Remove noise from video

[jwp]

Does anyone here have any tried and true ways to remove noise/grain from video shot in a semi-dark setting - very low light (software or otherwise)? I know it can't look like video shot with sufficient light but I need some ideas. I use Adobe CS3.

[HankCastello]

I've seen a third-party plug-in somewhere that promised to fix grain, but think about it for a moment - what can you do about grain?  You can't get back the detail that it obscures.  The best you can hope for is to soften the edges of the grain so it blends better with the overall image.  A soft blur effect might accomplish that.

[BillGrant]

I always increase contrast. That seems to minimize the impact.
Bill

[DavidPartington]

I've used "Neat Video" (google it) as a plug-in for Final Cut Pro - but I think they have plug-ins for Adobe stuff too.   

It's very good at saving the day - but far too easy to over do it - looking for the ultimate in clean video.   My advice it to back off the settings a LOT and let it have a go.   you can also get a trial version that watermarks things if I remember rightly.

Having said all this, be warned that rendering noise reduced footage takes a LONG time (especially 1080p !) so be prepared to let longer sections render overnight.   It's saved some really low light stuff for me a couple of times and more than paid for itself.