Camera Raw 15.3 AI Denoise – Some Observations

[Erik Bloodaxe]

I am accustomed to editing my RAW files in ACR using whatever is the current version.

For a long time I have handled noise reduction using an adaptive ISO preset set as

my Camera Raw default. On the whole, I never have look at noise reduction as this default preset handles noise reduction admirably.

When editing is finished, I convert the RAWs to DNG with the original RAW embedded in case it is ever needed. (It has been needed on very rare occasions when the DNG file has failed to open properly for unknown reasons.)

With Camera Raw 15.3 it looks like I must apply the AI denoise first, since if applied at a later stage it does not play well with some edits, in particular healing brush edits. This creates a new Enhanced DNG file which is the one to which to apply further edits as required.

I note that the original RAW is not embedded in this Enhanced DNG file nor can the AI Denoise be undone.

It therefore seems necessary to keep two files rather than one i.e. the DNG with original RAW embedded and the Enhanced DNG. This of course more or less doubles storage requirements.

Furthermore, the original DNG file is left without any edits unless I copy them from the enhanced DNG, but then I cannot copy the denoise.

It seems that, although the AI Denoise works really well, it results in more effort and greater storage requirements.

Comments, criticisms and suggestions are welcome.

[TheDigitalDog]

The Adobe team recommends you apply Denoise as one of the very first steps. So there's that comment. You don't have to, but you probably should. 

As for embedding the raw in the DNG, I prefer to save them off when importing to another drive just for that possible archive. It's an option in the Import dialog of Lightroom Classic if that's where you're doing the conversions. I do this from the get-go because the DNG contains all my edits and as importantly to me, a pretty large JPEG of all the edits, which in the worse case, can be extracted. So, in this case, again, convert to DNG from the start. Since you're going to use Denoise early on *some* images as recommended, you have a DNG (linear DNG). 

[D Fosse]

I've been thinking of that too. Sacrificing the original mosaic DNG for a demoaiced one that you can't reverse isn't going to happen. I've been hearing that the original mosaic DNG is embedded, but I'm still not clear on how you'd extract it? Until then, I keep both.

I consider Denoise a power tool for extreme cases. I still don't see any point in using it routinely on all images - the payoff is negligible for low ISO images where noise isn't a problem to begin with. In those cases, it's a solution in search of a problem. Once you get into ISO 4000 and up, however, it starts to make sense.

[TheDigitalDog]

I agree; use Denoise when you have very, very noisy images (from underexposure; sorry, the noise isn't produced by the ISO, and in some cameras, a higher ISO produces less noise than a lower ISO). 

[garethw40406580]

Having just updated Camera RAW to15.3, and instantly witshed i hadn't!!apparently my graphics card doesn't support the new Denoise function, and will take up to 15 mins to carry out a function that took miliseconds with a slider...Really can't see the point of that, except as part of a bigger scheme to get rid of photographers and replace us with AI images!!

I am a simple photographer, who prefers to get images right in camera as best I can, and tweek images where needed, but I do offten need the Noise reduction facility due to low light/high ISO nature of my images. now it seems I can't do this without fafing about with DNG, whatever that is. never used it.

Is there a way of going back to the prevoius version of RAW? we can with PS and LS.

If there is no way to re-install the older version, could someone recomed another editing suite that does't constantly update with pointless new tricks just for the sake of it?

Seems to me someone is trying to justify there job, and that just makes thing worse.

Really fustrated with Adobe in the last year or so, and seriuosly considering canceling you subscription.

Many thanks 

Gareth

[Rikk Flohr: Photography]

"apparently my graphics card doesn't support the new Denoise function, and will take up to 15 mins to carry out a function that took miliseconds with a slider...Really can't see the point of that"

The Legacy Denoise sliders are still there.  If you hardware is not adequate for the new GPU-intensive Denoise - then you are better served using the older tools and not downgrading. When you downgrade you remove bug and performance fixes. 

For modern hardware AI Denoise takes seconds - not minutes. 

[garethw40406580]

Thank you for your reply. the drop box you shared in different to the one in my camera RAW, The faded out detail and contrast sliders are not visable on mine. for the level of my needs, the older version did what I want, so have elected to go back a version. The So caled bugs did not effect my work, so happy to carry on using the older system.

Thank you again

Gareth

[Rikk Flohr: Photography]

You have to click on the triangles to open them...

[TheDigitalDog]

If you wish to roll back to an older version, ACR installers can be found here: https://helpx.adobe.com/camera-raw/kb/camera-raw-plug-in-installer.html#12_x

[garethw40406580]

Thank you for your reply. The download work and i can carry on again. 

You saved me from a loa of hassle looking for a replacement to Photoshop... 

Regards

Gareth

[garethw40406580]

Am i the only one to update the Camera RAW to 15.3, only to find a new "Denoise" button instead of a slider?

My problem is that my computors graphics card is not compatable with this new thing.

Is there a way of going back to the previous version with the sliders, or am I stuck with this, and looking for a new editing suite?

I'm a simple amateur photograpgher and use auto ISO a lot as i work in changing lights conditions and offten have high ISO . Reducing the noise was a simple silder adjustment, now apparently i need a new computor.

Another point, where does this leave competition entries, as AI is fround upon in respected salons. AI, is not the work of the auther, its a computor.

Many thanks in advance

Gareth

[Erik Bloodaxe]

You should study the comment above from Rikk Flohr: Photography

The older manual adjustments are still there and have not changed in any way at all.

Denoise is a new, additional feature and not a replacement.

If you don't have the hardware necessary to use Denoise, you don't have to use it - it's not compulsory, just stick to your old routines.

[AireBailarín]

Sometime the denoise makes a total mess of your photo ... sad that you cannot undo it! I have just wasted a lot of time on an edit that is now ruined ...

[D Fosse]

@AireBailarín 

The denoised file is a separate file from the original raw file. You can always go back to the original with all your settings intact, you haven't lost anything.

[AireBailarín]

Yeah, I already sorted it out ... ta though!