How to Denoise an Image in Photoshop (Step-by-Step Guide)

Method 1: Use the Reduce Noise Filter (Simple and Quick)

The Reduce Noise filter is one of the easiest ways to remove noise from a photo in Photoshop. It’s especially useful when your image has visible grain from shooting in low light or at high ISO.

Step 1: Open your photo in Photoshop.

Step 2: Go to the top menu and choose Filter > Noise > Reduce Noise.

Step 3: In the Reduce Noise dialog box, you’ll see four main sliders. Here’s what each one does and how you might set them:

• Strength (try 5–8 for a start): Controls how much noise is reduced. A higher value removes more noise but may blur details.
• Preserve Details (start with 25%–50%): Keeps edges and texture sharp. Increase this if the image looks too soft.
• Reduce Color Noise (30%–70% usually works well): Gets rid of random color dots — common in shadows or low light.
• Sharpen Details (0%–20% is safe): Adds some sharpness back after denoising. Use carefully to avoid introducing halos.

Step 4: If your image is a JPEG and shows compression artifacts (blocky patches or smudges), check the box labeled Remove JPEG Artifact.

Many beginners find that getting the perfect balance between smoothness and detail takes a bit of trial and error. A good idea is to zoom in to 100% as you adjust the sliders — this makes it much easier to see what’s actually changing.

This method works well for mild to moderate noise. If you're dealing with heavy noise or want more precise control, try the next method using the Camera Raw Filter.

Method 2: Denoise with Camera Raw Filter (More Control and Better Results)

If you want a bit more control over the denoising process — especially for RAW or high-res images — the Camera Raw Filter is a great option. It offers more advanced tools and tends to preserve detail better than the basic Reduce Noise filter.

Step 1: Open your image in Photoshop.

Step 2: Go to Filter > Camera Raw Filter from the top menu.

Step 3: In the Camera Raw interface, click the Detail panel (the icon that looks like two triangles).

Step 4: Under the “Noise Reduction” section, you'll find these sliders:

• Luminance (start with 20–40): Controls grainy noise in brightness. The higher the value, the smoother the image — but too much can blur it.
• Luminance Detail (set around 50–70): Helps protect textures and fine details. Raising this too much can bring some noise back.
• Luminance Contrast (10–30 is usually safe): Adds contrast back to midtones after smoothing.
• Color (usually leave at 25): Reduces color noise, like green or purple splotches.
• Color Detail (50 is the default): You can leave it as is unless you see blotchy color patches.
• Color Smoothness (default is 50): Controls how evenly color noise is blended. Increase it slightly if you notice patchy or uneven color blotches after reducing color noise.

Step 5: Zoom in to 100% and adjust the sliders slowly while watching your image. Every photo is different, so it helps to experiment and compare before and after.

The Camera Raw Filter is especially good for photos with heavy noise or where you want more subtle results. It gives you finer control, and the results often look more natural than using the basic Reduce Noise filter.

Method 3: Use the Channel Method (For Targeted Noise Reduction)

This method takes a different approach — instead of applying a global noise reduction, you inspect each RGB channel individually and fix the noisy one. It’s especially useful when most of the noise is coming from just one color channel, which often happens in low-light shots or underexposed areas.

Step 1: Open your image in Photoshop.

Step 2: Go to the Channels panel. If you don’t see it, go to Window > Channels.

Step 3: Click through the Red, Green, and Blue channels one by one. Look closely at each one to see which has the most visible noise. Usually, the Blue channel is the noisiest.

Step 4: Once you've found the noisy channel, select it by clicking on it. Only that channel will be visible now (you'll see a grayscale version of the image).

Step 5: Go to Filter > Noise > Dust & Scratches.

• Set Radius around 1–3 pixels to smooth the grain without destroying too much detail.
• Keep Threshold low at first (like 0–10) to avoid wiping out real textures.

Step 6: Adjust the settings carefully while zoomed in. The goal is to reduce visible specks or harsh noise patterns without making the channel look overly soft.

Step 7: After you're done, click back on the RGB composite channel to see the full-color image again.

This method gives you precise control and works well when one channel is much noisier than the others. It's not ideal for large-scale noise reduction, but it's a handy trick when global filters aren't doing the job.

Want a Simpler Way to Denoise Photo?

If you find Photoshop's denoising tools a bit too complex — or you’re new to all those sliders and channels — Aiarty Image Enhancer can be a great companion tool. It’s not meant to replace Photoshop, but rather to give you an easier, AI-assisted option when you just want fast, clean results.

Powered by advanced AI models, Aiarty automatically detects and reduces noise in your photos — no manual tuning required. It’s especially helpful for beginners, or anyone who wants to save time.

Why try Aiarty:

• Automatically removes both luminance and color noise with AI precision
• Supports one-click denoising and upscaling — enhance and enlarge in one go
• Beginner-friendly, no Photoshop experience needed
• Batch processing support for high-efficiency workflows
• Desktop software — runs smoothly, no internet required

Aiarty Image Enhancer works especially well for portraits, night shots, old photo restoration, and any situation where you want to enhance image clarity with minimal effort.

How to Use Aiarty Image Enhancer

Using Aiarty is super straightforward — no complex settings, no steep learning curve.

Step 1: Download and install Aiarty Image Enhancer on your PC or Mac.

Step 2: Launch the software and click the "+" button to import your noisy image. You can add one or multiple images at once.

Step 3: Choose the AI model based on the type of image you’re working with.

Step 4: Select a upscaling option.

• If you choose ×1, Aiarty will focus only on denoising and enhancement without enlarging your photo.
• Once selected, Aiarty will begin processing the image using the AI model.

Step 5: Preview the result. Check if the noise is removed and the image looks cleaner. If you’re not satisfied, feel free to switch to another model.

Step 6: Click Single Export or Batch Export to save your enhanced image(s).

As you can see, it’s extremely easy to use — no manual parameter adjustments required.

And when it comes to results? You’ve seen them — clean, crisp, and on par with what Photoshop can deliver, without the hassle.