ON1 Photo RAW 2026.4: NoNoise AI wildlife tutorial

This tutorial edits a bird photograph taken at ISO 12,800 in ON1 Photo RAW 2026.4. The speaker starts with visible grain on both the bird and its background, then uses NoNoise AI in the Develop tab's noise and sharpening section. The included practice file requires version 2026.4 and is accessible through the Home module's practice files tab.

The noise reduction preview opens at 100% zoom. The speaker positions the comparison slider over the bird's head and nearby background to assess the result. For this image, they prefer the 2024 AI model without high detail, explaining that the high-detail option brings some noise back into the neck and background. Detail Enhancement restores larger features, while micro sharpening affects finer textures. The demonstration shows grain returning when sharpening rises too far.

After applying noise reduction, the edit adds overall contrast and lifts midtones. An automatic animal mask limits Dynamic Contrast to the bird; the speaker uses the Surreal preset with opacity around 80. A separate background mask receives an S-curve to deepen shadows and brighten midtones. The final adjustments raise color temperature to about 6,000 and add the Big Softy vignette, centered near the bird's head with its setting reduced to about 50. Before-and-after comparisons illustrate the speaker's preference for restrained wildlife edits.