If you’re on the lookout for a complete Topaz Labs Software program evaluate, you’ve come to the suitable place.
However, if you understand what Topaz Lab plugin you need and are on the lookout for 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 photograph I publish. You additionally in all probability seen that each photograph posted on this weblog was edited, in some unspecified time in the future, with at the least 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 enhancing workflow, and when do I take advantage of 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 constructions of its merchandise. At one level, that they had 16 completely 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 couple of years, Topaz Labs fully 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.
In an effort 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 pictures.
Topaz DeNoise AI
If I had to decide on just one Topaz plugin, it could positively 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 an easy “shortcut” or time saver. Usually, it’s attainable to realize the identical impact of just about any plugin utilizing Photoshop; nonetheless, DeNoise is a type of plugins whose impact I can not fully 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 the choice not solely to scale back noise however to use sharpening as properly.
It signifies 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 do not need to make use of masking in Photoshop after I apply the noise discount.
In a majority of my images, I solely want to scale back noise within the “flat” areas (sky, water, pores and skin) as a result of, on the similar time, I additionally need to protect as many particulars as attainable within the “sample” areas (architectural parts, grass, timber, 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 wished to maintain sharp. Someway, DeNoise detects these areas routinely and eliminates them from the appliance.
Under is the photograph 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 instrument saves me an infinite period of time.
Topaz Sharpen AI
The Topaz Sharpen AI is a novel program. It manages to perform what was not attainable 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 signifies that when you have unhealthy high quality pixels, irrespective of the way you manipulate them, you’ll find yourself with unhealthy pixels.
In pictures, it signifies that when you have out of focus photograph 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 “unhealthy” and “unusable” images at a really excessive success charge.
The plugin has 3 sharpening modes: Sharpen, Stabilize, and Focus.
The Sharpen mode applies normal 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 Regulate 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 in your pictures. Reasonably, they solely assist to reinforce completely different facets of the photographs.
Topaz Regulate AI plugin is extra on the inventive facet and helps to creatively discover the artwork of pictures by reaching quite a lot of results starting from very refined to totally blown surrealistic.
With Topaz Regulate AI you may management the picture publicity and colours, lengthen the dynamic vary of the one 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 Regulate AI much less usually 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 realize a selected look in my photograph utilizing Lightroom or utilizing Topaz Regulate AI, I at all times default to Lightroom. I choose to remain within the non-destructive RAW surroundings of Lightroom.
However after I use the Topaz Regulate AI, I take advantage of the next workflow:
- I at all times begin by making use of one of many presets included with the plugin.
- I change to the suitable enhancing panel and work with International Changes. I solely use Publicity, Particulars, and Colour changes.
- The final step is the Ending Touches changes. I at all times use the Transparency adjustment the place I can mix the Topaz Regulate AI impact with the unique picture. I additionally use the Temperature adjustment very often to heat up the photograph, 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 straight 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, typically it turns into an especially beneficial instrument that helps me to realize my inventive imaginative and prescient with out going again and re-shooting the scene.
The plugin has all the attainable 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 believe they stopped creating it a very long time in the past. However, It’s at all times helpful, and I take advantage of it very often.
Under is the record of plugins I hardly ever 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 isolate a selected object in your photographs. The issue is Photoshop has very refined and mature instruments for superior masking. And since I take advantage of Topaz packages solely 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.
Once I take images of my relations and cannot use the suitable 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 realize the identical impact in Photoshop.
Gigapixel AI
You in all probability seen when it’s essential cut back the scale of images, you at all times get the ultimate picture with the identical and even higher high quality than the unique.
However when it’s essential improve the picture’s measurement, you at all times get gentle, low element usually unusable outcomes. The explanation for that’s once 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 properly.
However with the newest developments in machine studying the enlarging or upscaling packages grew to become far 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 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 photograph you took 10 years in the past. All you’ve is a low-resolution JPEG model (800 x 600pix) with noticeable JPEG artifacts. There isn’t a method you may print it and hold on the wall.
However with the Topaz AI workflow, it turns into attainable.
- Convert authentic picture from JPEG to RAW utilizing JPEG to RAW AI
- Upscale the photograph 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 a usable picture you may 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 eventualities of use this system:
- You’ll be able to enlarge video information with minimal loss in high quality. For instance, you may 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 may 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 might 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 might go for the bundle.
Conclusion
I hope my quick evaluate of Topaz Labs plugins will function a roadmap for you. Over time you can find your individual methods and set up your distinctive workflow primarily based in your private model and inventive imaginative and prescient. And once 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 on the lookout 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.