Camera Raw AI Denoise has gotten worse

[Electric_partner5FAC]

I was really amazed by the AI denoise in camera raw before the last bigger update (that also moved the AI features out of the "Enhance" section). I don't know with which version it changed.

I'm talking about, e.g. quite underexposed Raw files or high ISO photos.

The previous AI denoise would make it look like the photo was taken at a lower ISO and it would retain or correctly interpolated the fine details, while removing or lessening the noise.

The new AI denoise, doesn't just remove the noise but changes the photograph somewhat. Skin suddenly looks like sleek plastic. The whole image looks artificial. In order to get it to an acceptable level, I have to pull down the AI denoise slider so much, that the noise becomes very noticeable again and the fine details start disappearing.

This new version of the Camera Raw denoise doesn't work for me anymore and I don't see the improvement over the previous version. I would even call it a bug.

[creative explorer]

@Electric_partner5FAC It's completely valid to feel that a tool you rely on has degraded in quality, especially when it leads to unnatural results like "sleek plastic" skin or forces you to compromise between noise reduction and detail preservation. The concern about the feature changing the photograph's fundamental look rather than just removing noise is a significant point of contention for many professionals. I can't directly fix the AI Denoise algorithm but maybe someone from Adobe employees will see this

[sandym50710381]

Very disappointed in the recent replacement of the Denoise tool.  Image quality output when using this tool is very poor.  Please bring back the old Denoise tool...it was amazing!!! Parts of the image look very plastic and the adjustment lever does not make it any better, it only puts the noise back. I tried it on several images...does not work at all!

[Trevor.Dennis]

Could it be to do with settings?  Has the default setting changed for instance, and now has a higher starting point?  I use Topaz Photo Ai, and I have feeling I am seeing much the same thing with edges, especially, being over done giving it a semi cartoon look, but the plugin makes its own decision on how hard to start at, and I have to dial it back.