Noise reduction using stacks

Noise Reduction with stacking allows you to improve the SNR (Signal to Noise ratio) of your imagery by stacking together multiple shots of the same subject and "averaging" out the noise. Since the subject remains consistent from shot to shot but noise is random, it can be removed efficiently without compromising the clarity of the subject.

This technique is beneficial for static scenes, especially in low light photography where noise is often unavoidable, either due to high ISO values or long exposures.

Noise Frame 01

Noise Frame 02

Noise Frame 03

Stacked Frame

Shooting tips

Here are a few things to consider when shooting.

To help image alignment, use a tripod or ensure your camera is in a fixed position.
The higher the ISO value you shoot at, the greater the number of shots you will need to effectively reduce the noise.
If shooting handheld, use a high speed burst mode if available for the best framing consistency between shots.
Try and use a fixed white balance to avoid large differences in tone between the shots.

To create a noise reduction stack:

From the File menu, select New Stack.
From the dialog, click Add to locate and select your images. Click Open to add the images to the stack list.
Click OK.
On the Layers panel, select either the Median or Mean stack mode from the Stack Mode pop-up menu on the Live Stack Group layer. Results between each mode may vary: try both and see which you prefer.

Shooting tips

SEE ALSO: