Where to introduce Noise reduction?

[Bluesman graham]

Hello all, I attended an evening game last night & ended up shooting manual 400th @ 2.8 with a known view to pulling images back in CS . This issue I know isn't relavent to the latest camera users but at the Mo I'm limited to my D2h's. I usually import images into CS & apply a preset action which places the "Noise Ninja" before the USM, however if I'm correct the actual appliance of USM induces noise so should I change them around?. Any advice (if you need to use it of course) is very welcome . Kind regards Graham.

 

[The23rdman]

Always make noise reduction your first step and sharpening your last.

 

[snapzz]

I have NoiseNinja plugin for CS and you can apply USM as part of it but knowing how much is key. Personally I think I would run a few tests prior to a game and look to see which way produces the best result.