Noise reduction software.

[HeadlessBill]

I'm interested in purchasing some noise reduction software and I'm kind of torn between Noise Ninja and Neat Image. I've tried the demos of both. I like the results from Neat Image slightly more, but I've been informed by someone that a friend of hers had his Mac trashed when he installed Neat Image. I've also been told by someone that Noise Ninja can get some excellent results but I would have to play with the settings and the manual is rather vague about what the settings control.

Anyone have any recommendations? Personal experience? Samples?

[HempKnight]

I see that you mention Mac...
but just wondering which platform
you were looking at using.

I've used both products...
Neat Image Pro standalone
and Noise Ninja Pro plug-in..
and I would have to say
hands down I stuck with
Visual Infinity Grain Surgery
well worth the extra expense.

Again, I only work with PC
so I cannot say how the Mac
apps work or how it affects
the overall stability... then again
it IS a Mac.

[HeadlessBill]

I am on a Mac. Alas, the download page for the Mac demo of Visual Infinity Grain Suregery gives me a 404 error. Hmmmm...

I'm trying to get to know Photoshop better as well. I've taken my first batch of photos for my documentary and trying to figure out how to enhance them beyond cropping and adjusting levels. To me, they seem to be lacking that little extra pop.

[HempKnight]

Hmm... seeing if either I or
someone I know happens to
have the Mac demo for you...
I still have a boatload of local
files to search yet.

What flavour of Photoshop do
you happen to be using?
I have the SAMS TYI24 for
Photoshop 7 (Mac edition)..
-actual physical book-
brand spanking new, unsealed,
if you have a use for it.

As well as many e-books
on PS techniques, shortcuts
and hacks...one in particular
came in handy, to cut PS 8
- CS down to 80Mb for transport
and operation from a pen drive.

[HempKnight]

I indeed have found the demo,
look for a PM... just a lil' linky
goodness from HK to HB.

Hope that works for you...
enjoy.

[HeadlessBill]

Thanks HK, I'm downloading the demo now.

I'm using Photoshop CS. I've been thumbing through some of the Photoshop books at work and I think I'm going to buy 'Adobe Photoshop CS for Photographers'.

Here is a sample of one of the images I'm trying to enhance.



It's only been cropped and had the levels adjusted. I'm probably going to recrop the photo so the cart is taken out of the image, but the colors of the image are dull and the overall image looks flat.