Is AI worth the investment for improving images?
There are a number of post-processing apps designed to improve images without changing them as well as plug-ins for Photoshop and other such programs. Noise reduction, sharpening and enlarging a small crop from a larger image can be done and done without much effort. What follows is an example of minimal image improvement. The file was provided by Gato Moteado and shot with a full frame digital camera at an ISO of 3100. The noise in the original file isn't objectionable but is is noticeable. To get the full effect of the changes you should download the images and inspect them in an image viewing app.
The image above is 6887x4591 pixels which renders as 30 mp. Below is a crop to emphasize the change possible. It is a 1570x1180 pixel crop or 2mp, a 15x enlargement.
The only thing done was a minimal noise reduction. A big problem with modifications to remove noise or sharpen is that the two functions have competed with each other. To remove noise older apps smoothed out the pixels which necessarily smudged edge definition making the image look soft and out of focus. On the other hand to sharpen an image the app would increase edge definition and contrast making the noise more noticeable. New AI based apps seem to find a way to overcome that issue.
Understand that a bad picture cannot be saved. You need to start with an acceptably sharp well exposed image. Still haven't found out how to make a silk purse from a pig's ear. I'll let you know when I do . . .
I do not own stock in any photo app and have no interest in sales of those products. There are many post processing noise reduction packages available. I do not benefit from or intend to promote the sale of any product. For use as education only. THIS IS NOT COMMERCIAL SPAM.
= new reply since forum marked as read
It can give you one or two stops on ISO easily. I went one step further and added about 5% sharpen and resized it to near original pixel count below.
This was done with Topaz Photo AI. It incorporates all of the features that the three stand-alone apps provide. Each feature can be turned off or on and the strength can be adjusted. It initially offers an AI assessment and selects the subject which means it can apply changes to the subject only, the background only or both. Usually the subject itself is in sharp focus and the noise is organized into texture and detail so it's not noticeable whereas the background with big blobs of bokeh screams noise.
You have to be careful with how to use this stuff. Keep it minimal because artifacts will begin to show up. My personal limit is: "If I print this to 16x20 and viewed it from 4 feet would I be able to see an improvement." Photographers are the only artists that apply the smell test to their work--getting so close that you can smell the ink. It's stupid, don't do that.
I hate to have to repeat this but; This is for information purposes only. I have no interest in the sale or use of this or any product. This is not commercial spam.
I think you can get a free trial with watermarks on all the pictures.