How to Reduce Noise in Photoshop

How to Reduce Noise in Photoshop

The best way to reduce noise in an image is to shoot with a low ISO in camera. The camera creates an exposure based on three values - ISO, Aperture, and Shutter Speed. ISO is the only variable that will result in noise. Ideally, one would adjust the shutter speed and aperture (to let in enough light to create an exposure) at a low ISO to prevent image noise.

The best ISO settings to use for lower noise levels are 100, 200, 400 and 800. Anything above that is likely to create noise on the image. Cameras are getting better all the time, and there will come a day when ISO 6400 looks perfectly clean, but until then, keep ISO as low as possible!

Reduce Noise Filter

The first step in removing noise in your image is to use the 'Reduce Noise Filter'. In the 'Reduce Noise Dialog' one can control strength, preserve details, reduce color noise, and sharpen details. The strength of the filter determines how much it reduces noise - go as high as you need to remove noise, but don't over-do it. Bringing the 'Reduce Noise' lower will make the filter more effective, but will also reduce detail in the image - find the balance that works best.

If there is a lot of color noise, use the 'Reduce Color' noise option to remove it. Also, there is an option in 'Advanced Settings' to reduce noise on each color channel individually. 'Sharpen Details' will add artificial sharpening to your image after the 'Reduce Noise' filter is added, so it's best to keep this at zero.

Using the Surface Blur to Reduce Noise

If there is still noise after the 'Reduce Noise' filter is used, adding a Surface Blur may help. The key to using a Surface Blur to reduce noise in photos is to balance the radius and threshold. If the threshold is too low, the image will not be effected. Threshold controls where the blur will stop. It uses differences in tone to find edges, and tries to preserve those edges. The higher the threshold, the more separate elements in the image will blur into each other. The Blur radius determines the area that will be blurred - the larger the radius, the more blur.

It's best to bring both of these values as high as possible without destroying image details.

[Pasghettios]

What I love about these videos is that you go into detail and explain exactly what's going on. Most other tutorials only go as far as telling you what tools to use and not why you're using them.

[acvrat]

This is one of the most common tasks in image manipulation but until Phlearn covers a topic I'm not satisfied regarding the informations I have about it. Thanks for yet another awesome video!

[Voodoorai]

I had 2 wedding images of a mother facing her daughter pulling on the veil and had to shoot it in such low light that I just couldn't get rid of the noise no matter what!!!! You just SAVED my wedding! (I tried LR too) I'm always telling folks about your channel...and I watch all your videos....their the

[groundhogggggggggggg]

There is a much better way. I zoom in about 800% and adjust hue, saturation, and value on each individual pixel. It takes years, but there is no loss of detail.

[carolinadelaossa]

I take pictures (I not consider myself a photographer, kind of a hobbyist maybe) of classical music concerts and I really struggle with this things. First, because in my college they don't let you take pictures been really close to the stage because you can distract the artists and also the public, so since I didn't have a lot of money to buy a lens that would let me take pictures from a far, I buy a super zoom camera. Also, in classical music people tend to like more pictures with no motion what so ever so low shutter speed is not an option. Finally poor lighting and not able to use extra lights make it worst. This was really useful thank you.

[Dornaden]

I literally today, came across this problem and was like damn, the reduce noise filter isnt enough. Thanks guy this is a real life saver for my shoot.

[TheKcpxp]

Great job! I like how you explain the process in the beginning, giving us the 30, 000 ft view, and how you do a quick overview summary at the end. It makes it helpful when we need to go back for a refresher on one of your lessons. Great work Phlearn!

[williamcolbert]

I really appreciate this tutorial. Not only did you teach me about noise reduction, I learned about the ISO, Aperture and Shutter Speed settings on my camera - something I was having issues with! Thank you!

[MarkusKretzschmarPhoto]

I liked the last step of reducing the opacity of the group. looked a little strange to me after all the filters. Bringing back a little bit of the noise seems more realistic. I would even go as far and say, that maybe only reducing the color noise makes it look more "analog grain-ish" which would also be a nice look, i guess. Thanks for the episode! This surface blur thing is genius!!

[menioq.]

OMG I live the warm lights and feeling of this video!!!

[ricedeliverydrums]

Ahhh once again Phlearn saves me. Love the "in conclusion" stuff at the end too! Very helpful for when I forget part of the process and I just need a quick skim through! Keep up the good work.

[kysersoze]

*Is this method better than reducing noise in Camera Raw directly on the Raw file with the combination of Luminance Noise and then restoring detail with sharp mask?*

[mattdyce]

Applying a light smart sharpen at the very end often helps reduce and haloing or soft edges that may have come from the surface blur.

[kacierfa]

i like the reduce noise one. the other day i found another way using the raw filter thing and it's pretty helpful almost similar to the reduce noise

[sandrampillay]

I like this video .Now I know how to work on old damaged photos. Thanks a lot for this tutorial.

[ChrisTomlinsonPastor]

Awesome. Your videos are so helpful. Thanks a million!

[tsheposhai]

Can always trust that iam going to get good tips tricks and tips from you . Keep up the god work

[paulogonzalez]

Thank you so much for teaching. Thanks to your vídeo I was able to restore  a picture which initially had halftone dots AND a lot of noise. Thank you so much for the noise removing explanation.

[johnforshee]

Thanks for sharing. I always like your tutorials.

[yongming]

Perfect in photo touching tutorial.
He is awesome, honest and great artistic!
Keep moving ahead Phlearn!