From Sue Chastain,
Your Guide to Graphics Software.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

Definition: Noise in digital photos consists of any undesirable flecks of random color in a portion of an image that should consist of smooth color. It is somewhat similar to the "snowy" appearance of a bad TV signal. Digital images shot in low light or with a high ISO setting often exhibit this undesirable noise. In a way, noise is the digital equivalent of film grain, but noise is generally undesirable, while grain can be desirable. In fact, some digital photographers will curse noise one minute, and the next they may try to create film grain in digital photos for an artistic effect.

Much of today's photo editing software offers tools for reducing noise in digital photos, as well as filters for adding noise for a film grain effect. There are also many specialized tools for reducing noise in digital photos.

• Comparison of Noise and Grain in Digital Photos
• Noise, Grain and Artifact Reduction Software

Graphics Glossary Main Index

Also Known As: grain, film grain, snow