Capture One allows the removal of luminance and color noise from images using the Color and Luminance noise reduction sliders. Luminance noise exists in every digital image. Noise is caused by the light-sensitive chip regardless of ISO. Normally, this noise is more visible at high ISO values. Higher Noise levels at high ISO values are caused because the signal has been amplified.
IMPORTANT: The Noise Reduction tool works with RAW files only.
Remove noise from image files
- Go to the Details tool tab.
- The Noise Reduction tool will display the auto adjustment settings.
- Use the Luminance slider to adjust the level of luminance noise.
- Use the Color slider to adjust the level of chromatic noise.
- Adjust the Details slider to smooth the surface of an image.
Luminance
This slider removes the pattern-like noise that is often present in shadow areas. The default setting for Luminance is 50. Increase the setting value for images that display displeasing noise levels and check the effect in the Viewer at 100% magnification.
Color
This slider removes color noise from images that are typically noticeable as subtle green/magenta patterns. It is very difficult to recommend specific settings as noise varies from camera to camera, but the program defaults provide a good starting point. The Viewer provides a clear view of the effect of filters on image noise.
Details
Applying heavy chromatic or luminance noise reduction may give an image a soft appearance. If that is the case, adjust the Details slider to smooth the surface of an image. The default setting of 50 produces an even balance between image detail and noise. Adjust the Details slider to a smaller value to achieve a smoother surface. A large value produces fine detail with improved edge definition. However, a higher setting can also produce more grain, especially with images captured at a high ISO.
Single Pixel slider
Images that are exposed using a long shutter speed may be susceptible to the occasional ‘hot-pixel’, which is a single white pixel that should appear dark. The Single Pixel slider can be used (in the Noise Reduction tool) to eliminate hot-pixels, although it can also affect the rest of the image. The filter will analyze single pixels compared to the surrounding area and correct the errors. Applying adjustments appropriately as the Single Pixel effect is very powerful especially at its maximum.
The Single Pixel slider, like many other adjustments tools, should always be used with caution and in moderation. Remember to try and check the final result before processing.
Check the effect in the Viewer at 100% magnification.
Limitation: The single pixel noise reduction may not be included on lower resolution exports. When the output resolution is low enough, we employ a faster and more cost-effective RAW processing pipeline that may not effectively handle hot pixels. At even lower resolutions, we switch to using the preview file, making hot pixel correction more challenging. This limitation is influenced by RAW resolution, preview resolution, output size, and geometric corrections (lens distortion, rotation, keystone).
Remove long exposure artifacts and high ISO noise Pro
- Go to the Details tool tab.
- Go to the Noise Reduction tool.
- Use the Single Pixel slider to reduce the artifacts of a long exposure.
- The higher the number is, the harder the tool works.
Comments
6 comments
Thanks for a great article.
I am trying to use this tool. I cannot access colour and single pixel.
Is this because I am working on a JPG or I am doing something wrong. They are dulled out
Thanks.
Menachem
Hi . Two years later and presumably a later version (Capture One 22 v15.0.0.192) I am having the same problem as Jill Kuchar. I guess I'm doing something wrong, but can't work out what. Some tips would help.
Hi!
I did solve this, but don't remember what I did. I'll try and look back. Will let you know if I find something.
Regards,
Jill
Is there a small "eye" symbol in the lower right corner of the thumbnail?
If so is the image where C1 thinks it is and do the Capture One Preferences suggest that the file type is set to allow editing? (Especially for jpg, tiff and png files.)
The slider in "Noise Reduction" sub Color and Single Pixel is greyed out when a layer other than Background is selected.
Please Capture One moderators, would you be so kind to send this to the right desk? This could be a bug.
I accidently stumbled on this 'feature' and also accidently discoverd by sheer luck that Color and Single Pixel are turned on when background layer is selected.
Color Noise Reduction is greyed out for layers. It would be super useful to lower color noise for bright areas and raise it for darker areas. Please please fix :)
Build: 16.2.2.1406 (a2a2d86)
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