In case you are in search of a complete Topaz Labs Software program evaluation, you’ve come to the suitable place.
However, if you understand what Topaz Lab plugin you need and are in search of 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.
As a reader of my weblog, you understand 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 most typical questions my readers ask me in regards to the Topaz merchandise are: “What plugin ought to I incorporate in my enhancing workflow, and when do I take advantage of 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 vital complicated constructions of its merchandise. At one level, they’d 16 totally different plugins, and, generally, their features overlap with one another. For sure, it took me a very long time to determine what product to make use of and when.
However over the previous few 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.
To be able to assist photographers who’re simply beginning to use Topaz software program, I’ve listed the plugins I take advantage of within the order of significance for my images.
Topaz DeNoise AI
If I had to decide on just one Topaz plugin, it could undoubtedly be Topaz DeNoise. That is the one plugin I take advantage of with each single picture I submit on my weblog.
Any Photoshop or Lightroom plugin is a straightforward “shortcut” or time saver. Usually, it’s potential to attain the identical impact of just about any plugin utilizing Photoshop; nonetheless, DeNoise is a type of plugins whose impact I can’t utterly replicate utilizing both Photoshop or Lightroom. Regardless 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’ve gotten the choice not solely to cut back noise however to use sharpening as properly.
It implies that the most recent model of Topaz DeNoise AI replaces 3 authentic plugins Topaz DeNoise, Topaz Readability, and Topaz Element. It saves me money and time.
My favourite facet of utilizing DeNoise is that I don’t 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 identical time, I additionally need to protect as many particulars as potential within the “sample” areas (architectural parts, grass, timber, mountains). Earlier than I began utilizing DeNoise, I needed to apply noise discount to the whole picture and later use Photoshop to masks areas I needed to maintain sharp. By some means, DeNoise detects these areas routinely and eliminates them from the applying.
Beneath is the picture I took in Yosemite, and it had extreme noise. It took me 15 sec to eradicate 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 potential earlier than.
Let me clarify.
I’ve a graphic design background, and one of the vital used expressions amongst designers is “rubbish in, rubbish out.” It implies that in case you have unhealthy high quality pixels, irrespective of the way you manipulate them, you’ll find yourself with unhealthy pixels.
In images, it implies that in case you have out of focus picture or a blurry picture brought on by a digicam shake, you’re out of luck.
The Topaz Sharpen AI makes an attempt to alter the equation by salvaging “unhealthy” 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 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 authentic Topaz Readability and Topaz Element plugins.
Topaz Modify AI
The Topaz DeNoise AI and Sharpen AI might be categorized as utility plugins as a result of they don’t create any particular seems to be in your pictures. Somewhat, they solely assist to reinforce totally different elements of the photographs.
Topaz Modify AI plugin is extra on the inventive facet and helps to creatively discover the artwork of images by reaching quite a lot of results starting from very delicate to totally blown surrealistic.
With Topaz Modify AI you’ll be able to management the picture publicity and colours, prolong the dynamic vary of the only picture, get well the shadows and the highlights, in addition to improve the main points. The chances listed below are limitless.
I take advantage of Topaz Modify AI much less typically in comparison with the unique model as a result of the most recent model has a major overlap with Lightroom and Photoshop ACR.
And when I’ve a selection to attain a selected look in my picture utilizing Lightroom or utilizing Topaz Modify AI, I all the time default to Lightroom. I want to remain within the non-destructive RAW atmosphere of Lightroom.
However after I use the Topaz Modify AI, I take advantage of 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 enhancing panel and work with World Changes. I solely use Publicity, Particulars, and Colour changes.
- The final step is the Ending Touches changes. I all the time 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 pictures.
Topaz Star Results
You in all probability know or heard in regards to the taking pictures approach the place you choose the smallest potential aperture (f20-f22) and shoot straight into the solar or one other mild supply to supply a starburst impact. The small aperture exaggerates the rays of sunshine making them extra seen and outstanding.
The Topaz Star Results permits you to create a starburst impact after taking pictures and within the enhancing section.
I don’t use this plugin each day however, generally it turns into a particularly helpful device that helps me to attain my inventive imaginative and prescient with out going again and re-shooting the scene.
The plugin has the entire potential 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 obtainable on the Topaz web site. I think they stopped creating it a very long time in the past. However, It’s all the time helpful, and I take advantage of it very often.
Beneath is the checklist 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 essential to isolate a selected object in your pictures. The issue is Photoshop has very subtle and mature instruments for superior masking. And since I take advantage of Topaz applications 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 far more efficient than Photoshop.
After I take photographs 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 seen when it’s essential to cut back the dimensions of photographs, you all the time get the ultimate picture with the identical and even higher high quality than the unique.
However when it’s essential to enhance the picture’s dimension, you all the time get delicate, low element typically unusable outcomes. The rationale for that’s if you upscale a picture, this system has to supply new pixels (information) that don’t exist within the authentic picture. And producing one thing out of nothing by no means labored properly.
However with the most recent developments in machine studying the enlarging or upscaling applications grew to become far more efficient.
And the Gigapixel AI is by far the best 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 well information misplaced through 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’ve gotten is a low-resolution JPEG model (800 x 600pix) with noticeable JPEG artifacts. There isn’t a means you’ll be able to print it and dangle on the wall.
However with the Topaz AI workflow, it turns into potential.
- 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 gotten 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 expertise 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 information 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 information, 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 decide Topaz DeNoise AI
If I needed to decide 2 plugins, it could 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 evaluation of Topaz Labs plugins will function a roadmap for you. Over time you’ll find your individual 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 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 you understand 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.