I try to keep my sensor as free of dust as possible but there are times when it isn't practical to clean in the field or, more likely, I become to lazy to do so.
Does anyone know of software similar to Digital ICE (used in film scans) that automatically removes obvious dust spots from a RAW of TIFF digital file? I know I could use the healing brush in PS but I'm looking for a more automated method to save some time.
ICE uses an infrared scan of the film to detect where dust is. (Which is why it doesn't work on B&W film or Kodachrome--other films are transparent to IR, but these are not.) It's a hardware-based technology. Software-only schemes exist (often sold with cheaper film scanners), but they aren't nearly as good.
Also, the nature of dust is very different on scans than it is on DSLRs.
I think you're left doing it by hand.
I guess theoretically, you could shoot a perfectly white background and get a registration image for where your dust is--you might then be able to automate the process. But you would need a different registration image for every f stop you shoot at, as the appearance of dust is a function of f stop in DSLRs. (And of course, the dust locations could change every time you chenage lenses.)
-Paul
Posted by Scott Buckel on April 17, 2006 at 12:44 PM
Bret - isn't there a way to use a "blank" shot and use it to help remove the dust? I vaguely remember a Canon photographer talking about that at one point, but I can not remember what the function is called, maybe something like dust off.
Good to know. Sounds like I'll just have to do a better job keeping my sensor clean. Thanks for the responses.
Posted by Don Miller on April 18, 2006 at 11:31 AM
I'm curious. Do you look for dust at 100%. Do you often stop down to f11 or more.? I don't perceive a big dust problem with Canon CMOS. But I'm concerned that I'm just not looking carefully enough.
Yes, I do look for dust at 100% and most of my photos are made in the f/11 to f/22 range to maximize DOF. Dust is much less noticeable at f/4 and f/5.6 but can, under the right conditions, be seen at 100%.
Discussion
5 repliesDoes anyone know of software similar to Digital ICE (used in film scans) that automatically removes obvious dust spots from a RAW of TIFF digital file? I know I could use the healing brush in PS but I'm looking for a more automated method to save some time.
All comments are appreciated!
Also, the nature of dust is very different on scans than it is on DSLRs.
I think you're left doing it by hand.
I guess theoretically, you could shoot a perfectly white background and get a registration image for where your dust is--you might then be able to automate the process. But you would need a different registration image for every f stop you shoot at, as the appearance of dust is a function of f stop in DSLRs. (And of course, the dust locations could change every time you chenage lenses.)
-Paul
Scott
Yes, I do look for dust at 100% and most of my photos are made in the f/11 to f/22 range to maximize DOF. Dust is much less noticeable at f/4 and f/5.6 but can, under the right conditions, be seen at 100%.