Noise Reduction Plugin/Software Recommendation - Forums

Topic starter

Nov 9, 2021

I have been reading a bit about noise reduction plugins and standalone software and while many seem to do a pretty good job on daylight images, not unexpectedly, they do not seem to do as well on night sky images. I would welcome any good recommendations for noise reduction tools specifically designed (or well suited) for deep sky imaging?

Thanks

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Andy Wray

Nov 9, 2021 · Edited: Nov 9, 2021

Topaz DeNoise AI seems to work well for me, but it is not that cheap.

Here's an example of before and after:

Euripides

Nov 9, 2021

Just like @Andy said, Topaz DeNoize AI as a standalone & PS plugin, is an option but definitely not designed for astrophotography. But it will give you results.

If you are a Photoshop user, you can take a look on both Annie's Astro actions & Astronomy Tools actions that have denoize functions included.

If you are a Pixinisight user, MureDenoise, MLT, EZ script denoize, make your pick.

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dkamen

Nov 9, 2021

I have been reading a bit about noise reduction plugins and standalone software and while many seem to do a pretty good job on daylight images, not unexpectedly, they do not seem to do as well on night sky images. I would welcome any good recommendations for noise reduction tools specifically designed (or well suited) for deep sky imaging?

Thanks

Hi,

Darktable has Astrophoto Denoise. It was actually called "Denoise (non-local means)" until a few releases ago but they renamed it. Probably because they noticed how well it was working for astrophotos.

Personally I find that whatever other NR I might have applied, a finishing touch with Darktable's Astrophoto Denoise yields a very clear improvement.

Cheers,
Dimitris

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bluespeck

Topic starter

Nov 9, 2021

Euripides:
Just like @Andy said, Topaz DeNoize AI as a standalone & PS plugin, is an option but definitely not designed for astrophotography. But it will give you results.

If you are a Photoshop user, you can take a look on both Annie's Astro actions & Astronomy Tools actions that have denoize functions included.

If you are a Pixinisight user, MureDenoise, MLT, EZ script denoize, make your pick.

Thanks. I'll check out those PS actions.

bluespeck

Topic starter

Nov 9, 2021

I have been reading a bit about noise reduction plugins and standalone software and while many seem to do a pretty good job on daylight images, not unexpectedly, they do not seem to do as well on night sky images. I would welcome any good recommendations for noise reduction tools specifically designed (or well suited) for deep sky imaging?

Thanks

Hi,

Darktable has Astrophoto Denoise. It was actually called "Denoise (non-local means)" until a few releases ago but they renamed it. Probably because they noticed how well it was working for astrophotos.

Personally I find that whatever other NR I might have applied, a finishing touch with Darktable's Astrophoto Denoise yields a very clear improvement.

Cheers,
Dimitris

Thanks I give it a try.

Robert Gillette

Nov 10, 2021

I find that Topaz Denoise is superb. I prefer its low-light option, which seems best suited for astro images. One needs to use it cautiously, with little or no sharpening, to avoid generating artefacts.

CS, Bob

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rhedden

Nov 10, 2021

I use Noiseware Pro from Imagenomic for modest noise reduction. More recently, I have sometimes skipped noise reduction completely and just collected more data.

Topaz AI is very powerful, as long as you accept that you're potentially altering the data using artificial intelligence. Like Bob, I turn off the sharpening totally, but I use Severe Noise mode more often than Low Light. I usually refrain from using Topaz on astrophotos that I post here unless there is a good reason for it. I do love to use Topaz AI on terrestrial/daylight photos; it's great software when you have a grainy image that needs to be rescued.

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bluespeck

Topic starter

Nov 10, 2021

I find that Topaz Denoise is superb. I prefer its low-light option, which seems best suited for astro images. One needs to use it cautiously, with little or no sharpening, to avoid generating artefacts.

CS, Bob

Thanks Bob. I might just download the trial version and give it a try.

bluespeck

Topic starter

Nov 10, 2021

I use Noiseware Pro from Imagenomic for modest noise reduction. More recently, I have sometimes skipped noise reduction completely and just collected more data.

Topaz AI is very powerful, as long as you accept that you're potentially altering the data using artificial intelligence. Like Bob, I turn off the sharpening totally, but I use Severe Noise mode more often than Low Light. I usually refrain from using Topaz on astrophotos that I post here unless there is a good reason for it. I do love to use Topaz AI on terrestrial/daylight photos; it's great software when you have a grainy image that needs to be rescued.

Thanks for the recommend. I am not familiar with Noiseware Pro but will check it out.

Bob Lockwood

Nov 10, 2021

Everyone above has great advice, what I’ve been using the most is Topaz Clear AI. This was Topaz Studios first AI program that is no longer available stand alone, but is included with DeNoise AI, it’s the clear AI option and I think dose a better job as a final cleanup tool. But as noted Topaz is for daylight images so it does better is you back off on it’s strength. The PS plugin by ProDigital Software, “Astronomy Tools” also works quite well and also many other useful tool to play with, worth the $21.95usd. Link below.

https://www.prodigitalsoftware.com/Products.html

I also sometimes use the AstroFlat Pro, it has it’s good points. It's listed right under the Astronomy tools.

-B

Yuxuan

Nov 10, 2021 · Edited: Nov 10, 2021

I find the best denoise tool to be ….. taking more data and trying your old tool again.

Olly Barrett

Nov 15, 2021 · Edited: Nov 15, 2021

I use the Topaz AI Suite, Denoise, Sharpen and Gigapixel depending on which I think is producing the lowest amount of artefacts. Although, to be honest, all the images I’ve used the Topaz software on look amazing and if used properly produce little/no discernible artefacts. Here is an example of the effect Gigapixel AI has on Melotte 15, bear in mind this is taken with an Esprit 100ed and a really small part of the overall image… I think the result is spectacular… especially the noise reduction… full image below…

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