If you’re in search of a complete Topaz Labs Software program assessment, you’ve come to the suitable place.
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As a reader of my weblog, that I’m fairly open about my modifying as I reveal the processing steps for nearly each picture I publish. You additionally in all probability observed that each picture posted on this weblog was edited, in some unspecified time in the future, with not less than one or two Topaz Software program Labs plugins.
Not surprisingly, two of the commonest questions my readers ask me in regards to the Topaz merchandise are: “What plugin ought to I incorporate in my modifying workflow, and when do I exploit it?”
Topaz Labs Software program Evaluation or Cheat Sheet for Selecting the Proper Topaz Plugins
I’ve to confess that Topaz Labs had one of the crucial complicated buildings of its merchandise. At one level, they’d 16 totally different plugins, and, generally, their capabilities overlap with one another. Evidently, it took me a very long time to determine what product to make use of and when.
However over the previous couple of years, Topaz Labs fully restructured its merchandise by depreciating many unique plugins and introducing new ones. And naturally, they slapped AI (Synthetic Intelligence) suffix to all of the merchandise.
As a way to assist photographers who’re simply beginning to use Topaz software program, I’ve listed the plugins I exploit within the order of significance for my images.
Topaz DeNoise AI
If I had to decide on just one Topaz plugin, it might undoubtedly be Topaz DeNoise. That is the one plugin I exploit with each single picture I submit on my weblog.
Any Photoshop or Lightroom plugin is a straightforward “shortcut” or time saver. Sometimes, it’s attainable to attain the identical impact of just about any plugin utilizing Photoshop; nevertheless, DeNoise is a type of plugins whose impact I can’t fully replicate utilizing both Photoshop or Lightroom. Despite the fact that each functions have noise discount instruments, nothing comes even near mirroring the impact of DeNoise.
The numerous addition to the AI model of the Topaz DeNoise plugin is the sharpening performance. Now, you might have the choice not solely to cut back noise however to use sharpening as nicely.
It signifies that the newest model of Topaz DeNoise AI replaces 3 unique plugins Topaz DeNoise, Topaz Readability, and Topaz Element. It saves me money and time.
My favourite side of utilizing DeNoise is that I would not have to make use of masking in Photoshop after I apply the noise discount.
In a majority of my images, I solely want to cut back noise within the “flat” areas (sky, water, pores and skin) as a result of, on the identical time, I additionally wish to protect as many particulars as attainable within the “sample” areas (architectural components, grass, bushes, mountains). Earlier than I began utilizing DeNoise, I needed to apply noise discount to all the picture and later use Photoshop to masks areas I needed to maintain sharp. In some way, DeNoise detects these areas robotically and eliminates them from the applying.
Under is the picture I took in Yosemite, and it had extreme noise. It took me 15 sec to get rid of it within the space of the sky and to maintain the small print of the mountains intact.
This highly effective and easy instrument saves me an infinite period of time.
Topaz Sharpen AI
The Topaz Sharpen AI is a singular program. It manages to perform what was not attainable earlier than.
Let me clarify.
I’ve a graphic design background, and one of the crucial used expressions amongst designers is “rubbish in, rubbish out.” It signifies that when you have dangerous high quality pixels, regardless of the way you manipulate them, you’ll find yourself with dangerous pixels.
In images, it signifies that when you have out of focus picture or a blurry picture brought on by a digicam shake, you might be out of luck.
The Topaz Sharpen AI makes an attempt to alter the equation by salvaging “dangerous” and “unusable” images at a really excessive success fee.
The plugin has 3 sharpening modes: Sharpen, Stabilize, and Focus.
The Sharpen mode applies customary sharpening. The Stabilize mode makes an attempt to handle the movement blur brought on by the digicam shake. And the Focus mode tries to cope with softness brought on by poor focusing.
The Topaz Sharpen AI is a brand new plugin. It changed for me unique Topaz Readability and Topaz Element plugins.
Topaz Alter AI
The Topaz DeNoise AI and Sharpen AI will be categorized as utility plugins as a result of they don’t create any particular seems to be in your pictures. Fairly, they solely assist to boost totally different facets of the pictures.
Topaz Alter AI plugin is extra on the inventive facet and helps to creatively discover the artwork of images by attaining quite a lot of results starting from very delicate to completely blown surrealistic.
With Topaz Alter AI you’ll be able to management the picture publicity and colours, lengthen the dynamic vary of the one picture, get better the shadows and the highlights, in addition to improve the small print. The chances listed here are countless.
I exploit Topaz Alter AI much less typically in comparison with the unique model as a result of the newest model has a major overlap with Lightroom and Photoshop ACR.
And when I’ve a alternative to attain a selected look in my picture utilizing Lightroom or utilizing Topaz Alter AI, I all the time default to Lightroom. I favor to remain within the non-destructive RAW surroundings of Lightroom.
However after I use the Topaz Alter AI, I exploit the next workflow:
- I all the time begin by making use of one of many presets included with the plugin.
- I change to the suitable modifying panel and work with World Changes. I solely use Publicity, Particulars, and Coloration changes.
- The final step is the Ending Touches changes. I all the time use the Transparency adjustment the place I can mix the Topaz Alter AI impact with the unique picture. I additionally use the Temperature adjustment very often to heat up the picture, particularly with sundown/dawn pictures.
Topaz Star Results
You in all probability know or heard in regards to the capturing approach the place you choose the smallest attainable aperture (f20-f22) and shoot immediately into the solar or one other mild supply to provide a starburst impact. The small aperture exaggerates the rays of sunshine making them extra seen and distinguished.
The Topaz Star Results means that you can create a starburst impact after capturing and within the modifying part.
I don’t use this plugin each day however, generally it turns into a particularly invaluable instrument that helps me to attain my inventive imaginative and prescient with out going again and re-shooting the scene.
The plugin has the entire attainable changes and controls to make the starburst impact the way in which you need it.
Topaz Star Impact is a legacy plugin, however it’s nonetheless out there on the Topaz web site. I think they stopped growing it a very long time in the past. Nonetheless, It’s all the time helpful, and I exploit it very often.
Under is the record of plugins I not often use, however they are often very helpful for particular workflows.
Topaz Labs Masks AI
Masks AI is a really helpful plugin when it’s good to isolate a selected object in your photos. The issue is Photoshop has very refined and mature instruments for superior masking. And since I exploit Topaz packages completely as plugins in Photoshop, it’s simpler for me to do all of the masking there.
However, I discovered one case when utilizing Masks AI is rather more efficient than Photoshop.
After I take images of my members of the family and can’t use the suitable digicam settings to render the background out of focus, I can blur the unique background in Masks AI in a matter of seconds. It takes for much longer to attain the identical impact in Photoshop.
Gigapixel AI
You in all probability observed when it’s good to cut back the scale of images, you all the time get the ultimate picture with the identical and even higher high quality than the unique.
However when it’s good to enhance the picture’s dimension, you all the time get comfortable, low element typically unusable outcomes. The explanation for that’s if you upscale a picture, this system has to provide new pixels (information) that don’t exist within the unique picture. And producing one thing out of nothing by no means labored nicely.
However with the newest developments in machine studying the enlarging or upscaling packages grew to become rather more efficient.
And the Gigapixel AI is by far the simplest upscaling instrument I’ve ever used. It’s succesful to enlarge your images as much as 500-600% whereas preserving particulars and mage high quality.
JPEG to RAW AI
Topaz Labs claims that changing JPEG to RAW helps to get better information misplaced in the course of the RAW to JPEG conversion and JPEG compression.
I’ve not examined it sufficient to evaluate its actual effectiveness, however I’ve an concept of how it may be used.
Actual-life Instance of Upscaling Workflow
Let’s say you misplaced the unique RAW picture you took 10 years in the past. All you might have is a low-resolution JPEG model (800 x 600pix) with noticeable JPEG artifacts. There isn’t any manner you’ll be able to print it and hold on the wall.
However with the Topaz AI workflow, it turns into attainable.
- Convert unique picture from JPEG to RAW utilizing JPEG to RAW AI
- Upscale the picture to 4800 x 3600px with Gigapixel AI
- Take away noise and artifacts with DeNoise AI
- Increase particulars and sharpness with Sharpen AI
And now you might have a usable picture you’ll be able to print.
Topaz Video Improve AI
Since I’m nonetheless a photographer, I’ve the least expertise with Topaz Video Improve AI. However I can see that it makes use of the identical know-how because the Gigapixel AI and Sharpen AI plugins.
I can see 2 situations of methods to use this system:
- You may enlarge video recordsdata with minimal loss in high quality. For instance, you’ll be able to upscale HD video to 4K model
- You may seize nonetheless frames from video recordsdata, upscale them, and sharpen them.
For instance, you’ll be able to have a usable high-resolution picture extracted from HD video.
Choosing the Proper Topaz Plugin
As a nonetheless photographer, if I had to decide on just one Topaz plugin, with out hesitation, I’d choose Topaz DeNoise AI
If I needed to choose 2 plugins, it might be DeNoise AI and Sharpen AI.
And if I wanted greater than 2 plugins, I’d go for the bundle.
Conclusion
I hope my quick assessment of Topaz Labs plugins will function a roadmap for you. Over time you’ll find your personal methods and set up your distinctive workflow based mostly in your private type and creative imaginative and prescient. And if you do, I hope you’re taking a minute and share your distinctive methods of utilizing Topaz plugins with the remainder of us.
Topaz Labs Coupon Code
As soon as once more, if what TopazLab product you need and are in search of a Topaz Labs low cost code, use PHOTOTRACES on the checkout to get 15% off any Topaz plugin or full the Topaz Labs bundle pack at Topaz Web site.
