Denoise software options

[Clovishound]

I currently have a copy of Topaz AI that I use for reducing noise and sharpening. I have been happy with Topaz with a caveat. I purchased the 3 individual programs several years ago, and was upgraded to Photo AI during the first year of purchase. I've had trouble with tiling artifacts on many images and so was unwilling to purchase upgrades until they fixed the issue. Well, now I discovered that Topaz has gone the subscription route and want $19 a month for their latest, and greatest. I have no idea whether they have fixed the tiling issue. I'm also unsure whether I would be able to transfer my current copy of Topaz to a new computer, when I decide to upgrade equipment, or the current computer fails.

I have heard some good things about DXO. It is not a subscription, for now. Any experience with it? Any other suggestions? I'm in no hurry to replace Topaz, but would prefer to do it on my timetable, rather than needing to purchase and learn new software in a hurry.

 

[nikonbill]

I see you have had no responses for a while. I can add some input on my own de-noising adventures.

I also have Topaz photo AI and a working copy (for now) of topaz Photo (the new one) I let that subscription run out last spring I'm at V1.3.3but it still functions. Topaz AI and photo work similar for most noisy photos I use it on regarding de-noise. What I do not like is the smoothing of pixels Topaz does to de noise, on many photos this looks worse to me than a "little" left over nose (I try different settings than the defaults).

For general editing I have discovered a workflow in Affinity that works great 99% of the time for me. I have found to work out "noise" in the develop module first, this is key to preserving details in the file for me. If I use a "de-noise" tool after developing that is when the details go south fast. I now go a few months and hundreds of photos without using Topaz (when I do I'm trying to save a poorly taken photo). A cool thing about Affinity is you can go back to the develop module from the normal editor to "tune" things in seamlessly effectively re-developing a file.

The point of opening this area of discussion is you may find you have the tools you need already (I think you are a Light room user) many find the Adobe AI de noise very satisfactory. Or a unique workflow that makes life easier and gives the results you like.

Learning new software is challenging for sure, I'm still trying to "learn" Print Shop Pro that I got free with the D850. Initially I thought is was horrible, but have found its just supper different to get a result I'm used too. I find Affinity much easier and faster for me with far less steps.

Ive never tried DXO but most reviews rave about it using a workflow I think is likely similar to yours.

 

[Clovishound]

Yes, I have LR, and I like their denoise, but it is extremely SLOW on my computer. We are talking 10 -15 minutes to process a single image. My computer isn't a speed demon, but it does have an i7 processor and 32 GB of RAM. Probably the biggest down side is it has a integrated graphics, although, I am under the impression that it is decent for integrated graphics. LR often runs slow for me, and I'm not sure why. Photoshop runs great, and I would expect it to be more of a resource hog than LR.

 

[nikonbill]

We are talking 10 -15 minutes to process a single image

Wow - that's crazy - Please forgive me for not remembering how much of a computer nerd you are (how much you dig in to your PC). Just for fun I googled the "issue" you lay out and found much relating to the maintenance and setup of light rooms catalog and hardware settings. to avoid some confusing content I screen shot one and provided a link to another. With caution it looks fixable, you have what looks adequate hardware to me.

and https://imagen-ai.com/valuable-tips/why-is-lightroom-so-slow-speed-up/

Hope this could help

 

[Clovishound]

Well, I'm certainly no computer nerd. I know enough to be dangerous and that's about it. I used to be pretty good at DOS, but that was a long, long time ago. Things have gotten extremely complex these days.

I tried to find HAGS in my settings, to no avail. I do think there may be something about my settings that is the culprit, and have researched it several times, but still haven't found the issue.