Neat Image

[PMG]

Finally after a few failed (swearing) attempts I think I may be getting to grips with Neat Image (its probably a simple procedure once you know how - but if its simple then it will suit me?!!!)



Above is the first one I uploaded a day or two ago and which I had extensively and very time consumingly played with using the clone tool .... result not terrific by any means - and gauranteed will not print decent...

Below is the neat image flitered shot - much much better in every way and the only cloning I have done is a couple of annoying little double wing shadows that were caused by film speed not stopping movement dead.......



Its been an interesting play and I'm looking forward to using it on better quality pics that don't need as obviously as this desperate shot ....... I just couldn't resist - I came round the corner the field was full of geese and some jumped and so did I - for the camera even tho it was dusk and beyond - I just wanted to see if I could push a little extra out of the camera and lens!!

Pauline

[Tormentil]

Neat Image & the one I use, Noise Ninja, can work well in some instances.
Stick with it, when needed, Pauline 'cause it can be beneficial.

[glsammy]

I use it on just about every image. I'd be lost without it! I usually only use in on the background by masking out the main subject.

[matt_xyz]

I'm a big fan of Neat Image, I think it's an excellent piece of software.

I really like that image Pauline. The slightly blurry look gives a sense of movement and the colour of the sky is lovely.

Matt

[PMG]

Thanks Ben Graham and Matt: its a departure from the norm for me - I don't usually try to take shots when I think it will be impossible for the camera to render it - nor do I normally keep anything that isn't pin sharp - well not in recent times anyway But part of me had decided in a split second to try it to see - and having seen it was clearer than I expected I then went on to try and get the best out of it! I tried cloning and blurring the background - which works when its a single subject but gets complicated when its several subjects! And having got that far with it I then decided to colour the background with a nice graded pink ........ does it work? Is it photography? Is it art? Is it PMG messing about again ....... or all of those!!

Pauline

[LCPete]

Hi Pauline I've used neat image for a while now its great. I just use it on the automatic settings tho.
Using it as a mask just for the background is a good idea, if I was any good at photoshop I'd try that
Pete:

[PMG]

Originally Posted by LCPete

Hi Pauline I've used neat image for a while now its great. I just use it on the automatic settings tho.
Using it as a mask just for the background is a good idea, if I was any good at photoshop I'd try that
Pete:

I played around with the settings but it did treat the whole image including the geese which is why the bakground isn't as blurred as I could have got it with a mask and blur tool so now you've got me thinking that I might try a mask - altho the geese when I zoomed in close also had pink and blue pixels all over the place which the neat image removed.......... so still plenty of room for thought and practice

Pauline

[Tormentil]

Originally Posted by PMG

Is it photography? Is it art? Is it PMG messing about again ....... or all of those!!

It's what photographers have done since its invention and that is to enhance/manipulate an image to achieve ones desired effect.

e.g.
Before


After

[Ollie]

Another Neat Image fan here.

I use the paid for version. The paid for version allows you to use it as a PS Elements plug-in which as far as I'm aware the free version doesn't.

Like Graham I mask the main subject and only use it on the background. 90%of my images are given the Neat image treatment. Rightly or wrongly I don't regard it as manipulation just as improving on what you have already got
Roger

[Mungo]

I downloaded this a few days ago as well as Photoshop Ellements, being new to photography and software I am looking forward to trying to figure out how to use it