Noise Software Help

I recently purchased Topaz DeNoise on the recommendation of several NPN members. I have never used noise software before and am wondering if there are any tips you can give me. To start with, I assume you would only select the portion of the image where you can see noise and apply the software to that area. Much the same way that you do not sharpen the sky in an image, but only areas that need sharpening. Is this correct? Any other noise tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

I find that adjustments like this are best done on a duplicate layer with a mask. Then I can 'paint in' the adjustment selectively where needed. Vary the opacity of the brush to get even blending of the adjustments.

I agree with Jim. The method I use is cntrl J to make a duplicate layer....run the noiseware on the dup layer....select the dup layer and while holding down the alt key (PC) click the mask icon which will fill the mask with black which will make the image appear as it did before you ran the noiseware. Select the white brush and paint back in the effect wherever you want it. Joe Rogers

Thanks guys! This is just the kind of info I was looking for.

I use Nik's Dfine for noise as a PS plugin, and it takes me only seconds to do 98% of my sharpening on any one image. When the image opens Define automatically profiles the picture and places a small square on the areas that contain noise. Nik only removes noise from the larger areas and not from the subject (such as a bird). The beauty of this is that no selections need to be made and it only takes seconds to complete.