Noise has always been a balancing act between image quality and ISO settings. Adobe's recent update to Lightroom introduces a feature that changes how you'll handle this trade-off, making it far easier to capture sharp images in low-light conditions without sacrificing detail.
Coming to you from Aaron Nace with Phlearn, this straightforward video showcases Adobe's new "Denoise" function in Lightroom, designed specifically for raw images. Historically, increasing ISO meant accepting more noise in exchange for faster shutter speeds or brighter exposures. Now, with this AI-driven tool, you can significantly reduce noise without losing the essential texture and detail that make your images stand out. The demonstration clearly illustrates how noise appears differently in shadows and highlights, emphasizing why a nuanced approach to noise reduction matters. Nace explains the importance of choosing a moderate noise reduction level—around 50 to 60 on the slider—to maintain a natural look without over-processing the photo.
Beyond just removing noise, this new feature preserves your original raw file by automatically generating a separate Digital Negative (DNG) file. This means your original photograph stays untouched, allowing you the flexibility to experiment without risk. Additionally, the video demonstrates how Lightroom's stacking feature neatly organizes your images, pairing your enhanced photo with the original. This small detail simplifies your editing process and keeps your workspace clean and organized. Such streamlined file management is crucial, especially when working on extensive projects or handling multiple images from a shoot.
What makes this video particularly valuable is the practical, step-by-step walkthrough of applying the denoise effect. It’s not simply a demonstration of technology but a lesson in decision-making when editing photos. By watching Nace adjust the settings in real-time, you understand the subtle art of finding the right balance between noise removal and preserving detail. The result is a photo that is clean and professional yet still authentic, showing that even powerful AI tools require thoughtful human input.
Another critical point discussed in the video is how changing your camera settings from JPEG to raw is essential for fully leveraging Lightroom's capabilities. JPEG files, already compressed and processed by the camera, lack the extensive data necessary for effective denoising. Switching to raw or raw+JPEG ensures you have the highest-quality files for post-processing. Understanding and adopting this workflow change is vital if you regularly shoot in challenging lighting conditions.
The tutorial also invites you to actively participate by providing downloadable sample images. This allows you to directly apply what you're learning, reinforcing the practical application of noise reduction techniques. Experimenting with the same files shown in the video gives you hands-on experience, making this not just informative but genuinely instructive. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Nace.
