NoiseXTerminator VS Topaz VS EZ-Denoise

[@mashpotatomountainobserver3338]

Thanks for doing these processing tutitorials for us during the winter when it's tough to get imaging time. A nice time to learn processing but it also keeps the fires stoked for when it is time to get out on the hunt.

[@lukomatico]

My pleasure mate! - The weather here has been cloudier than I've ever known it so it's been a struggle for regular content haha :-D Hope the skies have been a lot better for you mate!

[@Mel-127]

Appreciate the time you've taken to compare the equipment for everyone's use. Its exceptionally useful to all who's looking for processing aids in the astro hobby. Well done Luke.

[@lukomatico]

My pleasure Mel! - It was something productive to do while it's cloudy here so hopefully it helps a few people! :-D Clear skies my friend!

[@josephluciani5531]

Way to go Luke! Your comparison way of sharing information is very powerful. Visuals tell the story and you tell the story behind the story. This hobby is hard enough to keep pace with, it’s video’s like yours that help keep us up to date. Great job, now get some warm tea and lemon (with perhaps a nip of brandy) for that throat.

[@lukomatico]

Thank you Joe!! - I really could use that lemon tea by now, my throat is in bits LOL! I agree mate, a picture is worth a thousand words on these things, I could talk all day about the program and not explain as well as a few seconds of video can! So I'm really glad to hear you like the format on these type of comparisons! :-) Hope you have a lovely weekend!

[@seanfullard2337]

Thanks for another great video

[@lukomatico]

Thanks so much Sean! :-D I'm glad you enjoyed it my friend

[@JayPatel-ey6gb]

I've been waiting for someone to do this and I knew it would be you! Thanks for the effort Luke! :)

[@lukomatico]

Thanks Jay!! :-D I'm glad it was useful to you, that's great to hear mate! Clear skies!

[@JeffHorne]

This is an awesome video, Luke!

[@lukomatico]

Thanks so much Jeff! :-) Clear skies mate!

[@scottrk4930]

Hiya Luke . Another great video. One thing with Topaz , that I only recently learned , is to make use of the “restore original detail” slider to get rid of the digital additions that DeNoise has added . Now I have to go back and redo a few Images . Cheers !

[@lukomatico]

Great point Scott mate! It's a good tool when used carefully and a little time dialling in for sure! :-) Thanks for sharing bud! Hope you have a super weekend

[@avt_astro206]

Pretty Good Tutorial! It's amazing how These softwares Can Produce Crazy Results! Useful video man!!

[@lukomatico]

Thanks so much buddy!! Hope you are well :-D

[@ianmacdonald2307]

Hi Luke: for what it’s worth, I trialed and then purchased ‘Noise Xterminator’ this winter (at the discounted price) for Photoshop and can concur with you that it’s a ‘must have for me’. I was absolutely stunned with what it did for my images. It seemed to work best for me before I created the starless image with Starnet. In terms of speed, whilst my computer is not the quickest it applied the noise reduction in about 60 seconds. Brilliant!

[@lukomatico]

Thanks for sharing that Ian!! - I really enjoy all of the RC astro tools, I couldn't go back to doing things without them now - they add so much power and enjoyment to processing! :-)

[@paulsmaglik5063]

That was a great comparison with all different tools that are available. I use NoiseExterminator because it is very easy to use and my results are great.

[@lukomatico]

Thank you Paul!! Totally agree, it's easy and super powerful! :-) Thanks for watching mate, hope you have a super weekend!

[@petesastrophotography]

Great video Luke, and very interesting comparison. I have all three, but have never done a direct comparison myself. I dabble a bit with terrestrial photography as well and use Topaz for that, but I haven't used it for astro work since getting NXT. I can remember using EZ Denoise on drizzled images and it ending up taking over an hour, how times have changed!

[@lukomatico]

Oh mate, EZ denoise on a big image is a nightmare isn't it haha! I'm glad things have moved on, NoiseXTerminator shreds through images in no time - love it! :-) Thanks for watching Pete!

[@SimonsAstro]

Great video & review Luke, RC Crowman all the way mate😀 I have all of those programs (burX purchased through your affiliate link😀) and to be honest, all I use now is NoiseX & BlurX! Great stuff Luke, keep them coming! Clear skies

[@lukomatico]

Hey Simon! Hope you are well mate! :-D I'm also a massive fan of all the RC software I've used, he always gets it right! Can't wait to see what's next! Hope you have a superb week mate 🙏

[@leosavalin968]

Thx for the detailed write-up! Very much appreciated

[@lukomatico]

Thanks for watching bud!! :-)

[@sevenskiesastro]

Noise exterminator all the way it's fantastic Luke. Clear skies and congratulations again.

[@lukomatico]

Thanks Rob!! - And yeah haha, it's darned good hey! :-D Clear skies buddy!

[@Tony-Elliott]

Very nice comparison Luke

[@lukomatico]

Glad you liked it Tony! - Thanks for watching mate :-D

[@CDigata]

Nice to show your results, thoughts and it gives your views a choice.. working CUDA does make a big difference in speed and love the RC routines

[@lukomatico]

Thanks Chris!! :-D for sure the RC tools are blistering fast with CUDA enabled! Can't wait for them to bake it into pixinsight by default to be honest!

[@nikaxstro]

Blurexterminator then noise exterminator do a brilliant job Great video mate

[@lukomatico]

Agreed mate!! And no added details too, fantastic work by RC! :-D

[@southbronxny5727]

I wish you tried the noiseexterminator on the regular images to see what happens.

[@stuparker776]

Hi Luke Great vid thanks.I have all 3 and by far now for astro images I use noiseXTerminator.Topaz is really good also but rightly or wrongly I don't want detail that's not really there included in my images.I know this is a hot subject but for me it's a no-brainer.Good examples though you can really see the difference but my rating for topaz would be alot lower due to artifact inclusion,Which is really easy to do if you are not careful.Keep things going Cheers Stu

[@lukomatico]

Thanks Stu!! - I agree that Topaz can be overall damaging to the 'integrity' of an image (can't think of a better word right now lol!) if it starts adding detail - it can be dialled in carefully and used still, but I'm the same as you these days mate, I just stick to NXT as it's quick, easy and doesn't fail! :-) Hope you have a super weekend mate!

[@RumourHasitYT]

Thanks Luke I know the effort to produce a video like this. I’ve used all the noise reduction processes you’ve shown and I agree totally. I still use Topaz for my other photography too, it’s great not having to worry and out high ISO, it makes great photos possible from affordable lenses

[@lukomatico]

Thanks so much Tom!! I'm honestly glad that I own both topaz and the RC tools as they are both superb in their own right! 👍 Hope you have a great weekend mate!

[@ukastroimaging1016]

Another plus on noise XT is not having to spend ages creating all manner of masks - if EZ goes wrong or you're using trad methods it really adds to the time!

[@lukomatico]

True mate!! very well said, I'm a huge fan of time-savers! :-)

[@deep_space_dave]

Hey Luke! Yes Russ Croman has really outdone himself with his software. I really enjoy using and experimenting with all of his software as for AP there is nothing better! This year I am planning to do more terrestrial photography so I may give Topaz a try. Thanks for the video and as always great content! Clear Skies!

[@lukomatico]

Thanks for that Dave!! Totally agree, the RC astro software is impeccable! :-) If you do decide to have a go at terrestrial then Topaz is well worth a look when you've got some shots to work on mate, - I've been very happy with the purchase after the initial sting wore off haha! Hope you have a great weekend!

[@JethroXP]

I've used all three as well, and EZDenoise was my goto prior to NoiseXTerminator. Topaz Denoise is great for daylight photography, but a mixed bag for astrophotography. Often I found it was creating artifacts. EZDenoise worked well for me, but wow was it slow, talking 20+ minutes in some cases. I feel that NoiseXTerminator is both better than EXDenoise (though they are close) and just so much faster, taking just seconds if you've got an nVidia GPU with CUDA cores and you've done the steps to make use of them.

[@lukomatico]

Agreed mate! I'm glad to see we're on the same page with this :-D Thanks for watching and clear skies!

[@dumpydalekobservatory]

I've been using Topaz for a while now & yeah on my old PC is slooooow but it doesn't do a bad job & like yourself I removed the stars first, I haven't really tried it on normal terrestrial photos yet though so maybe it's about time I did.

[@lukomatico]

It definitely doesn't do a bad job at all mate yeah!! I still reckon Topaz is an A+ program! :-D Give it a go on some terrestrial work for sure by the way, it's superb! 👍 Hope you and Nicky have a cracking weekend buddy

[@craiglowery4427]

Nice review Luke

[@lukomatico]

Glad you think so Craig! Clear skies mate!

[@koppervik1]

I use Topaz Denoise along with Photoshop. In Photoshop Topaz is integrated and there is no need to save your image as tiff, open in topaz and bring it back in. It all works from within on the layer you created. Also, I always set 'sharpening' to 0 and pull the denoise slider almost all to the left. In most cases it cleans up pretty much perfect, and because the sharpening is set to 0, no 'artificial' artefacts are created. I always work on starless images and process the stars separatly before bringing them back in. So not really a 'con' for me to domitnthis way. I do see your point of overdoing denoise and sharpening in Topaz though. I fell victim myself on the first couple of images.

[@lukomatico]

That's good to know mate!! I have no experience with Photoshop so remained ignorant to it's workflow - thank you very much for the information! :-) Re: sharpening slider and artefacts, I find with it at 0 certain AI models still generate false details, so our experience varies a bit there! Clear skies!

[@georgedicker9789]

Hi luke, can you still get ezdenoise for pixinsight? Ive been trying to get it on mine but people are saying it doesnt work anymore?!

[@lukomatico]

Hi mate! It's possible yeah, the solution is on the pixinsight forums themselves though, I'm really unfamiliar with it to be honest! Wishing you luck!

[@georgedicker9789]

@@lukomatico ok luke, thanks alot