Noise reduction

Question for the experts: when should noise reduction be applied ?

I have learnt that when processing a raw file, final sharpening should be applied last after re-sizing the image.

What about noise reduction. Is this best done at the end of raw processing, but before re-sizing and final sharpening. Or should it also be done after re-sizing ?

If I use NR at all, I like to do it first, directly after RAW processing. Since the new version of UFRAW has built in NR I will sometimes use that.

I do it this way around because it keeps my NR settings predictable. The later stages of processing tend to amplify noise so make the settings you need variable. Resizing is the worst, since it actually changes the size of the noise and I find this degrades the performance of the NR system.


Saying that, with my K10D I rarely need to use NR at all unless shooting at at least ISO 800

RAW processing is different than Photo editing.
In general the settings may be done at any time, and the RAW processor should do them in an intelligent order.
I don't think it really matters when you perform noise reduction or any other action.
Although there is a correspondence to how much sharpening you apply for various final image sizes. You may want to do this last for your own visual cues on the final image.

Thanks for the input guys.