Noise reduction technique...

[MMarz]

Most of my imaging is of wild birds. In post, I want to retain the OoF background, and keep noise to a minimum since in an otherwise clean uncluttered background dotted with noise just looks nasty.

When noise reduction is needed I have been applying Luminance NR till the background smooths out, and then mask around the subject and apply sharpening to bring back the lost detail, say in feathers and eyes. But at the level of sharpening needed I typically flirt with halos.

So is there a better sharpening technique? Are there any good sharpening plug-ins coming?

 

[Paul O]

While a little cumbersome, I use Noise Ninja, it requires importing to PS and then a return to LR, but it does what I need. I do the same thing for perspective correction so it's just something I do. I'm sure there are other methods, but this gives me the results I require.

Paul O'Mara

 

[Mark Sirota]

Instead of using NR on everything and sharpening your subject back, how about selecting the background and applying some negative sharpness and/or clarity?

 

[MMarz]

Instead of using NR on everything and sharpening your subject back, how about selecting the background and applying some negative sharpness and/or clarity?

Great idea!!

I'll give that a try for sure!