Noise USA - Photography Terms & Glossary

Glossary Of Photography Terms [1]

Noise In digital photography, noise refers to the random variations in brightness or color that appear in digital images, resembling grain or speckles. Noise is often caused by electronic interference, amplification of sensor signals, or limitations in the camera's image sensor, particularly when shooting at high ISO sensitivities or in low-light conditions. Different types of noise can occur in digital images, including luminance noise (grayscale variations) and chroma noise (color variations).
While some amount of noise may be acceptable and even desirable in certain types of photography, excessive noise can degrade image quality, reduce detail, and compromise overall clarity. Techniques for reducing noise in digital images include using lower ISO settings, improving lighting conditions, employing noise reduction software or in-camera noise reduction algorithms, and shooting in RAW format to retain maximum image quality and flexibility during post-processing.