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09/21/2010 02:03:28 PM · #1 |
So, I just broke down yesterday and bought Topaz Adjust.
And I love it! It is so awesome!
Problem is of course that I am a bit overexcited which leads to overly processed images in my grand excitement :-)
So my question to you is....
When do you use Topaz Adjust?
First thing after opening an image? Or do you do most of the editing in Photoshop and just use Topaz to add a little "spice"? Somewhere in between?
And also...How do you keep yourself from using it too much. Do you limit yourself to one of the features (Detail, exposure etc.) instead of using them all?
I am just curious how to get the best workflow with this awesome program.
Thanks! |
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09/21/2010 02:10:17 PM · #2 |
I too have just gotten the Topaz Adjust...here is what I've been doing of late (and I am NO master at this)
I still do all my usual steps in my edits curves/levels/brightness/usm etc then when I am all done I do DeNoise 5 first then I do the Adjust slighlyt reducing the opacity levels so it "softens" the effect just a bit...I've also been trying to watch what the sliders are doing between each filter choice and once I get a filter choice I like I've been working more with the sliders to "tweak" the look I'm looking for... |
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09/21/2010 02:55:16 PM · #3 |
I do levels and noise reduction first, then Topaz. Any form of tonemapping will bring out noise in the process, so it is important to do noise reduction first. I'll often apply a little more later on as well, but that second application is usually selective, using layers and masking so that I only crank up the areas I need it in. Too much Topaz ruins skies, so watch out for halos and grainy noise.
Regarding your second question, I usually use one of several presets to start off. Photo pop is good and I use it a lot. I also use several custom presets I've done. One is called "mild pop" and it is similar to photo pop, but lightens things a bit more. I have also toned down the spicify preset which I like, but is WAY too strong. I have spicify lite and spicify extra lite.
I tend to prefer adjusting mostly the adaptive exposure and regions sliders, which work together. I don't use a lot of the "details" slider, as that brings out grainy noise I don't care for and doesn't add much that I like. I don't use much of the adaptive saturation either, as that makes things too yellowy for my preferences. I often add a bit of PaintShop Pro's clarify after Topaz. It has similarities, but is also different and a modest amount of both is more effective than a lot of just one.
Message edited by author 2010-09-21 15:06:30. |
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09/21/2010 04:36:31 PM · #4 |
I like photo pop for things that are a little backlit to bring up the shadows.
I like clarity & mild details for bird shots, thought it doesn't work well with the 7D.
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09/21/2010 05:52:42 PM · #5 |
I'm with Steve - I do Denoise First.
I've mostly been using Detail to enhance and accentuate the details. Sometimes I'll over-exaggerate a bit on a dup layer, and then reduce the opacity.
I use adjust now if I want to get that surreal look. |
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09/21/2010 05:56:57 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by colorcarnival:
I'm with Steve - I do Denoise First.
I've mostly been using Detail to enhance and accentuate the details. Sometimes I'll over-exaggerate a bit on a dup layer, and then reduce the opacity.
I use adjust now if I want to get that surreal look. |
I rarely use Adjust anymore. It doesn't seem to work well with the 5D output, or for that matter with 7D files. Topaz Detail, on the other hand, is terrific with those. Especially the tonal sliders, great tool.
I will do DeNoise, if needed, before I do anything else. And dust removal, for that matter. But I don't need a lot of Denoise on 5D files. I wish I could say the same about dust removal :-(
R. |
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09/21/2010 06:20:43 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
It doesn't seem to work well with the 5D output, or for that matter with 7D files. |
Interesting, because as I have upgraded to more noise free cameras, I have found Topaz to do a better job. Any idea what is different on the higher end models that several of you don't like the effect?
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09/21/2010 06:42:52 PM · #8 |
Thanks for the input guys.
Its interesting how different people have their own seperate methods |
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09/21/2010 06:53:46 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
It doesn't seem to work well with the 5D output, or for that matter with 7D files. |
Interesting, because as I have upgraded to more noise free cameras, I have found Topaz to do a better job. Any idea what is different on the higher end models that several of you don't like the effect? |
Topaz Adjust seems to get really touchy when it's working with highly detailed images. Topaz Detail has more precise control of detail boost/suppression at 3 levels; fine, medium, and large. It's not a noise issue, it's a detail issue.
R. |
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09/21/2010 07:08:02 PM · #10 |
| DeNoise5 is very effective. Beyond that, I have not had good responses, Internet or Gallery, to the other adjustments in Topaz. The Nik Software filters are much more dynamic, but not legal in Basic. |
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01/07/2011 11:00:26 AM · #11 |
| I see a lot of folks saying to remove noise before the tonemapping, but doesnt the tonemapping itself generate noise. Thus requiring a second round of noise removal post-tonemapping? |
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01/07/2011 11:08:11 AM · #12 |
Originally posted by gcoulson:
I see a lot of folks saying to remove noise before the tonemapping, but doesnt the tonemapping itself generate noise. Thus requiring a second round of noise removal post-tonemapping? |
Tonemapping can bring out noise and other artifacts that were previously invisible. Yes, I do sometimes have to do another round of noise reduction, especially with large solid areas like blue skies.
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01/07/2011 11:09:23 AM · #13 |
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01/07/2011 01:26:41 PM · #14 |
I still use topaz adjust, sparingly. I also have noticed that since I switched to the 50D the program yields an unruly amount of noise. I like to use presets and then adjust the opacity and mask any areas I see fit in the layer it produces.
I have too many pics to post with Topaz applied to them. Just click my profile to see.
Also you can see one of my pics on the Topaz website in the before and after gallery.
Great tool when used properly.
Have fun |
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01/07/2011 03:31:24 PM · #15 |
Topaz sure does bring out noise, dust, everything you don't see in the original. But it also doesn't seem to like resizing - I've noticed it when I played with levels and lost some tonal values. Any thoughts on this? Do you apply Topaz on the original or resized image?
ETA: I'm talking about Topaz Adjust.
Message edited by author 2011-01-07 15:32:15. |
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01/07/2011 03:55:46 PM · #16 |
Originally posted by tome:
But it also doesn't seem to like resizing - I've noticed it when I played with levels and lost some tonal values. Any thoughts on this? Do you apply Topaz on the original or resized image?
ETA: I'm talking about Topaz Adjust. |
I have never noticed this problem. I do all topazing at full size, basically. Sometimes I'll topaz a challenge entry again, lightly, at reduced size, mostly out of laziness, but it's rare. But then, I rarely use Adjust anymore; I have much better control with Detail, where you can adjust the aggressiveness at several levels rather than across the spectrum.
R. |
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