Download: Chapter 1 Introduction

User Guide, © 2008 Josh Haftel

Chapter 1 Introduction

Introduction to Dfine® 2.0 and the User’s Manual, Chapter 1: Introduction Dfine® 2.0 User Guide The result? Dfine 2.0 is a powerful, yet easy-to-use tool that anyone can use to perform high quality noise reduction without needing to understand the complex underlying theory. Because Dfine 2.0 is a plug-in for Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, Apple Aperture and other compatible applications, you must have Photoshop or a compatible application installed on your computer.

New Feature Highlights Introduction New interface

Welcome to Dfine 2.0, the most powerful tool for reducing noise in • Navigator Loupe your digital photographic images. • Resizable All digital cameras inherently create unwanted imperfections known • New, more professional look and feel as “noise.” The amount of noise in an image typically depends on the quality and type of imaging sensor with which it was created. Greatly improved noise reduction engine High ISO speeds and low light can also add noise. • Higher quality noise reduction New Dfine 2.0 gives you unprecedented control over exactly how • Better retention of fine details much and where to apply noise reduction. This makes it ultra-easy Profile creation to eliminate noise in your images while maintaining detail and sharpness, thus improving the quality of every digital photo you • Profiles can be created automatically or manually take. Dfine 2.0 is designed to prevent the loss of detail other noise • Profiles can be shared reduction tools often introduce. • Improved batch processing. Interface can be set to auto-profile or Dfine 2.0 introduces a brand new, re-sizable user interface that auto-load profiles based on image EXIF data (needs a profile to be includes Nik Software’s award-winning U Point® technology for the created first for each camera/ISO combination) ultimate in selective control. Busy photographers will appreciate • Improved Selective Tool interaction. Selective Tool can be called the workflow improvements offered by the new interface, as well from within the Interface, users do not have to access the filter as improvements such as automatic camera profiles and batch from the Selective Tool in order to selectively apply the filter processing., © 2008 Laurie Shupp Chapter 2

What’s New in 2.0

New Features and Functionality in Dfine® 2.0, Chapter 2: What’s New in 2.0 Dfine® 2.0 User Guide Dfine 2.0 contains a considerable amount of enhancements and Noise Reduction Engine improvements from Dfine 1.0. The majority of the improvements can be summed up in 4 categories: Dfine 2.0 contains a completely reworked noise reduction engine. The goal when creating this new noise reduction engine was to - Interface empower photographers with an incredibly powerful and precise - Noise Reduction Engine tool to reduce unwanted artifacts within photographs with the ability to maintain high levels of detail, all without requiring a complicated - Noise Reduction Process process or learning curve. - Selective Tool Interaction

Interface

One of the most obvious new features of Dfine 2.0 is the completely Dfine 2.0 reworked interface. The interface represents the culmination of Noise Reduction extensive study of the look and feel that professional photographers Engine expect in a modern application along with requests from Nik Software users. The new interface was designed to look and act as a professional photographic tool, with a color-neutral interface, medium-gray background, and a strong focus on an efficient workflow. Dfine 2.0 incorporates an advanced, unique wavelet algorithm, specially designed for use on photographic details. To support the Dfine 2.0 is completely resizable and groups important controls next noise reduction algorithms and to ensure as simple and straight- to one another, leading to less mouse clicks and therefore greater forward a workflow as possible, an automatic profiling system was efficiency and less time needed to achieve excellent quality noise also developed. reduction results. The automatic profiling system was designed to make noise Please see Chapter 5: Dfine 2.0 Interface for more information on reduction as easy as possible while working on the broadest range the various tools and features found within the Dfine 2.0 interface. of images as possible. A lot of care and attention was taken with the automatic profiling system so that it would provide an optimal profiling result for the majority of images, with no input required., Chapter 2: What’s New in 2.0 Dfine® 2.0 User Guide Using this system, you can profile your image with one click and Selective Tool Interaction apply noise reduction with only a few more steps to enjoy the highest possible quality noise reduction. The final major area of improvement within Dfine 2.0 is in the interaction with the Selective Tool. Previously, the Selective Tool was

Noise Reduction Process used to determine when to apply Dfine’s noise reduction selectively

to an image. As photographers used Dfine more and more, the With a new interface and state-of-the-art noise reduction engine, Selective Tool often also became the preferred way of accessing the Dfine 2.0 also needed some additional tools to ensure it provided as filter, without needing to navigate through the many different filters much precision and control as professional photographers need. found in the Filters menu. To support this, Dfine 2.0 incorporates two different methods of Additionally, from time to time, photographers indicated that after applying noise reduction to the image. The first, Control Points, selecting Dfine from the Filters menu, they may then have decided enables you to apply noise reduction globally to your image and to selectively apply the filter. Achieving this in Dfine 1.0 meant they selectively with U Point powered Control Points. The Control Points needed to cancel out of the interface, launch the Selective Tool, and are based on Nik Software’s patented U Point image enhancement then begin the noise reduction process anew. technology. U Point is a technology that has been created and designed to allow photographers to work directly on their images In Dfine 2.0, the choice of selectively applying the filter is done to achieve exactly what they envision in an easy, fast and intuitive within the Filter Interface, enabling you to use the method you prefer manner. By incorporating U Point technology into Dfine 2.0, you of launching the Dfine 2.0 interface (either from within the Selective can take advantage of this exciting and powerful new technology to Tool or from the Filters menu) without forcing you to decide to apply quickly, easily, and selectively reduce noise on your images without the filter selectively or not. the use of complicated selections or masks. For more information on this interaction, please see the Filter The second, Color Ranges, takes the functionality previously found Controls section of Chapter 5: Dfine 2.0 Interface. within the camera profiles of Dfine 1.0 and improves upon them. Now, the Color Ranges tool enables you to select the number of color ranges that you want to select to control noise reduction against, with a minimum of two and no maximum on the number of color ranges selected for each image. For more information about the different noise reduction methods, please see Chapter 7: Noise Reduction Step 2: Reducing Noise., © 2008 Tony Corbell

Chapter 3 Installation

Installation Instructions and Accessing Dfine 2.0, Chapter 3: Installation Dfine® 2.0 User Guide

Installation After reading the Read Me and accepting the End User License

Agreement, the Dfine 2.0 installer will prompt you for the plug-in Dfine 2.0 is a plug-in for Adobe® Photoshop®, Adobe Photoshop location for your image editing application of choice. The installer Lightroom®, Apple® Aperture™, and other Photoshop plug-in will automatically attempt to locate the most recent version of Adobe compatible applications. The installer provided for Dfine 2.0 will Photoshop or Adobe Photoshop Elements, and if it is successful, automatically attempt to locate a copy of Adobe Photoshop, Adobe display the recommended folder location. When installing into Photoshop Lightroom or Apple Aperture. Adobe Photoshop Lightroom or Apple Aperture, the installer will automatically install into the appropriate location.

Installing Dfine 2.0 and the Selective Tool

Prior to installation, please ensure the image editing application that will serve as the host of Dfine 2.0 is closed. Please also close any other open applications for the duration of the installation process. Dfine 2.0 To begin the installation process, double-click on the installer Setup provided either on your Dfine 2.0 CD or from the download process from the Nik Software web page. Double-click the Installer If the installer was unable to locate a version of Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Photoshop Elements, or if you are using a different image The installer will walk you through the various steps necessary in editing application, you will need to manually locate the appropriate order to install Dfine 2.0 into your image editing application of plug-in installation location. choice. For Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Photoshop Elements, this location is the Plug-Ins folder, which is found within the application’s main folder., Chapter 3: Installation Dfine® 2.0 User Guide For example: launches, or uncheck this box to prevent it from opening every time. You can change this option within the Selective Tool settings Adobe Photoshop interface. For more information about this setting, please see Chapter 10: Settings within the Selective Tool. Windows – C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop\Plug-Ins Macintosh – Macintosh HD : Applications : Adobe Photoshop : Plug- Note: The Selective Tool is available only with Adobe Photoshop and Ins Adobe Photoshop Elements serving as host for Dfine 2.0. Adobe Photoshop Elements Windows – C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop Elements\ Click Finish to complete the installation process. Plug-Ins Macintosh – Macintosh HD : Applications : Adobe Photoshop Accessing Dfine 2.0 and the Selective Tool Elements : Plug-Ins After completing the installation process, launch the image editing Click Browse… to open the Browse for Folder window, then navigate application you installed Dfine 2.0 into. For Adobe Photoshop and to the appropriate folder. Adobe Photoshop Elements, Dfine 2.0 will be accessible from within the Filter menu. Note: For guidance on the location of Plug-Ins in applications other than Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Photoshop Elements, Open an image that requires noise reduction, navigate to the Filter please refer to your application’s user manual. menu, locate the Dfine 2.0 sub-menu, and then within the Dfine 2.0 sub-menu, select Dfine 2.0. After selecting the appropriate folder location, click Install to begin This will call up the Dfine 2.0 interface and enable you to begin the installing Dfine 2.0. noise reduction process. Please see Chapter 5: Dfine 2.0 Interface Once the installation is complete, you will be provided with the or Chapter 6: Noise Reduction Step 1: Measuring Noise for more option of indicating whether or not you would like the Selective information on using Dfine 2.0. Tool to open when Photoshop or Photoshop Elements launches. You can access the Selective Tool by navigating to one of the The Selective Tool enables you to selectively apply Dfine 2.0 by following locations: automating Photoshop or Photoshop Element’s layers systems, please see Chapter 8: Select Tool for more information about Adobe Photoshop this tool. Check this box if you would like the Selective Tool to File > Automate automatically launch every time Photoshop or Photoshop Elements, Chapter 3: Installation Dfine® 2.0 User Guide Adobe Photoshop Elements Note: Dfine 2.0 is only compatible with TIFF files (8 or 16-bit, with File > Automation Tools no compression or LZW compression).

Accessing Dfine 2.0 in Apple Aperture 4. Click on Choose to select an application. Navigate to the

location of Dfine 2.0. In Apple Aperture, Dfine 2.0 is accessed from the Images menu. To begin using Dfine 2.0 in Aperture: On Windows, the default installation location for Dfine 2.0 will 1. Highlight the image(s) that you wish to apply noise reduction be: with Dfine 2.0. C:\Program Files\Nik Software\Dfine 2.0 for Lightroom\ 2. Click the Images menu. 3. Roll over the Edit With sub-menu. A popup menu appears. On Macintosh, the default installation location for Dfine 2.0 will be: 4. Select Dfine 2.0 from the popup. The Dfine 2.0 interface appears, displaying the image(s) specified in Macintosh HD : Applications : Nik Software : Dfine 2.0 for step 1 above. Lightroom 5. Select the Dfine 2.0 file and click Choose.

Adding Dfine 2.0 to Lightroom as an External Editor 6. Under the Preset drop-down menu, select Save Current

Settings as New Preset… and name the preset. If Lightroom is found during the installation of Dfine 2.0 for Lightroom, Dfine 2.0 can automatically be added as an external Dfine 2.0 can then be easily accessed under the Photo menu as a editor. Dfine 2.0 can also be manually added as an external editor preset external editor. providing easy access to edit your photos in Dfine 2.0. Follow the steps below to manually add Dfine 2.0 as an external editor. 1. Open the Preferences in Lightroom. 2. Click the External Editing tab. 3. In the Additional External Editor section select a desired File Format, Color Space, Bit Depth, Resolution, and Compression., Chapter 3: Installation Dfine® 2.0 User Guide

Accessing Dfine 2.0 in Lightroom

Once Dfine 2.0 is added to Lightroom as an external editor, Dfine 2.0 is accessed from the Photo menu. To begin using Dfine 2.0 in Lightroom: 1. H ighlight the image(s) that you wish to enhance with Dfine 2.0. 2. Click the Photo menu. 3. Roll over the Edit In sub-menu. A popup menu appears. 4. Select Dfine 2.0 from the popup. 5. After selecting Dfine 2.0, select whether to Edit Original, Edit a Copy, or Edit Copy with Lightroom Adjustments. Note: If Edit a Copy with Lightoom Adjustments is selected, the Copy File Options must be determined as well. Select the File Format, Color Space, Bit Depth, Resolution and Compression for the new file to be edited in Dfine 2.0*. *Dfine 2.0 is only compatible with TIFF and JPEG files (8 or 16-bit with no compression or LZW compression). 6. Click Edit and the Dfine 2.0 interface appears, displaying the image(s) specified in Step 1 above., © 2008 Tony Sweet

Chapter 4 Workflow

Workflow and Tips for Optimal Noise Reduction, Chapter 4: Workflow Dfine® 2.0 User Guide Noise reduction’s effectiveness varies depending on where it Typical situations in which noise reduction is indicated are: is applied within the image editing workflow. Noise is a subtle • When using high ISO settings on your camera variation of recorded light values from one pixel to the next. The more enhancements you apply to an image before reducing noise, • After accidentally underexposing a series of images the greater the variation. As this variation increases, noise reduction • When opening up shadow details in an image applications become less able to reduce unwanted artifacts without degrading image detail. • Whenever noise is visible in an image Apply noise reduction as early as possible in the image editing Dfine 2.0’s workflow is straightforward: measure noise, then reduce process. it. The interface walks you through and automates the process of measuring noise and provides the tools you need to reduce it. The more contrast, sharpening, brightening, saturation (Please see Chapter 6: Step 1: Measuring Noise and Chapter 7: Step enhancements, or image resizing you perform before using Dfine 2: Reducing Noise.) 2.0, the less noise you will be able to remove without degrading the image’s detail. Turn off noise reduction and sharpening on your camera or RAW conversion application. Turning off these functions ensures that image details are preserved and enables Dfine 2.0 to provide precise and powerful noise reduction. Additionally, turning off sharpening functions in your camera or RAW conversion application prevents amplification of noise structures in images. If you choose to apply RAW or capture sharpening to your image, do so after using Dfine 2.0, ideally with Nik Sharpener Pro 3.0. Apply noise reduction only when necessary. Because noise reduction alters detail structures, however subtly, apply noise reduction only when necessary. All images contain some noise, but noise reduction should be applied only when noise detracts from an image’s subject., Chapter 4: Workflow Dfine® 2.0 User Guide

Workflow

The order of steps involved in enhancing an image varies, depending on the image. In general, there are only a few guidelines to consider: - Apply noise reduction, such as with Nik Software Dfine® 2.0, as early as possible in the process. - Apply RAW Presharpening, if desired, with Nik Software Sharpener Pro 3.0’s RAW Presharpener filter. - Apply light and color enhancements with Nik Software Viveza® (global, then local), and end with enhancements using Nik Software Color Efex Pro™ 3.0 or Nik Software Silver Efex Pro™. - Apply output and creative sharpening with Nik Software Sharpener Pro 3.0’s Output Sharpener filter. © 2008 Don Mahr Workflow Diagram

OR

Apply Noise Reduction Apply RAW Presharpening Control Color and Apply Enhancements Convert to black and white Apply Output Sharpening with Dfine 2.0 with Sharpener Pro 3.0 Light with Viveza with Color Efex Pro 3.0 with Silver Efex Pro with Sharpener Pro 3.0, Chapter 4: Workflow Dfine® 2.0 User Guide

Dfine 2.0 Workflow

Select Dfine 2.0 from the Filter menu or the Selective Tool. 1. Measure the noise in the image with the different measuring methods. 2. Reduce noise using U Point powered Control Points, to selectively control the noise reduction if desired. 3. Review the image in the Loupe. 4. Apply the filter. Adobe® Photoshop® User Interface Photograph © 2008 David Beckstead, Chapter 4: Workflow Dfine® 2.0 User Guide

Creating Actions and Batch Processes it is recommended that you create a new folder on your desktop

(Adobe Photoshop Only) labeled with the action name and the word “Processed.” For Example: “Dfine 2.0 Processed.” This folder will contain all of the Dfine 2.0 supports Actions and Batch Processing, as well as images once the action has been applied to them. Droplets. To start the Batch Process, follow these steps: All of the settings that were used when the filter was saved in the 1. Ensure that the action that was created earlier is indicated action will be applied when the Action, Batch Process, or Droplet is in the Action pull-down menu. If the correct action is not used. indicated, click on the pull-down menu and select the correct To begin, create an Action with the filter that you wish to apply in the action. Action, Batch Process, or Droplet. To create an Action, follow these 2. Under source, indicate folder, and then click Choose. Navigate steps below: to the folder that contains all of the images that you want to apply the Batch Process to. 1. Open an existing file. 3. Under Destination, select Folder. Click Choose and navigate 2. Open the Actions palette within Photoshop. If the actions to the folder that was created on your desktop earlier. For palette is not visible within Photoshop, navigate to the example, navigate to the “Dfine 2.0 Processed” folder. Window menu and select Actions. 4. Click OK. 3. C lick on the Create New Action button located in the bottom row of buttons of the Actions Palette. The Batch Process will now begin and apply the filter from the Action 4. N ame the Action according to the filter that you wish to apply to all of the images in the folder, and save a new copy of the image as an Action, Batch Process, or Droplet, and click Record. with the filter applied to the folder that was created on the desktop. 5. Navigate to the Filters menu of Photoshop, and select the filter. 6. Adjust the sliders and controls within the filter, and click OK. 7. Stop the action by clicking on the square button located in the bottom row of buttons of the Actions Palette. To start a Batch Process of a folder of images, navigate to the File > Automate menu and select Batch. Before beginning this process,, Chapter 4: Workflow Dfine® 2.0 User Guide Note: When batch processing with Dfine 2.0, the filter effect is not Note: Dfine 2.0 can only work as a Smart Filter feature with Adobe applied to a separate layer. To apply Dfine 2.0 to a separate layer Photoshop CS3 and CS4 as the host. while recording the action, duplicate the layer prior to applying Dfine 2.0. This ensures that the batch process includes a new Note: Perform any rotations or transforms to the image prior filtered layer for each image. to applying Dfine 2.0 as a Smart Filter. Applying a rotation or transformation after applying Dfine 2.0 as a Smart Filter can Note: When batch processing with Dfine 2.0, Control Points used result in a different filter effect which will require a new profile to in the initial filter settings will not be applied due to the location be created for the image. Also, any crops done to an image after specific nature of Control Points. All other filter settings will be converting the layer to a Smart Object will not be shown in the used in the action. To selectively apply the filter with a batch Dfine 2.0 interface, the image prior to crop will be displayed. process, we suggest using the Color Ranges method as the batch process can retain the color information. To use Dfine 2.0 as a Smart Filter: 1. Select the layer in the Layers Palette to apply Dfine 2.0 to. 2. Click the Filter menu.

Using Dfine 2.0 as a Smart Filter

3. Select Convert for Smart Filters. (Adobe Photoshop Only) 4. Select the Filter menu again. When working within Adobe Photoshop CS3 and CS4, Dfine 2.0 can be applied as a Smart Filter. Smart Filters enable you to adjust 5. Rollover the Nik Software submenu. A pop-up menu appears. the filter’s settings even after the filter interface has been closed. 6. Select Dfine 2.0. If saving the file as a PSD or layered TIFF, you can adjust the filter settings after the image and Photoshop have been closed, enabling a non-destructive workflow. When working as a Smart Filter, the Brush button is disabled, and the filter will be applied to the active layer (even if the After Clicking OK setting is set to the Separate Layer option)., Chapter 4: Workflow Dfine® 2.0 User Guide

Multiple Image Controls (Aperture Only)

Dfine 2.0 can be applied to multiple images when working in Apple Aperture. To apply Dfine 2.0 to multiple images, follow the steps below: 1. Highlight the images you wish to enhance. Hold the Shift key to select a sequence of images or the Command key to select individual images. 2. Click on the Images menu. 3. Roll over the Edit With sub-menu option. A popup will appear. 4. Select Dfine 2.0 from the popup. When using Dfine 2.0 with multiple images, three new image controls are available. The new image controls available are Previous, Next and Save All. Dfine 2.0 can be applied to multiple images when working in Lightroom and Aperture.

Multiple Image Controls (Lightroom Only)

To apply Dfine 2.0 to multiple images when working in Lightroom, follow the steps below: 1. Highlight the images you wish to enhance. Hold the Shift key to select a sequence of images or the Control/Command key to select individual images. 2. C lick on the Photo menu. 3. Roll over the Edit In sub-menu option. A popup will appear. 4. Select Dfine 2.0 from the popup., © 2008 Don Gale Chapter 5

Dfine® 2.0 Interface

Overview of the New Dfine 2.0 Interface,

Chapter 5: Dfine 2.0 Interface Dfine® 2.0 User Guide

Preview Modes Select, Zoom, and Pan Tools View Modes Noise Reduction Area Method Area Control Points Image Area Navigator Loupe Resize Corner, Chapter 5: Dfine 2.0 Interface Dfine® 2.0 User Guide

View Modes Side-by-side Preview

Dfine 2.0 offers different views to let you preview the noise Two separate previews reduction effect on your image within the interface. appear. The portion on the left or on top shows the

Single Image View image prior to applying the

filter; the portion on the In this view, the entire image is displayed, with the noise right or at bottom shows the reduction effect applied across the preview area. To see the effect image after the filter has before and after, toggle the Preview option on and off. been applied.

Split View

The previews are linked for zooming and panning. This lets you The image is displayed with a red line see the before- and after-images as a whole, or at the fine-detail running either vertically or horizontally level. through it. The portion to the left or Click the Rotate Preview button to alternate between vertical above the red line shows the image and horizontal layout. prior to applying the filter; the portion to the right or below the red line shows the image after the filter has been Preview applied. The Preview checkbox enables you to toggle the noise reduction You can move the image with the Pan effect applied to the image on or off. When the Preview checkbox Tool or click and drag the red line to has a check within it, the noise reduction effect is being applied to observe the effect on the image’s detail. your image. When the checkbox is unchecked, the image displayed has no noise reduction applied. Click the Rotate Preview button to alternate between vertical and horizontal split., Chapter 5: Dfine 2.0 Interface Dfine® 2.0 User Guide

Preview Modes Contrast and Color Noise Masks

The two final options of the Preview Modes, Contrast Noise Mask and Color Noise Mask let you see the mask that is created The various Preview Modes enable you to review and check your automatically by either the Color Ranges noise reduction method image and the noise reduction effects being applied to your image. or the Control Points noise reduction method. A separate mask is You can review individual channels that make up your image or created for both contrast and color noise reduction, so you can see see the masks created automatically by one of the various noise how noise reduction is being applied to different areas and objects reduction methods. throughout your image. You can interact with and adjust the controls within either the Color Ranges or Control Points methods while in The Preview Modes are very helpful in reviewing your image and one of the mask modes. ensuring the appropriate amount of noise reduction is being applied. Areas that are white are receiving the most of that type of noise reduction, while areas that are black are receiving none. Areas that

RGB are gray are receiving some intermediate value.

Select this option to view the image in color. This is the default view.

Red, Green, and Blue channels

Choose from Red, Green, or Blue to see a black and white representation of the detail from that channel of your image. These views are helpful if you want to review how the noise structures occur only in each of those channels.

Luminance and Chrominance

Choose from Luminance or Chrominance to see a black and white representation of the detail from either only the luminance (or light to dark) components of the image, or the chrominance (or color) components of the image. These views enable you to determine how noise reduction is being applied to your image and how these different elements are being affected., Chapter 5: Dfine 2.0 Interface Dfine® 2.0 User Guide Ctrl (Windows) / Command (Macintosh) + ‘+’ to zoom in one level

Select Tool

Ctrl (Windows) / Command (Macintosh) + ‘-’ to zoom out one level The Select Tool lets you select and interact with either Noise Rectangles that you add to your image during the measuring process Ctrl (Windows) / Command (Macintosh) + 0 to Zoom to Fit or Control Points that are added during the noise reduction process. Ctrl (Windows) / Command (Macintosh) + Alt (Windows) / Option SELECT SHORTCUTS (Macintosh) + 0 to zoom to 100% Press the A key to switch to this tool. Ctrl (Windows) / Command (Mac) to temporarily switch to this tool Pan Tool The Pan Tool lets you reposition the image while zoomed into the

Zoom Tool 100% or 300% views. When interacting with the Loupe tool, the

cursor always becomes a Pan Tool in order to allow you to reposition The Zoom Tool provides you with the ability to zoom in and out of the content of the Loupe tool. your image. After selecting this tool, click on the area of the image within the interface that you want to zoom in to. If you would like to PAN SHORTCUTS zoom out, press and hold the Alt (Windows) or Option (Macintosh) and click on the image. Press the H key to switch to this tool. Dfine 2.0 has three zoom states: Zoom to Fit, 100%, and 300%. Spacebar to temporarily switch to this tool Zoom to Fit ensures that the entire image fits within the preview and automatically changes the zoom amount as you change the size of Background Color Selector the interface. The 100% view shows the actual pixel details, and is the recommended viewing method when reviewing noise and image The Background Color Selector tool lets you change the color of the detail. The 300% zoom amount allows you to zoom even further into background surrounding the image. The three choices are Light Gray, your image and review fine pixel detail. Medium Gray, and Dark Gray. ZOOM SHORTCUTS Press the Z key to switch to this tool. Ctrl (Windows) / Command (Macintosh) + Spacebar to temporarily switch to this tool, Chapter 5: Dfine 2.0 Interface Dfine® 2.0 User Guide

Image Preview Noise Reduction Tools

The Image Preview area displays the active image and related Dfine 2.0 has a two step noise reduction process: Measure and information beneath the image. Reduce. The measuring step enables Dfine to identify the unique characteristics of noise present in either the current image or related to a specific camera and ISO combination. The reduction steps lets you determine how much noise reduction to apply and where to apply it to.

Image For information on the tools and processes for measuring and

reducing noise, please see Chapter 6: Noise Reduction Step 1: The Image displays the image you are currently working on, with the Measuring Noise or Chapter 7: Noise Reduction Step 2: Reducing Preview as set within the interface as well as the Mode you selected. Noise. This area has three zoom states: Zoom to Fit, 100%, and 300%. Zooming in and out of your image can be done with the Zoom tool or with keyboard shortcuts. Please refer to the Zoom tool section earlier in this chapter for additional information on zooming in and out of your image.

Image Info

The Image Info area, typically only visible when zoomed to the Zoom to Fit state, displays the name of the image, and if EXIF data is available, the resolution, ISO, and the camera make and model used to take the photograph. This information is used when creating a profile and later when automatically loading a profile based on EXIF data., Chapter 5: Dfine 2.0 Interface Dfine® 2.0 User Guide

Navigator Loupe again. You can also achieve this effect by right-clicking (Windows) or

Control-clicking (Macintosh) on the area you want to lock in place. The Navigator Loupe is one of the new interface features designed Right-clicking on Control-clicking again will unlock the area. specially for Dfine 2.0. This tool ensures that the appropriate information is displayed depending on the state of the preview. You can pan within the Loupe display by clicking and dragging on When zoomed to Zoom to Fit, the Loupe mode is displayed, showing the image background. Additionally, you can move the red line to the details under the mouse cursor at 100%, showing the image change where the before and after effect starts and stops. detail information before and after noise reduction is applied. When zoomed to 100% or 300%, the Navigator mode is displayed, giving Navigator Mode you a bird’s eye view of where you are currently in the image. As soon as you zoom in from the Zoom to The functionality switches automatically between Navigator and Fit mode, the Navigator Loupe will switch to Loupe to provide you with an efficient workflow, anticipating your the Navigator mode. While in the Navigator needs. mode, a red rectangle will be displayed within the Navigator showing you which part of your image is currently

Loupe Mode displayed within the preview.

While the preview is zoomed to Zoom to Fit, Click on the area within the Navigator that you would like to display the Navigator Loupe switches to Loupe mode. within the preview. A red line is also displayed running down the image showing on the right side of the red line the image prior to noise reduction and on the left side the image detail after noise Filter Controls reduction is applied. To return back to Photoshop from within the Dfine 2.0 interface, you will have to either apply or discard the settings you set from within This ensures that you are always able to see the image detail at the interface. 100% while reviewing the noise reduction effect anywhere you position your mouse. Both the Brush and OK buttons will process and apply the noise reduction effect to your image. The Cancel button will discard any To lock the area displayed within the Loupe in place, click on the settings you made, close Dfine 2.0, and return you to Photoshop pushpin icon and then click on the area of the image you want to without changing your image. stay within the Loupe. To unlock the area, click on the pushpin icon, Chapter 5: Dfine 2.0 Interface Dfine® 2.0 User Guide

Brush (Adobe Photoshop Only) Multiple Image Controls (Lightroom & Aperture)

Select Brush if you would like to apply the noise reduction effect When using Dfine 2.0 with multiple images, three new image to a separate layer and then selectively paint the noise reduction controls are available. The new image controls available are in, using the Selective Tool to automatically create and modify a Previous, Next, and Save All. layer mask. For more information on the Selective Tool, (Please see Chapter 8: Selective Tool.) Previous

Cancel The Previous button will go to the image previously enhanced within

the current Dfine 2.0 session. Press this button to prevent any noise reduction from being applied to your image, close Dfine 2.0, and return to Photoshop. Next The Next button will proceed to the next selected image in the CANCEL SHORTCUT current Dfine 2.0 session. Press the Esc key to cancel.

Save All OK (Adobe Photoshop) / Save (Lightroom & Aperture)

Click Save All to apply Dfine 2.0 to the images, and close the current Press OK/Save if you would like to apply the noise reduction effect Dfine 2.0 session, and return to Apple Aperture. to your image and return to your image editing application. Dfine SAVE ALL SHORTCUT: 2.0 also gives you the option of applying the noise reduction to a Press the Enter (Windows) / Return (Macintosh) key to apply Dfine new layer within Adobe Photoshop or Photoshop Elements. For more 2.0 to the selected images in the current Dfine 2.0 session. information, refer to Chapter 9: Settings within the Filter Interface. OK/SAVE SHORTCUT Press Enter (Windows) / Return (Macintosh) key to apply the filter., © 2008 Janice Wendt Chapter 6

Noise Reduction Step 1: Measuring Noise

Starting the Noise Reduction Process, Chapter 6: Noise Reduction Step 1: Measuring Noise Dfine® 2.0 User Guide The first step in reducing noise within Dfine 2.0 is to measure the produce the best noise reduction effect. At this point you can move noise present in your image. This process enables Dfine 2.0 to on to the Noise Reduction step, or you can modify the profile further. determine the characteristics of noise based on the details found within the current image or within a previously saved profile to To modify the profile that is created automatically by the Automatic ensure the optimal level of noise reduction is applied. method, either click and adjust one of the automatically generated Measurement Rectangles, or select the Manual mode and add There are three options for measuring noise in your image: additional Measurement Rectangles. Automatic measurement, Manual measurement, and loading a profile. After modifying one of the automatically generated Measurement Rectangles, you will need to press the Measure button again to profile the image again.

Automatic

At any point, you can click on the Reset button to remove all The Automatic measuring method utilizes advanced routines to Measurement Rectangles that were added to the image and start the identify only areas that contain unwanted noise details and not measuring step over again. photographic detail. The Automatic method was designed to work on a wide variety of images, providing optimal noise profiling, with little to no interaction needed. Manual The Manual measuring method enables you to manually determine which areas within the image should be inspected to determine the noise characteristics and then create a profile. Automatic Method Manual Method Simply click on the Measure button, and Dfine 2.0 will automatically profile your current image. After the image has been measured, you will see that Dfine 2.0 has placed Measurement Rectangles on the areas it believes will, Chapter 6: Noise Reduction Step 1: Measuring Noise Dfine® 2.0 User Guide To use the Manual method, click on the Add Measurement Rectangle Load button and then click and drag on an area within the image. You should add a Measurement Rectangle only on an area of the image Instead of creating a profile with either the Manual or Automatic where there was not detail in the original scene. That is, you should modes, you can load a profile that was previously created. By look for an area that should be smooth and without detail to place a loading a profile that was previously created, you can skip the step measurement rectangle on. Some examples of areas to look for are: of measuring the current image, or you can apply optimal noise reduction results on those images that do not lend themselves to - Sky being profiled. - Featureless walls Only load a profile that was created for the same camera and ISO - Other smooth, detail less surfaces combination as the image you are currently working on. If you are working on an image that cannot be profiled and you do not have a Avoid placing a rectangle over any area that has hard edges, walls profile already created for that camera and ISO combination, please with structure, grass or foliage, or areas that are very light (nearly see the What to Do if Your Image Cannot be Profiled section later in white) or very dark (nearly black). this chapter. After placing a Measurement Rectangle on the image, click on the Click on the Browse button to navigate and select a profile that Measure button to create a profile for the current image. you’ve stored on your computer. After loading a profile once, or after You can add multiple rectangles, with the more rectangles that are saving a profile on your computer, the profiles will be stored in the added, the more refined the noise reduction being applied. You only Load pull-down menu, providing you with quicker access. want to add additional rectangles on different color or tonal areas. That is, applying two rectangles on objects with similar brightness and color values will not yield superior results. In most situations however, the Automatic measuring method will Load Button yield optimal results, and it is recommended that you start there. You can also set Dfine 2.0 to automatically load a profile based At any point, you can click on the Reset button to remove all on an image’s EXIF data. For more information on this, please see Measurement Rectangles that were added to the image and start the Chapter 9: Settings within the Filter Interface. measuring step over again., Chapter 6: Noise Reduction Step 1: Measuring Noise Dfine® 2.0 User Guide

Save

After you have created a profile using either the Manual or Automatic methods, you can save your profile for later use or to share with other Dfine 2.0 users. Click on the Save button to call up a file naming dialog. Dfine 2.0 will recommend a name for the file automatically based on the camera and ISO settings, along with the current date. You can change the name if you like, and then press OK. You can access and share the file directly from within your operating system, and other users can load the shared file easily by loading Photography of blank paper the profile from within the Dfine 2.0 interface. for custom profiling

What to Do if Your Image Cannot be Profiled

From time to time, you may find that you have an image that cannot be profiled. Typically, this occurs if the image you are working on has After you have shot the image of the blank sheet of paper, open such a high level of detail that there is no appropriate area on which that image in your host application without making any adjustments to place a Measurement Rectangle. to the image at all. That is, ensure that there is no contrast, In these situations, you will need to create a profile based on sharpening, noise reduction, etc. applied to the image. another image and then load that profile into Dfine 2.0. This can be Launch Dfine 2.0, and then use the Automatic measuring method done very simply by taking a picture of a blank piece of paper with to create a profile. Save the profile using the Save button and then the camera at the ISO setting of the image that you wish to work on. cancel out of the Dfine 2.0 interface. When photographing the blank sheet of paper, underexpose it Next, open the original image you need to work on, launch Dfine 2.0, slightly to ensure that the paper comes out close to middle gray. and then using the Load button, load the profile you just created. The absolute tonal value of the paper is not important, as long as You can now apply optimal noise reduction to your image, as the it is not too close to pure white or pure black. Also, try to provide noise structures that are created are based on the characteristics of as even lighting as possible, however it is only important that you the camera and ISO combination. create even lighting in an area large enough to add a Measurement Rectangle., © 2008 Janice Wendt Chapter 7

Noise Reduction Step 2: Reducing Noise

Completing the Noise Reduction Process, Chapter 7: Noise Reduction Step 2: Reducing Noise Dfine® 2.0 User Guide

Reducing Noise

Note: each of the different noise reduction methods is Once you have measured the noise inherent to your image, it is time independent of each other, and you can only apply one method to start reducing noise. Dfine 2.0 enables you to reduce different at a time. For example, the settings made within the Control types of unwanted artifacts from your images, including Contrast Points will not be applied to the image as soon as you select Color Noise, Color Noise, and JPEG artifacts. Ranges and vice-versa. Contrast noise, also referred to as luminance Contrast Noise Control Points noise, is represented by darker and lighter specks appearing in the same color of an object. This The Control Points noise reduction method is the default mode type of noise is most often visible in large, smooth applied after measuring your noise. You will notice that even before objects, such as the sky, where the variance of moving to the Reduce step, noise reduction is applied on your image tonality is most obvious. This type of noise is often after measuring the image. This noise reduction effect is the Control associated with a grainy look in images. Points method at its default values. Color noise, sometimes referred to as chrominance Color Noise Within the Control Points method, you can modify the noise noise, manifests itself as random spots of red, reduction process globally using the following tools: green, and blue. Color noise is most visible against neutral objects, such as clouds. This type of noise Contrast Noise is often accentuated by saving a file in the JPEG file format. The Contrast Noise slider controls the amount of noise reduction applied to the image that affects contrast or luminance noise. This JPEG Artifacts are caused by the JPEG compression scheme. The noise type is manifested in artifacts of light and dark specks that higher the compression used when saving your images in the JPEG appear in what should otherwise be a uniform image detail. file format, the more obvious the JPEG artifacts will be in your image. The JPEG artifacts are often visible as blocking structures with higher Change the amount of the Contrast Noise slider to balance noise levels of color noise around each block. reduction and detail retention. The higher the value of the Contrast Noise slider, the more noise reduction will be applied to the image. You can choose from one of two methods to either reduce noise If you see the detail structures becoming too soft, try reducing this globally from your image or selectively, based on colors or objects slider. If you cannot achieve a good balance, try going back to the found within your image. measure step and modifying the profile., Chapter 7: Noise Reduction Step 2: Reducing Noise Dfine® 2.0 User Guide

Color Noise and then indicate whether or not to apply Contrast or Color noise

reduction to each object, and how much to apply. The Color Noise slider controls the amount of noise reduction applied to the image that affects color or chrominance noise. This Each Control Point has three sliders: noise type is usually visible as little specks of red, green, and blue - The top slider, the Size slider, controls the size or reach of the in areas that did not originally have those specks in them. Control Point. Increase this slider to affect larger objects or Change the amount of the Color Noise slider to balance noise decrease this slider when working on smaller objects. reduction and color detail retention. The higher the value of the - T he next slider, the Contrast Noise slider, controls the amount of Color Noise slider, the more color noise reduction is applied. If you Contrast Noise reduction to apply to the object selected by the see brightly saturated objects begin to loose their color, try reducing Control Point. the amount of color noise reduction that is applied to your image. - T he last slider, the Color Noise slider, controls the amount of The Control Points method also allows you to selectively reduce Color Noise reduction to apply to the object selected by the noise in the image with U Point powered Control Points. U Point Control Point. technology was designed to allow photographers to identify and The Control Points method offers the following tools to selectively isolate objects that exist within a photograph by simply placing apply the noise reduction: a Control Point directly on the object that should be affected. By analyzing the color, tonality, detail, and location, U Point can Add 0% Control Point automatically determine where to apply certain affects, based on the needs of the photographer. Click this button to add a Control Point preset to no noise reduction (i.e., 0% Contrast Noise and 0% Color Noise reduction). The mouse For more information on U Point technology, please visit pointer changes, indicating that you can place a Control Point on the http://www.upoint.com image. After placing the Control Point on the image, you can adjust the noise reduction sliders. Each Control Point added to the image communicates with other Control Points, with the goal of providing precise control over Add 100% Control Point different objects throughout the image. Click this button to add a Control Point preset to the full noise Within Dfine 2.0, each Control Point can control the amount of reduction effect (i.e., 100% Contrast Noise and Color Noise Contrast and Color noise reduction to apply to the object that it reduction). The mouse pointer changes, indicating that you can has selected. In this manner, you can quickly add Control Points place a Control Point on the image. After placing the Control Point on the image, you may adjust the noise reduction sliders., Chapter 7: Noise Reduction Step 2: Reducing Noise Dfine® 2.0 User Guide If the first Control Point added is a 100% Control Point, the global Ctrl (Windows) / Command (Macintosh) + D to duplicate in place Contrast Noise and Color Noise sliders will automatically move to 0% to ensure that the noise reduction is applied only at that Control Alt (Windows) / Option (Macintosh) + Left-click to duplicate and Point. You can then adjust the sliders manually. move a Control Point

Control Point List Delete

Click the Delete button to remove the selected Control Points from The Control Point List in Dfine 2.0 will display all Control Points used the image. Alternatively, select a Control Point and then click the in the image, and the Contrast Noise and Color Noise reduction Delete key on the keyboard to remove the selected Control Point. values for each Control Point. To adjust or delete multiple Control Points or adjust their controls Show Effect Preview Column in parallel, first select the desired Control Points by one of the After adding a Control Point to the image, the checkbox within following methods: the Show Effect Preview column will be enabled. By toggling this - C lick the Select Tool, then left-click, hold and draw a bounding checkbox, you can preview the Control Point’s effect on the image. box containing the desired Control Points, or Contrast Noise Column - Hold the Shift key down and click on the Control Points to be The Contrast Noise column will display the contrast noise reduction selected. applied by each Control Point in the image. With multiple Control Points selected, you can delete all or modify Color Noise Column the slider controls of all Control Points at the same time by adjusting The Color Noise column will display the color noise reduction those of only one. applied by each Control Point in the image. After adding some Control Points to your image and applying Duplicate different amounts of noise reduction to each range, you can look at the Color Noise or Contrast Noise Mask to see how the noise To create a duplicate copy of a Control Point, click the Select tool, reduction is being applied selectively to the image. For more and then click on the Control Point to be duplicated. Next, click on information on this, please see the Color and Contrast Noise Masks the Duplicate button. An exact copy of the selected Control Point will section of Chapter 5: Dfine 2.0 Interface be placed on the image and you can then reposition the new Control Point by clicking and dragging it to a new location. DUPLICATE SHORTCUTS:, Chapter 7: Noise Reduction Step 2: Reducing Noise Dfine® 2.0 User Guide

Edge Preservation Reset

Found under the More sub-section, the Edge Preservation slider Click on the Reset button to revert back to the default noise enables you to adjust the amount of detail preserved through the reduction settings. noise reduction effect. To use this feature, first check the checkbox next to the slider, then adjust the slider amount. This feature is typically only used to ensure very fine detail is preserved. Using Color Ranges too high a setting can affect the amount of noise reduction that is The second method of reducing noise within Dfine 2.0 is based on applied to the image. individual Color Ranges.

JPEG Artifact Reduction This method is most effective when affecting large objects or if you

want to uniformly reduce noise based on color. Additionally, this Also found under the More sub-section, this option reduces JPEG is the recommended method to use if you would like to selectively artifacts that may be present in your image. Turn this enhancement reduce noise in a batch process. on to reduce the small square structures that may become visible when saving your images using the JPEG file format. You can have as few as two Color Ranges selected, with no maximum to the number possible. If you are not working with a JPEG image, it is not recommended to turn this feature on. After setting up some Color Ranges and applying different amounts of noise reduction to each range, you can look at the Color Noise or

Debanding

Contrast Noise Mask to see how the noise reduction is being applied Also found under the More sub-section, this option reduces banding selectively to the image. For more information on this, please see that may be present in your image. Turn this enhancement on to the Color and Contrast Noise Masks section of Chapter 5: Dfine 2.0 reduce the color banding structures that may be visible in your Interface images. If you do not see a visible banding problem in your image, it is not recommended to turn this feature on., Chapter 7: Noise Reduction Step 2: Reducing Noise Dfine® 2.0 User Guide

Color Patch Color Noise

The Color Patch will display the color considered for noise reduction The Color Noise slider controls the amount of noise reduction for the current Color Range. Hold the mouse over the patch to see a applied to the image that affects color or chrominance noise. This read-out of the RGB color values for the color selected. noise type is usually visible as little specks of red, green, and blue in areas that did not originally have those specks in them. Click on the Color Patch to call up the Color Picker from your image editing application to set a color directly. Change the amount of the Color Noise slider to balance noise reduction and color detail retention. The higher the value of the

Eyedropper Color Noise slider, the more color noise reduction is applied. If you

see brightly saturated objects begin to loose their color, try reducing The Eyedropper will let you select a color from the image displayed the amount of color noise reduction that is applied to your image. within the Dfine 2.0 interface. After selecting this color, you can then determine how much noise reduction to apply against any objects Add Color Range that are based on that color. Click on this button to add an additional Color Range to the image.

Contrast Noise Delete Color Range

The Contrast Noise slider controls the amount of noise reduction applied to the image that affects contrast or luminance noise. This Click on this button to delete a Color Range. The Delete Color Range noise type is manifested in artifacts of light and dark specks that buttons will disappear if you reach only two Color Ranges, which is appear in what should otherwise be uniform image detail. the minimum. As soon as you click on the Add Color Range button, the Delete Color Range buttons will appear again for all Color Change the amount of the Contrast Noise slider to balance noise Ranges. reduction and detail retention, the higher the value of the Contrast Noise slider, the more noise reduction will be applied to the image. If you see the detail structures becoming too soft, try reducing this slider. If you cannot achieve a good balance, try going back to the measure step and modifying the profile., Chapter 7: Noise Reduction Step 2: Reducing Noise Dfine® 2.0 User Guide

Edge Preservation Debanding

Found under the More sub-section, the Edge Preservation slider Also found under the More sub-section, this option reduces banding enables you to adjust the amount of detail preserved through the that may be present in your image. Turn this enhancement on to noise reduction effect. To use this feature, first check the checkbox reduce the color banding structures that may be visible in your next to the slider, then adjust the slider amount. This feature is images. typically only used to ensure very fine detail is preserved. Using too high a setting can affect the amount of noise reduction that is If you do not see a visible banding problem in your image, it is not applied to the image. recommended to turn this feature on. The settings made to this slider will affect all Color Ranges in the Reset same way. As the Edge Preservation algorithm is based on the noise reduction algorithm, this slider will not have any affect on those Click on the Reset button to revert back to the default settings, areas that have 0% Contrast Noise reduction applied to them. colors, and number of Color Ranges.

JPEG Artifact Reduction

Also found under the More sub-section, this option reduces JPEG artifacts that may be present in your image. Turn this enhancement on to reduce the small square structures that may become visible when saving your images using the JPEG file format. If you are not working with a JPEG image, it is not recommended to turn this feature on. The JPEG Artifact Reduction feature always affects the entire image, regardless of the settings made within the Color Ranges., © 2008 Tony Sweet Chapter 8

Selective Tool

Using the Selective Tool to Selectively Apply Noise Reduction, Chapter 8: Selective Tool Dfine® 2.0 User Guide The Selective Tool automates the Interaction with Dfine 2.0 creation of layers and layer masks within Adobe Photoshop and By selecting Dfine 2.0 from within the Selective Tool, the Dfine 2.0 Adobe Photoshop Elements. interface will be opened and you will be able to measure and reduce noise as normal. If Viveza™, Color Efex Pro™ 3.0, Silver Efex Pro™ or Sharpener If at any point you select the Brush button from within the Dfine Pro™ 3.0 is already installed 2.0 interface, regardless of if you selected Dfine 2.0 from within the Selective Tool installed by the Selective Tool or from within the Filters menu of Photoshop or Dfine 2.0 will simply update the Photoshop Elements, the Selective Tool will be made visible, the previously installed Selective filter will applied to a copy of the image on a separate layer, the new Tool, letting you access any Nik layer will be named Dfine 2.0, and you will be able to selectively Software product from the same apply the Dfine 2.0 noise reduction effect using the Paint, Erase, palette. Fill, and Clear buttons described later in this chapter. You can selectively apply either Dfine 2.0 or one of 7 detail specific Additional Noise Brushes Noise Brushes. Dfine 2.0 comes with seven additional Noise Brushes, each designed to work on a specific detail structure. These Noise Brushes The Selective Tool can be used along with a pressure sensitive tablet do not have an interface as they were designed to be applied such as a Wacom® Pen Tablet to selectively apply noise reduction selectively and provide the optimal amount of noise reduction with pressure sensitivity. for each of those different detail types. These Noise Brushes are provided for those images in which noise reduction is only necessary Note: the Selective Tool and the additional Noise Brushes are only in a small area. The Noise Brushes can be quickly loaded and then available within Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. selectively applied to your image, without the need to load and modify the settings within the Dfine 2.0 interface., Chapter 8: Selective Tool Dfine® 2.0 User Guide The available Noise Brushes are: • S trong Noise - The Strong Noise Brush reduces strong noise while preserving as much image structure as possible. This • Background - The Background Noise Brush applies noise brush is appropriate in images with high levels of contrast reduction that is designed to effectively reduce noise that noise and for high ISO images where noise is very dominant. appears in a background of the image. The Strong Noise brush is an alternative method to selective • H ot Pixels – The Hot Pixels Noise Brush helps minimize blurring, where traditional blurring methods often lead to unwanted pixels that become visible as bright dots in the unnatural structures and color shifts. image, often appearing against dark backgrounds and night shots. To use one of the Noise Brushes, simply click on the detail that matches the area you wish to apply noise reduction to. The Selective • F ine Structures - The Fine Structures Noise Brush reduces Tool will process the image and then enable you to selectively apply dominant color noise while reducing contrast noise. This that effect using the Paint, Erase, Fill, and Clear buttons described effectively balances the presence of detail and noise in image later in this chapter. You can control the amount of each of the Noise components such as hair and fine image structures that may Brushes’ effects by altering the opacity within the layer created by otherwise be adversely affected by noise reduction. that Noise Brush. • Skin – When applied to the skin of subjects with your images, the Skin Noise Brush reduces both contrast and color noise and Selective tools irregularities while taking into account any fine detail structures that may be present in the image. Within the Selective Tool you are provided with four different tools • Sky - The Sky Noise Brush reduces chrominance noise and with which you can apply the noise reduction created either with smoothes noise artifacts that often appear very strongly in the Dfine 2.0 or one of the Noise Brushes. sky of an image. After creating the desired effect, click on the Apply button • S hadows - The Shadows Noise Brush reduces chrominance noise based on its appearance in shadows and low light areas, Paint while considering the potential for detail and structures in such areas. Use the Paint button to selectively paint the current noise reduction effect into your image. Ensure that the mode of your Paint Brush is set to Normal and that opacity is set to 100%. You can control the amount of the effect that is added to your image by varying the opacity of the brush., Chapter 8: Selective Tool Dfine® 2.0 User Guide

Erase Apply / Discard

Use the Erase button to selectively remove the current noise The Apply and Discard buttons end the selective application of Dfine reduction effect from your image. Ensure that the mode of your 2.0 or one of the Noise Brushes. Paint Brush is set to Normal and that opacity is set to 100%. You can control the amount of the effect that is added to your image by Click on the Apply button to apply the effect to the image or click on varying the opacity of the brush. the Discard button to prevent the current noise reduction effect from being applied to your image.

Fill

After clicking on either Apply or Discard, you can continue working Use the Fill button to apply the noise reduction effect to the entire on your images with Dfine 2.0 or any other tool within Photoshop or image. This tool is especially useful if you want to apply the noise Photoshop Elements. reduction to all but a small area. Click Fill then use Erase to erase that area out.

Clear

Use the Clear button to remove the noise reduction effect from the entire image. This is helpful if you made some mistakes with the Paint tool and would like to start selectively applying the noise reduction effect again., © Michael Gilbert Chapter 9

Filter Interface Settings

Controlling the Default Behavior of the Filter Interface, Chapter 9: Filter Interface Settings Dfine® 2.0 User Guide

Filter Interface Settings Default Preview

Click on the Settings button within the Dfine 2.0 filter interface to Change the Default Preview setting to choose how the image is adjust the default settings for Dfine 2.0. These settings will help you displayed after opening Dfine 2.0. set the default look and functionality of Dfine 2.0, as well as allow you to determine how Dfine 2.0 interacts with your images. Single Image View Sets Single Image View as default. Split View Sets Split view as default. Side-by-side View Sets Side-by-side view as default. Use Last Setting Opens the image with the last preview state used in the previous application of Dfine 2.0.

Default Appearance

Default Appearance sets the brightness of the area surrounding the image in the Preview.

Default Zoom

• Light Gray Default Zoom lets you specify the zoom state to be applied when the • Medium Gray interface is launched. (Please see Zoom Tool.) • Dark Gray 100% Opens images at 100% zoom. Zoom to Fit Ensures that the entire image is visible within the filter interface. Use Last Setting Opens the image with the last zoom state used in the previous application of Dfine 2.0., Chapter 9: Filter Interface Settings Dfine® 2.0 User Guide

Apply Effect To (Adobe Photoshop Only) Do Nothing

The Apply Effect To option lets you determine how to apply the Dfine When Do Nothing is selected, Dfine 2.0 will not measure the 2.0 filter to the image. noise within the image and will require that you select either the Automatic or Manual method of noise measurement. Note: This option is only valid within Photoshop and Photoshop Elements Auto Profile

New Layer The Auto Profile option sets Dfine 2.0 to automatically profile every

image that is opened. This is a very useful option to set as it can Choose this option to always apply Dfine 2.0 to a separate layer. save time by automatically profiling your image. By using this option and saving the final image in a layered format, you can ensure you are never changing the original image details. Use Last Profile Turning this option on will increase your file size and may increase the amount of time needed to process the image. This option will apply the same noise reduction effect that was applied to the last image.

Originally Selected Layer Load Based on EXIF Data

Select this option to apply Dfine 2.0 to the same layer that was active when opening Dfine 2.0. This option will look in the Default Profiles Path for any profiles that you previously created and attempt to locate one that was created for the same camera and ISO combination as the currently selected

Auto Profile Load Behavior image. If Dfine 2.0 cannot find a profile that matches the current

The Auto Profile Load Behavior setting enables you to determine image’s camera and ISO combination, or if the current image does how Dfine 2.0 automatically profiles each image. This setting not contain EXIF information, it will apply an Auto Profile. enables you to save time by setting it according to how you interact Default Profiles Path with Dfine 2.0. Click on the Browse button to set the default location to use for By enabling one of the automatic methods, you can enable Dfine 2.0 profiles. This is the folder that Dfine 2.0 will look within Dfine 2.0 to automatically adapt from image to image in a batch when using the Load Based on EXIF Data as well as the folder the process, providing the appropriate noise reduction to each image Save option will default to. individually.

Reset

Select this option if you would like to reset all of the Dfine 2.0 filter settings to their default settings., © 2008 Tony Sweet Chapter 10

Selective Tool Settings

Controlling the Default Behavior of the Selective Tool, Chapter 10: Selective Tool Settings Dfine® 2.0 User Guide

Selective Tool Settings (Adobe Photoshop Only) After clicking Apply

Click the Settings button at the bottom of the Selective Tool This option enables you to determine whether or not the Selective interface to specify how the Selective Tool interacts with Adobe Tool should keep the Dfine 2.0 filter or Noise Brush effect as a Photoshop or Adobe Photoshop Elements and active images. separate layer or merge the layers together after you click Apply. Keep as layer The Keep as Layer ensures that the filtered effect is kept on a separate layer. By enabling this setting and saving your image in a layered file, you will not affect your original image information and will be able to remove the noise reduction effect at any point in the future. Please keep in mind however, this option may increase your Selective file sizes. Tool Settings Merge Layers This option will merge the filtered image with your original image into one layer. By selecting this option, you can prevent an increase in your file size.

When Photoshop Launches

This option lets you specify whether the Selective Tool opens when Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Photoshop elements is launched. Choose between: • Open Nik Selective Tool • Do Not Open Nik Selective Tool, © Vincent Versace Chapter 11

Contact and Support

Getting Additional Support, Chapter 11: Contact and Support Dfine® 2.0 User Guide

United States For more information on Nik Software products go to

Contact Nik Software, Inc. by phone at (619) 725-3150 www.niksoftware.com or www.upoint.com. Monday - Friday from 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM (PST) or via email at © 2008 Nik Software, Inc. email is hidden Protected by one or more US Pats. 6,728,421; 6,865,300; Nik Software, Inc. 7,031,547; and other patents pending. 7588 Metropolitan Drive San Diego, CA 92108, USA Dfine, Viveza, Nik and U Point are registered trademarks of Nik Phone (619) 725-3150 Software, Inc. Color Efex Pro, Silver Efex Pro, and Sharpener Pro are Fax (619) 725-3151 trademarks of Nik Software, Inc. All other trade names mentioned email is hidden in this manual are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. www.niksoftware.com

Germany

In Europe, contact Nik Software, GmbH at +49-40-47-11-35-0 Monday - Friday from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (CET) or via email at email is hidden. Nik Software, GmbH Hammerbrookstraße 93 D-20097 Hamburg, Germany Phone +49-40-47-11-35-0 Fax +49-40-47-11-35-35 email is hidden www.niksoftware.com SP30A-UG01-0808 48]

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