Digital BW, The Print

"Wendel White"  wrote:
> There is a product I was just told about, but have had little 
chance to
> test--called Neat Image (http://absoft.hotbox.ru): it is designed 
to reduce
> noise in digital camera files.

I've been experimenting with beta versions Neat Image for about 3 
weeks.  They have just released a fully functional Demo version. It 
can be downloaded at:  http://absoft.nm.ru/download.html .

Take their advice and print out the User's Manual and **READ** it. It 
will save you time and frustration. 

It is very interesting software.  It analyzes and adjusts the 
grain/noise at three frequencies for each YCC channel (or RGB channel 
if you choose),and also allows differential sharpening at the three 
frequencies and channel.  I have found it to do a great job on my 
negatives (color and b/w).  [Note:  You currently have to convert 
your b/w to 24-bit RGB to use NI.] 

It is very slow (lots and lots of calculations).  It also tends to 
leave a few strange artifacts that are visable if you print at 1:1.

Jeff Randall