Denoise processing comparison with EZ Denoise and NoiseXTerminator
This is a comparison between the addon packages for Pixinsight software. These packages are the EZ processing suite and Xterminator suite – namely Denoise in this case.
Denoise is an important part of processing and generally is done near the start of the processing (For me anyway). Noise is grains which appear in your data as you take pictures. This can be removed by having a decent dynamic range and temp-controlled cameras and a lot of data, but the ultimate cause of the noise is a lack of light and long exposure timings.
Below are the links to both EZ suite and XTerminator sites (RC Astro)
Denoise is an important part of processing and generally is done near the start of the processing (For me anyway). Noise is grains which appear in your data as you take pictures. This can be removed by having a decent dynamic range and temp-controlled cameras and a lot of data, but the ultimate cause of the noise is a lack of light and long exposure timings.
Below are the links to both EZ suite and XTerminator sites (RC Astro)
Still, even with all the mitigation, noise in our pictures is a thing and we have to use the software during our processing to remove it to get a better-looking picture.
This page is to compare two of the software. One is free software and the other is paid. Yes – we are talking about EZ Denoise and NoiseXTerminator. This isn’t a review of one or the other, nor to bash either as I still use EZ suite software in certain processes. This is to compare and show the differences between them if you are on the fence about going to the next stage of processing software. But using two scopes to show multiple differences in noise levels.
Of course, there are other denoise software out in the world and you are not limited to these, but we will compare only these two.
This page is to compare two of the software. One is free software and the other is paid. Yes – we are talking about EZ Denoise and NoiseXTerminator. This isn’t a review of one or the other, nor to bash either as I still use EZ suite software in certain processes. This is to compare and show the differences between them if you are on the fence about going to the next stage of processing software. But using two scopes to show multiple differences in noise levels.
Of course, there are other denoise software out in the world and you are not limited to these, but we will compare only these two.
The data used is M13 – The Great Globular Cluster, which is compared also on two scope setups, but with the same camera. The scopes used are the SW Evostar 72ED DS Pro, which was used at the focal ratio of F/5.8 (using the OVL Field Flattener) and the Celestron RASA 8 at F/2. Both pictures are an hour long (well 55mins for the 72ed and 1 hour with the RASA) with the 72ed using 60-sec sub exposures and the RASA 8 using 10-sec exposures.
But remember these aren't compared between each scope, but to pictures from the same scope without processing. The RASA 8 has a distinct advantage of data collection compared to the SW 72ED DS Pro and this shouldn't be considered a comparison between scopes, but rather two sets of data to help understand the software.
But remember these aren't compared between each scope, but to pictures from the same scope without processing. The RASA 8 has a distinct advantage of data collection compared to the SW 72ED DS Pro and this shouldn't be considered a comparison between scopes, but rather two sets of data to help understand the software.
The first two pictures show the picture zoomed out and the pictures below are the same ones zoomed in to the same location, which shows more detail and the noise in the picture. These 4 four pictures are pre-processing, just stacked and opened in Pixinsight. No other processing has been done to them; this is to show the stock data pre-processing to compare with both software after denoise.
Stock vs EZ Suite
First, we are comparing the EZ with the Stock photo above. The first two pictures are of the zoomed-out version and the second two are of the zoomed-in which shows more detail on the noise or in this case the noise removal. You can see a massive change in the close-up picture of the noise removal and how smoother the picture is after noise removal.
Stock v NoiseXTerminator
Like the above pictures, the first two below are the zoomed-out showing details of the overall picture compared with the stock picture. While the two below these are of the same zoomed-in area showing better detail of the noise, and in this case with next to no noise in the picture. The picture is much smoother.
Like the above pictures, the first two below are the zoomed-out showing details of the overall picture compared with the stock picture. While the two below these are of the same zoomed-in area showing better detail of the noise, and in this case with next to no noise in the picture. The picture is much smoother.
These pictures show the clear difference between the EZ suite and NoiseXTerminator and show how effective noise reduction is overall. The difference between both bits of software is clear as well and while NoiseXTerminator is a clear winning here, it is a paid bit of software and shouldn’t trump the EZ processing suit, but be a natural stage of advancement in software procurement.
The processing times varied between each piece of software and also the picture. The size of the picture file will play a large part during processing. The larger the file, the longer it takes to do the processing. Using the 533mc gives 17mb individual file size, with a stacked photo of about 52 MB. But if you drizzle the data x2/x3 the file size increases quickly. X2 drizzle will give a file size of about 200 MB, with the X3 drizzle being 477 MB! Pics below show this, expect slightly longer processing times if you drizzle your data.
If you are creating a mosaic-style picture (combining two sets of data) the files increase again. After combing the mosaic, the file is just over 1 GB in size. This makes processing extremely slow in certain processes. Removing Stars and Denoise will take a very long time. EZ processing suite will denoise a picture of about 500 MB in about 90-100 minutes. Although the NoiseXterminator will do this extremely quickly, about a few minutes max but star removal is a lengthy process. You will also notice slight delays in certain simple processes, like applying curves. This will take a few seconds, instead of being instantaneous.
The processing times varied between each piece of software and also the picture. The size of the picture file will play a large part during processing. The larger the file, the longer it takes to do the processing. Using the 533mc gives 17mb individual file size, with a stacked photo of about 52 MB. But if you drizzle the data x2/x3 the file size increases quickly. X2 drizzle will give a file size of about 200 MB, with the X3 drizzle being 477 MB! Pics below show this, expect slightly longer processing times if you drizzle your data.
If you are creating a mosaic-style picture (combining two sets of data) the files increase again. After combing the mosaic, the file is just over 1 GB in size. This makes processing extremely slow in certain processes. Removing Stars and Denoise will take a very long time. EZ processing suite will denoise a picture of about 500 MB in about 90-100 minutes. Although the NoiseXterminator will do this extremely quickly, about a few minutes max but star removal is a lengthy process. You will also notice slight delays in certain simple processes, like applying curves. This will take a few seconds, instead of being instantaneous.
Starting processing in Pixinsight is already a daunting task, and while the Xterminator suite is a simple piece of software, a good starting point if you don’t want to spend out straight away is the EZ suite. And potentially progress to the Xterminator suite at a later stage.
The difference is night and day between pictures with no denoise and pictures with denoise and it is worth getting one of them, but if you can spend additional money I’d go for the NoiseXTerminator but the EZ suite does have perks. but there is no denying the difference between EZ Denoise and NoiseXTerminiator, with NoiseXTerminator being a clear winner, but it is a paid piece of software and I would have expected that. (which is why it was not brought up)
Below is side by side comparison between both software zoomed in, to help see the difference between each of them rather than a non-processed picture on the RASA and 72ED DS Pro.
The difference is night and day between pictures with no denoise and pictures with denoise and it is worth getting one of them, but if you can spend additional money I’d go for the NoiseXTerminator but the EZ suite does have perks. but there is no denying the difference between EZ Denoise and NoiseXTerminiator, with NoiseXTerminator being a clear winner, but it is a paid piece of software and I would have expected that. (which is why it was not brought up)
Below is side by side comparison between both software zoomed in, to help see the difference between each of them rather than a non-processed picture on the RASA and 72ED DS Pro.
I hope this has helped understand noise reduction and which one is suitable for you. Remember you can always go for the EZ processing Suite first and then purchase Denoise software at a later stage.
Don't forget XTerminator offer discounts if you have one of them already, so don't forget to enter your ID code when it tells you to!
Don't forget XTerminator offer discounts if you have one of them already, so don't forget to enter your ID code when it tells you to!