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Topaz Labs DeNoise AI
l $79.99
Topaz Labs fed millions of noisy and clean images into its
DeNoise AI algorithm to enable it to learn what noise is and
what a clean image should look like so that the software can
clean up noisy images.
There are three modes of noise-reduction available in DeNoise
AI: DeNoise AI, AI Clear and Low Light. DeNoise AI is the most
advanced. After importing an image, the software takes a couple
of seconds to render the preview and each time you shift the
magnified preview, this rendering has to happen again, which
gets a bit annoying.
Although the default noise-reduction and sharpening settings
change from image to image, the Remove Noise and Enhance
Sharpness sliders still require some adjustment to conceal more
of the chroma noise.
DeNoise AI works well and unlike DxO PhotoLab 4
DeepPRIME, it can work with JPEG images as well as raw files,
but raw files still produce much better results. There’s also a
masking option that lets you paint in where you want the noise
reduction to be applied.
In addition, denoised images can be saved as DNG raw files so
you can continue editing them in your favourite raw file editor.
However, this makes it apparent how convenient it is to be able
to reduce noise from within an editing package because you are
able to assess the results in combination with exposure, contrast
and colour adjustments.A nity Photo
l £48.99
Affinity Photo is a great-value Photoshop alternative, and it has
a similar structure and control arrangement to Photoshop;
however, Affinity Photo opens raw files within the core package
rather than in separate software like the Photoshop and Camera
Raw partnership.
When you open a raw file in Affinity Photo, the noise-
reduction controls are found in the Details section of the control
panel on the right of the screen. There are controls to reduce
both the luminance and the chroma (colour) noise.
Although the Colours control is lower in the panel than the
Luminance slider, it’s usually best to adjust the colour noise
reduction first, moving it to the right to increase the reduction
that’s applied until the coloured speckling disappears. After that,
the Luminance slider lets you make the granular texture less
visible while the Luminance Details slider helps you pull back a
bit of the detail that’s lost. It’s just a question of finding the right
balance between these two controls.
The same controls are available in the Denoise Filter for
treating JPEG images and can be applied selectively using
Affinity Photo’s selection tools and then creating a Denoise Live
Filter Layer. You can also make multiple selections to create
several layers to apply different noise-reduction treatments.
Double-clicking on the mask thumbnail that’s in the panel on
the right reopens the Denoise controls if you need to make
further adjustments.
DxO’s noise-reduction technology and
it’s powered by artificial intelligence and
‘deep learning’. It’s located in the Detail
section of DxO’s PhotoLab 4 and it’s not
activated by default, but all you have to
do is click on the DeepPRIME button
and the noise reduction is fired-up. The
default settings for Luminance noise
reduction and Dead pixels work well.
DxO applies the noise reduction at
the export stage and you cannot
preview its impact in the main image
preview at the centre of the screen, but
there’s a small preview window in the
DxO Denoising Technologies panel.
There’s a crosshair type icon just to the
right of the DeepPRIME button. If you
tap on this to turn it blue, you can then
click on the main image to select the
area to preview.
Although it’s incredibly easy to use
and it doesn’t seem worth touching the
two adjustment sliders, DeepPRIME
knocks spots off the other noise-
reduction systems in this round-up. Just
like Affinity Photo, Lightroom and Nik
Collection, PhotoLab 4 has the
advantage of allowing other
adjustments to be made in the same
package. In the case of the PhotoLab
software, some of these adjustments can
be made automatically.Click on the DeepPRIME button to enable you to
select an area in the main image to preview