Fixing Noise

Advances in DSLR sensor technology have seen ISO sensitivity settings reaching previously undreamed of scales (ISO 12,800 is common) and at such high settings, noise will continue to be a problem.

Noise is complex and comes in a variety of forms, which makes it difficult to tackle at the time of capture. In practice, some noise is best dealt with in the camera—notably fixed-pattern noise—but the most useful place for noise reduction is here, in post-production.

To repeat the key characteristic of noise, it is embedded in the image perceptually—that is to say, it can be distinguished from subject detail only by judgment, and that differs from person to person. Not only this, but noise does not even necessarily damage a photographic ...

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