Adobe Photoshop, Camera Raw, and Lightroom (2nd Edition)
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4 Book: The Complete Guide for Photographers

The authors of those books work for the company, Pixel Genius, LLC, that wrote ACR's (Camera Raw/Lightroom Develop module)sharpening and noise reduction software that Adobe uses.

 

[greenx]

Are you using LR to adjust raw files or camera JPEG files?

Joe

Using Raw

 

[greenx]

Much appreciated... I will check out some of those books. Definitely the goal is to not have to use PP that much but sometimes you need to and I noticed that some adjustments can add more noise and lower quality of the pic...

 

[rexbobcat]

What I like to do sometimes is expose "to the right" meaning I over-expose by about 2/3 of a stop, so that I don't exceed the DR of the camera.

Then I can bring down the exposure in PP and it will reduce shadow noise.

This isn't applicable to all situations especially when there is a lot of contrast, but it is something to consider even though it goes against traditional wisdom.