Preparing Photos for Dreamstime - Dreamstime

Effavale

It's very intersting this part of your blog:
5. Last I check for noise and sharpen every image using the Noise Ninja plugin. If the noise index is above 19 I click on the filter tab and adjust only two settings: Smoothness I set as low as possible either 0 or 1 and the USM amount not higher than 70 and typically 60-70. Many people recommend this as the first step but I have more success using it last.

6. Then I re-check the noise index with Noise Ninja to make sure it is below 19.

So I try to follow your method !
Thank you!

Nycscripts

Very helpful, thanks for posting.

BCritchley

The other job I find useful is to check plain light areas such as blue skies at 100% for any signs of dust spots or even distant birds and clone out anything found.

Anhong

Oh very detailed work! I also do. But some pictures really like. In the picture quality is not strictly controlled. There are many beautiful pictures need to prepare early enough. In short, to minimize regret.

Libux77

very useful! thx

Waihs

Very good method, thank you very much!

Calyx22

Great images! I use Lightroom 3 for adjustments, cropping, etc. If there's touch up work to be done, then I import into photoshop and do that there, and add a little sharpening. I've not used Noise Ninja, but I've heard lots of things about it (all good). Are you happy with it? I'd love to hear more!

Yadamons

Thank you for very nice workflow and sharing

Akulamatiau

Thanks for sharing!

FabioConcetta

Thanks for sharing!!! good job and good day!^_^

Nwanda76

Thanks for the tips..

Nero67

Thanks for sharing!!!

Laurasinelle

Thanks for sharing!

Egomezta

Great info, I do exactly the same but I only use Corel Paintshop Photo Pro, perhaps it isn't the most powerful program but works for me, and it is really easy to use.

Vilaimages

I didn't know you could measure the amount of noise with Noise Ninja. I wonder if it can be done with Photoshop too. Very interesting.
Thanks.

Marugod83

I use almost the same process. Instead of Photoshop, I work with Lightroom.

Of course, ONLY Raw files

Useful blog for beginners

Kharyadi

Thanks for sharing, very similar with mine. But for sharpness issue, sometimes i have to downsized the image to get an appropriate sharpness.......

Peanutroaster

Thanks for sharing. I do most of my work in LR3. Do a quick check for rejects, check for sharpness, adjust WB if need, try Auto Exposure to see it makes the image any better.

Adjust exposure if needed, strengthen blacks. Sometimes I try the "Punch" preset which increases clarity and vibrance. I may touch saturation on a landscape.

Sharpen and noise reduction in LR3 at 100%. (I find all my photos need a bit of noise reduction).

If logos or trademarks need to be removed I export it into Photoshop Elements 9.

Mariaam

Thanks for sharing! This is very useful!

Scaramax

Good one, I will check Noise Ninja, never heard about before..

My system is much more simple:
- check and erase unsufficiently sharp (just in normal viewer)
- crop, adjust, clarify and denoise in Adobe Lightroom (generally in this order)
- check again in normal viewer

I do take pics in biggest JPEG, have no need of raw. Used previously more programs to adjust images, but by the time I found LR sufficient for all my needs. By the time, I stopped to make more complicated adjustments for bad photos. Only for (as mentioned above) denoise I´m still considering some external program.

Llareggub

Your workflow is very similar to mine, however I work the curves and saturation in adobe raw from bridge before opening in photoshop and selectively use the shadows and highlight fiunction by adding a layer mask and only if it is required.

The last thing is also my noise reduction process just like yours although I tend to visually check for noise at 100% rather than use and index but may give it a go :D

Joezachs

Some good tips here....... no wonder my pics are getting rejected.