Noise Reduction Canada - Photography Terms & Glossary

Glossary Of Photography Terms [1]

Noise Reduction Noise reduction is the process of minimizing or eliminating unwanted noise from digital images to improve overall image quality and clarity. In digital photography, noise reduction techniques are used to reduce the visibility of noise artifacts, such as grain or speckles, caused by factors such as high ISO sensitivity, low-light conditions, or limitations in the camera's image sensor. Noise reduction algorithms analyze the pixel data in an image and apply smoothing or averaging techniques to suppress noise while preserving image detail and sharpness.

Many digital cameras feature built-in noise reduction settings that automatically apply noise reduction processing to images during capture, while advanced image editing software also offers noise reduction tools that allow photographers to fine-tune noise reduction parameters during post-processing. When applying noise reduction, it's important to strike a balance between noise reduction and image sharpness, as excessive noise reduction can result in loss of detail and a "plastic" appearance in the final image. Photographers should experiment with different noise reduction settings and techniques to achieve the desired balance between noise reduction and image quality in their photographs.