Dfine 2.0

by Nik Software

Product Features

• Measure and reduce noise in two easy steps
• Saves time
• Maintains sharpness and details throughout image
• Optimizes image quality

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B001L8L3JW
• Item model number: nik-2122
• Date first available at Amazon.com: August 28, 2005
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,357 in Software (See Top 100 in Software)
  • #79 in Software > Graphics > Photo Editing

Product Description

Dfine 2.0 is an easy to use tool that enables anyone to perform high quality noise reduction globally and selectively, with patented U Point technology, and improve the quality of every digital photo. Every digital photograph inherently creates unwanted imperfections known as noise. The key to improving the quality of every digital photo is eliminating noise while maintaining rich detail and sharpness. Easy to use Navigator allows users to view details needed to optimize the image. U Point technology powered control points allow for precise selective application of noise reduction. Noise reduction can be achieved by Color Ranges basd on specific tonalities found in each image.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Noise Reduction in Photoshop and Lightroom, October 27, 2009

By 

mhnstr (Christchurch, New Zealand) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dfine 2.0 (CD-ROM)

The NIK Define software does an amazing job at reducing the noise and grain you can find in a photograph that was shot with a high ISO setting or was underexposed. Could you do the same yourself in Photoshop using a Gaussian blur? Probably, but I found that the ease and effectiveness of Define made the purchase of the software very worth my while.

One thing to be aware of is that the noise reduction is done at the expense of sharpness. I typically use the software to reduce the noise and then apply a layer mask to limit the noise reduction to where the noise is the worst and where sharpness is not critical. Using this method, I have been very pleased with the results. There is also the possibility of masking in the Define software itself, but I prefer to use Photoshop to create the masks.

One other thing to be aware of is that NIK currently does not support the 64 bit version of Photoshop. I am currently using Photoshop CS4 as part of the Creative Suite using the Windows XP Professional 64-bit operating system. During the installation of the Creative Suite, both a 32 bit and a 64 bit version of Photoshop were installed on my machine. I just need to make sure that I am using the 32 bit version of Photoshop if I want to use Define.

A bonus is that Define also works with Lightroom 2.3 or later versions as an external editor. It will not work with Lightroom 1.

This software is available on the NIK website as a 15 day trial so you can try it before you buy it. I highly recommend giving the trial a go, especially if you have photos with a lot of noise in them. I think that you will be pleased with the results.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Noise Reduction, September 12, 2009

By 

Christoph (Houston,TX) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dfine 2.0 (CD-ROM)

I can't find anything wrong with this software. It does a magical job of eliminating noise without image destruction. It brought new life to some (many!) very noising photos I had taken with my Nikon D80 (above iso400) and Canon SD450.

My D80 had the in-camera noise reduction settings ON while Dfine 2.0 recommends turning it OFF. So I am curious if even better results will occur. Still to be tested.

I was so impressed with NIK editing software and the effective controls it offers that I bought two others(Viveza and Silver Efex).

Try the free 15 day, full-version trial.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very effective tool, February 28, 2009

By 

Aman Gupta (Bangalore, India) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dfine 2.0 (CD-ROM)

I use this plugin primarily to remove noise from images shot at higher ISOs from my cameras. It is really effective, and cleans up the image considerably with little effect to underlying details. It has many 'modes' to use in various situations, like 'fine structures', 'strong noise' etc. Automatic works good for me most of the times. Only other mode I have found use is the 'skin' mode - which not only removes noise but softens the skin too. Overall, Very good piece of software if you do a lot of high ISO photography.