If you’re on the lookout for a complete Topaz Labs Software program evaluate, you’ve come to the suitable place.
However, if you realize 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 realize 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 seen that each picture posted on this weblog was edited, sooner or later, with a minimum of 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 Overview or Cheat Sheet for Selecting the Proper Topaz Plugins
I’ve to confess that Topaz Labs had one of the crucial complicated constructions of its merchandise. At one level, that they had 16 totally different plugins, and, usually, their capabilities 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 exploit 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 exploit with each single picture I publish on my weblog.
Any Photoshop or Lightroom plugin is a straightforward “shortcut” or time saver. Usually, it’s attainable to realize 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. 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 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 should 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 need to protect as many particulars as attainable within the “sample” areas (architectural components, grass, timber, 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. One way or the other, DeNoise detects these areas mechanically 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 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 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 one of the crucial 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 pictures, 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 vary the equation by salvaging “unhealthy” and “unusable” photographs at a really excessive success price.
The plugin has 3 sharpening modes: Sharpen, Stabilize, and Focus.
The Sharpen mode applies normal 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 Alter AI
The Topaz DeNoise AI and Sharpen AI may be categorized as utility plugins as a result of they don’t create any particular seems in your pictures. Fairly, they solely assist to boost totally different elements of the pictures.
Topaz Alter AI plugin is extra on the inventive facet and helps to creatively discover the artwork of pictures by reaching a wide range of results starting from very refined to totally blown surrealistic.
With Topaz Alter AI you possibly can 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 probabilities listed below are limitless.
I exploit Topaz Alter AI much less usually 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 alternative to realize a selected look in my picture utilizing Lightroom or utilizing Topaz Alter AI, I at all times default to Lightroom. I choose to remain within the non-destructive RAW atmosphere of Lightroom.
However after I use the Topaz Alter AI, I exploit the next workflow:
- I at all times begin by making use of one of many presets included with the plugin.
- I swap to the suitable modifying panel and work with World 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 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 taking pictures method the place you choose the smallest attainable aperture (f20-f22) and shoot immediately into the solar or one other gentle 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 modifying section.
I don’t use this plugin each day however, generally it turns into a particularly worthwhile 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 accessible on the Topaz web site. I think they stopped growing it a very long time in the past. However, It’s at all times helpful, and I exploit it very often.
Beneath 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 worthwhile to isolate a selected object in your photos. 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 far more efficient than Photoshop.
Once I take photographs of my relations 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 realize the identical impact in Photoshop.
Gigapixel AI
You in all probability seen when it’s worthwhile 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’s worthwhile to enhance the picture’s dimension, you at all times get smooth, low element usually unusable outcomes. The rationale for that’s while you upscale a picture, this system has to supply new pixels (knowledge) that don’t exist within the authentic picture. And producing one thing out of nothing by no means labored nicely.
However with the most recent 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 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 knowledge 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 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 might have is a low-resolution JPEG model (800 x 600pix) with noticeable JPEG artifacts. There isn’t any manner you possibly can 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 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 might have a usable picture you possibly can 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 use this system:
- You possibly can enlarge video information with minimal loss in high quality. For instance, you possibly can upscale HD video to 4K model
- You possibly can seize nonetheless frames from video information, upscale them, and sharpen them.
For instance, you possibly can 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 choose Topaz DeNoise AI
If I needed to choose 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 brief evaluate of Topaz Labs plugins will function a roadmap for you. Over time one can find your personal methods and set up your distinctive workflow based mostly in your private type and inventive imaginative and prescient. And while 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 realize 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.
