Ok Ok..Galaxy Cluster with no more noise :-)

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Ok Ok I capitulated.....

You were rrrrrr...ri...rig...righ...t Jase and Markus I can admit it, I was a stupid complete loser, fancy not thinking I neededd to reduce some noise nooooow I can see it

I bit the bullet and decided to dam well give producing a hopefully natural low noise version of my Grus/Pisces Austrinus galaxy cluster a real go. I worked hard on preserving as much background detail as possible and increased the detail in the main galaxies a tad and it looks as thought I didn't lose a thing, except most of the noise

Sorry for any percieved anti...anti-noise ranting

1.2 meg 40% size image:
http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike20...94112/original

9 meg full size full frame image:
http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike20...94231/original

I'll be a bit more careful next time

Oh well, you live and learn

Mike

[jase (Jason)]

...and to think the keen imagers here on this forum would lead you astray Mike. We're only trying to help you out. You've worked hard acquiring the data, why not display it's full potential. This rendition has the goods. I'm assuming you applied it to the entire image considering you're not keen on using masks or did you simply use the inverted colour range tool? Well done - knew you'd crack, welcome to the noise-a-phobes.

[AlexN]

not that I didnt love it before, but its definitely been improved by the noise reduction...

Im interested to learn how this is done. any pointers?

In the past i've ran things like noiseware ce. but that I take it is a pretty crude way of going about things.

[marc4darkskies (Marcus)]

Muuuuuuuuch nicer Mike!! I can even see the bark on the trees now! Look at the detail in 7418!!

And look, the jpg is 2M smaller!! Just think of all the extra space you'll save on your PC by not trying to compress noise!

Very nice mate!!

Cheers, Marcus

[iceman (Mike)]

I like it, Mike! Much nicer indeed.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by jase

...and to think the keen imagers here on this forum would lead you astray Mike. We're only trying to help you out. You've worked hard acquiring the data, why not display it's full potential. This rendition has the goods. I'm assuming you applied it to the entire image considering you're not keen on using masks or did you simply use the inverted colour range tool? Well done - knew you'd crack, welcome to the noise-a-phobes.

Originally Posted by AlexN

not that I didnt love it before, but its definitely been improved by the noise reduction...

Im interested to learn how this is done. any pointers?

In the past i've ran things like noiseware ce. but that I take it is a pretty crude way of going about things.

Originally Posted by marc4darkskies

Muuuuuuuuch nicer Mike!! I can even see the bark on the trees now! Look at the detail in 7418!!

And look, the jpg is 2M smaller!! Just think of all the extra space you'll save on your PC by not trying to compress noise!

Very nice mate!!

Cheers, Marcus

Originally Posted by iceman

I like it, Mike! Much nicer indeed.

you guys are great

It is a good feeling being able to admit when you are w....ro....n...? nup!

[MrB (Simon)]

I'm only on dial-up so it's the 40%er for me, but yep, obviously better.
Even more obvious on a side-by-side comparison.

[gregbradley]

Great image Mike.

How did you go about it?

There are a few noiseware PS plugins around - Noise Ninja, Neat Image, Noel Carboni actions, Photoshop itself has a noise reduction filter.

Noel Carboni action and Photoshop noise filter work slightly.

Stephen's tutorial on lowering noise using Lab mode works the best I have seen. Not sure about Neat Image and Noise Ninja. They may be good.

Any other techniques around for noise control apart from gaussian blur of the RGB which I am not that keen on?

I have used the blur tool on specific noisy areas but as you point out you lose detail.

Not sure how layers would help except for blurring and allowing only parts of the blurred image through. Not that keen on that approach either.

Perhaps these plugins are worth a check out.

Greg.

[Bassnut (Fred)]

Greg

"Not sure how layers would help except for blurring and allowing only parts of the blurred image through. Not that keen on that approach either."

Your kidding !!, thats how its done. Learn layer masks Greg, you really should.

[jase (Jason)]

mmmm layer masks. Harness their power, but don't abuse it.