when to apply neat image?

[juan pedro fiz]

Hi all:

I've got TRIX negatives, scanned at 2400dpi (mode RGB, not greyscale). Then

I've converted them to B/W in CS2. I know it's good to apply neatimage to

reduce noise and grain, but I don't know when to do it:

1) Should I apply neatimage before making levels (zone treatment), or

 

2) is it better to apply neatimage at the very end, just before resizing and

sharpening?

 

Thanks a lot!

[pjmeade]

Hello Juan, as a rule I will use Neat Image before sharpening.

 

However, isn't the grain of Tri X one of its features?

[juan pedro fiz]

Yes Peter, you're right, but scanning seems to "multiply" the grain, and makes it a bit annoying.

[orensztajn]

You should applied at the end.

[d_gillespie]

I know this will sound obvious but run your own test. Apply the neatimage on multiple copies of the same image and decide for your self which is more pleasing. Each persons workflow is individual to their skill, ability, and resources. You are the first and only judge of its success.

[sattler123]

I use NOiseNinja but it is very similar to Neatimage and I apply it as the very first step in my workflow after I opened the picture in photoshop. I might apply it a second time with really bad grain before I sharpen the picture - just be aware that there is a certain amount of sharpening applied with Neatimage as well!

[patricklavoie]

but scanning seems to "multiply" the grain...

 

remove any unnessary electronic sharpen from your scan software, 100% it is the cause of your problem. maybe then you will not need to remove any TRI-X beautiful natural grain from it : )

[ted_marcus1]

NeatImage is my very first step in processing an image. I run it right after Photoshop opens a digital file or after I've finished "spotting" a film scan. Adjustments to density and color tend to increase noise or grain, so I want to start that with as little noise as possible.

[jean_marc_liotier]

At the moment I am using Neatimage as the one before the last step to both remove noise and sharpen. But I now believe it is wrong : I now believe that noise removal should be the very first step and sharpening the very last.

 

The last step in my current workflow is the IPTC tagging because Neatimage eats IPTC tags...

[jean_marc_liotier]

[continued from the precedent post] Noise removal should be the very first step and sharpening the very last - that means two Neatimages passes instead of one.

 

Too bad Neatimage can't handle command line scripting because I would use it that way...

[fanta]

Before any treatment. If you convert from color to B&W, even before the conversion.

[emre]

Noise reduction comes first.