In case you are searching for a complete Topaz Labs Software program overview, you’ve come to the precise place.
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As a reader of my weblog, that I’m fairly open about my enhancing as I reveal the processing steps for nearly each picture I publish. You additionally in all probability seen that each picture posted on this weblog was edited, sooner or later, with no less than one or two Topaz Software program Labs plugins.
Not surprisingly, two of the commonest questions my readers ask me concerning the Topaz merchandise are: “What plugin ought to I incorporate in my enhancing workflow, and when do I exploit it?”
Topaz Labs Software program Assessment or Cheat Sheet for Selecting the Proper Topaz Plugins
I’ve to confess that Topaz Labs had some of the complicated buildings of its merchandise. At one level, that they had 16 totally different plugins, and, typically, their features 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 utterly restructured its merchandise by depreciating many authentic plugins and introducing new ones. And naturally, they slapped AI (Synthetic Intelligence) suffix to all of the merchandise.
So as 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 will undoubtedly be Topaz DeNoise. That is the one plugin I exploit with each single picture I publish on my weblog.
Any Photoshop or Lightroom plugin is an easy “shortcut” or time saver. Usually, it’s doable to attain the identical impact of just about any plugin utilizing Photoshop; nonetheless, DeNoise is a kind of plugins whose impact I can not utterly replicate utilizing both Photoshop or Lightroom. Although 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’ve got the choice not solely to cut back noise however to use sharpening as effectively.
It implies that the newest model of Topaz DeNoise AI replaces 3 authentic 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 photographs, I solely want to cut back noise within the “flat” areas (sky, water, pores and skin) as a result of, on the similar time, I additionally wish to protect as many particulars as doable within the “sample” areas (architectural parts, grass, bushes, mountains). Earlier than I began utilizing DeNoise, I needed to apply noise discount to the complete picture and later use Photoshop to masks areas I wished to maintain sharp. In some way, DeNoise detects these areas mechanically and eliminates them from the appliance.
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 main points of the mountains intact.
This highly effective and easy device saves me an unlimited period of time.
Topaz Sharpen AI
The Topaz Sharpen AI is a singular program. It manages to perform what was not doable earlier than.
Let me clarify.
I’ve a graphic design background, and some of the used expressions amongst designers is “rubbish in, rubbish out.” It implies 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 implies that when you have out of focus picture or a blurry picture brought on by a digital camera shake, you might be out of luck.
The Topaz Sharpen AI makes an attempt to vary the equation by salvaging “dangerous” and “unusable” photographs at a really excessive success charge.
The plugin has 3 sharpening modes: Sharpen, Stabilize, and Focus.
The Sharpen mode applies commonplace sharpening. The Stabilize mode makes an attempt to deal with the movement blur brought on by the digital camera shake. And the Focus mode tries to take care of softness brought on by poor focusing.
The Topaz Sharpen AI is a brand new plugin. It changed for me authentic Topaz Readability and Topaz Element plugins.
Topaz Modify AI
The Topaz DeNoise AI and Sharpen AI could be categorized as utility plugins as a result of they don’t create any particular seems to be in your images. Relatively, they solely assist to boost totally different elements of the pictures.
Topaz Modify AI plugin is extra on the artistic facet and helps to creatively discover the artwork of images by reaching quite a lot of results starting from very delicate to completely blown surrealistic.
With Topaz Modify AI you’ll be able to management the picture publicity and colours, lengthen the dynamic vary of the only picture, get better the shadows and the highlights, in addition to improve the main points. The probabilities listed below are countless.
I exploit Topaz Modify 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 Modify AI, I at all times default to Lightroom. I favor to remain within the non-destructive RAW setting of Lightroom.
However once I use the Topaz Modify AI, I exploit the next workflow:
- I at all times begin by making use of one of many presets included with the plugin.
- I change to the precise enhancing panel and work with International Changes. I solely use Publicity, Particulars, and Shade changes.
- The final step is the Ending Touches changes. I at all times use the Transparency adjustment the place I can mix the Topaz Modify AI impact with the unique picture. I additionally use the Temperature adjustment very often to heat up the picture, particularly with sundown/dawn images.
Topaz Star Results
You in all probability know or heard concerning the capturing approach the place you choose the smallest doable aperture (f20-f22) and shoot instantly 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 lets you create a starburst impact after capturing and within the enhancing part.
I don’t use this plugin each day however, generally it turns into a particularly precious device that helps me to attain my artistic imaginative and prescient with out going again and re-shooting the scene.
The plugin has the entire doable changes and controls to make the starburst impact the best way you need it.
Topaz Star Impact is a legacy plugin, however it’s nonetheless accessible on the Topaz web site. I think they stopped creating it a very long time in the past. However, It’s at all times 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 is advisable to isolate a selected object in your photographs. The issue is Photoshop has very subtle 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 way more efficient than Photoshop.
After I take photographs of my members of the family and can’t use the precise digital camera 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 seen when it is advisable to scale back the scale of photographs, you at all times get the ultimate picture with the identical and even higher high quality than the unique.
However when it is advisable to improve the picture’s measurement, you at all times get delicate, low element typically unusable outcomes. The explanation for that’s whenever you upscale a picture, this system has to provide new pixels (information) that don’t exist within the authentic picture. And producing one thing out of nothing by no means labored effectively.
However with the newest developments in machine studying the enlarging or upscaling packages turned way more efficient.
And the Gigapixel AI is by far the simplest upscaling device I’ve ever used. It’s succesful to enlarge your photographs 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 throughout the RAW to JPEG conversion and JPEG compression.
I’ve not examined it sufficient to evaluate its actual effectiveness, however I’ve an thought 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’ve got 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 cling on the wall.
However with the Topaz AI workflow, it turns into doable.
- Convert authentic 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
- Enhance particulars and sharpness with Sharpen AI
And now you’ve got 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 find out how to use this system:
- You’ll be able to enlarge video recordsdata with minimal loss in high quality. For instance, you’ll be able to upscale HD video to 4K model
- You’ll be able to 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.
Selecting the Proper Topaz Plugin
As a nonetheless photographer, if I had to decide on just one Topaz plugin, with out hesitation, I’d decide Topaz DeNoise AI
If I needed to decide 2 plugins, it will 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 overview of Topaz Labs plugins will function a roadmap for you. Over time you’ll discover your individual methods and set up your distinctive workflow based mostly in your private type and creative imaginative and prescient. And whenever you do, I hope you are 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 searching for 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.