Topaz Labs DeNoise AI

l $79.99 l www.topazlabs.com

Topaz Labs DeNoise AI can be used as a standalone package or as a plug-in for Adobe Lightroom Classic and Photoshop. It can also be used on JPEG or raw files (from supported cameras) and can be used on individual images or batches of images.

DeNoise AI doesn’t just apply a blanket noise-reduction treatment, it applies it selectively to specific areas to give the right level of noise reduction and detail enhancement, drawing on Topaz Labs’s deep learning that comes from the analysis of millions of images.

By default, once an image is open in DeNoise AI, the software will suggest settings, but you can select from five models of noise reduction (Standard, Clear, Low Light, Severe Noise or RAW) to use

and adjust the settings. However, if you’re working on a raw file from a supported camera, the RAW model is recommended and this is only available in the standalone version of DeNoise AI. Fortunately, the software gives the option to save denoised images as a DNG file so you can use your normal raw processing software to make any further adjustments.

DeNoise AI takes a couple of seconds to render the preview with the noise-reduction settings after the model is selected and after any settings changes or if you move the magnified preview window. This can make tweaking the suggested settings tedious, but thankfully it generally works well in the default settings, striking a good balance between noise reduction, detail preservation and sharpening with raw files.

Like ON1 NoNoise AI, DeNoise AI includes a masking option that could prove useful. It allows you to paint in the treatment where you want it, adjusting the opacity of the brush as you go if necessary so you can create a bespoke treatment for any image, but it doesn’t have NoNoise AI’s layer support to enable different treatments to be applied to different areas.