Photo denoising is the process of removing noise that appears in photographs in the form of coloured dots, graininess or blotches.
Noise tends to occur in low light, high light or on devices with less camera sensor quality. With modern AI tools, they can be effectively reduced without sacrificing image quality.
Traditional denoising methods relied on filters and mathematical algorithms, which often over-smoothed the image.
This resulted in blurred details and an unnatural looking photograph. Artificial intelligence has introduced a new quality, because it learns from millions of examples and can recognise what is noise and what is actual detail.
In practice, this means that AI programmes can improve photos even taken with a smartphone at night. AI denoising preserves the sharpness of faces, textures and colours while removing unwanted noise. This makes photos look more professional and suitable for professional use or online publication.
3 ways to photo denoising with the help of AI
- Dedicated photo programs
- Mobile apps with AI
- Plug-ins and extensions for editors
Dedicated photo programs such as Topaz DeNoise AI or DxO PureRAW offer the most advanced noise reduction methods. They cost between £400 and £600, but provide full control over parameters and the highest quality. They work well for professional photographers.
Mobile apps with AI are ideal for those taking photos with a smartphone. Programs such as Remini or allow you to improve a photo in seconds. They often operate in a freemium model, where the basic functions are free and you have to pay an extra £20 to £50 per month for the more advanced ones.
Plug-ins and extensions for editors (e.g. for Lightroom) are a compromise between price and functionality. They cost on average 50.00€-75.00€ and allow you to use AI without leaving your favourite graphical environment. This is a good solution for people who want to quickly de-noise photos in the course of larger processing.
A comparison of methods shows that the choice of tool depends on needs and budget. A professional will invest in a dedicated programme, while an amateur can use a free mobile app. Plug-ins are a compromise for those already working in Photoshop or Lightroom.
The uptime is also worth noting. Mobile apps de-noise a photo in a few seconds, while desktop programmes can take as long as 1-2 minutes, especially with large RAW files. This is an important factor when working with a large number of photos.
The 5 most popular uses of AI denoising
- Night photography
- Concert and event photography
- Product photography
- Scans of old photographs
- Social media
Night photography is the most common case where AI de-noising makes a huge difference. Photos taken at high ISO gain a natural look and better colours. This can make even amateur shots look professional.
Photos from concerts and events often suffer from a lack of light and fast movement, which generates a lot of noise. AI de-noising preserves the atmosphere of the event while improving the clarity of the frames. This is particularly important for event photography.
Product photography requires detail and sharpness. AI removes noise that could distract from the product. This makes photos in e-commerce look more professional and increases sales.
Scans of old photos can also be improved with AI. The programmes are able to remove the grain that was created during the digitisation process. This is great for those archiving family photographs.
Social media is another area where AI de-scrambling is relevant. Users want to post Instagram photos, and fast mobile tools allow them to get a better result without having to know professional programmes.
FAQ
3 common mistakes when denoising photos
- Smoothing the image too much
- Settings not adjusted to the type of photo
- Use of only free filters without control
Too much image smoothing makes the photo look unnatural and loses detail. AI allows you to adjust the intensity of the de-smoothing, so it is worth finding a balance between image clarity and texture preservation.
Not adjusting the settings to the type of photo is a common mistake for beginners. Night shots require different parameters than daylight portraits. It is worth testing different settings and using the automatic AI suggestions.
Using only free filters without control gives a quick result, but often at the expense of quality. A better option is an app with manual adjustments so you can tailor the level of denoising to your specific needs.
7 tried-and-tested ways to better denoise your photos
Choose the right ISO – the lower the ISO, the less noise. It’s a good idea to set the sensitivity as low as possible, especially at night.
Use RAW files – they offer greater denoising capabilities than compressed JPEGs. RAW stores more colour and detail information.
Test different AI apps – each has different algorithms and effects. It’s worth testing several to find the best one for your style of photography.
Use selective dehazing – you don’t always need to clean up the whole photo. Sometimes you only need to enhance the background or darker parts.
Combine denoising with sharpening – once the noise has been removed, the image can appear soft. Adding a slight sharpening will restore detail.
Avoid multiple compression – every time you save an image in JPEG, it reduces its quality. It’s better to process in a lossless format and only save for publication at the end.
Analyse the effect on a large screen – on a smartphone the photo may look good, but only on a monitor can you see the details. This allows you to judge whether the denoising was effective.
