Topaz? - DPChallenge Forums

Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS

10/23/2010 10:28:11 AM · #1

How is topaz different to other editing software, and what is the best version to buy?

Thanks, Adam :)

Message edited by author 2010-10-23 10:28:34.

vawendy

Sony Alpha 1

10/23/2010 10:30:55 AM · #2

I love topaz adjust and topaz detail. Topaz denoise is truly spectacular!

The really nice thing about topaz, is that you can try it free for 30 days. It really gives you a good feel for what it can do, and whether or not you like working with it.

Also, if you do decide to buy, there's coupons out there available (not always, but frequently.) It's worth searching for them.

So go pick one, download it and try it for 30 days. You don't have to try all of them at the same time. You can download one, try it, and try other ones later. It's not a try everything during the same 30 days deal.

Ok. commercial off.

Message edited by author 2010-10-23 10:31:16.

MinsoPhoto

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

10/23/2010 10:31:53 AM · #3

Topaz is a tonemapping program and you can see examples of what it does on the site. I would suggest Topaz Detail and Topaz Denoise personally. Topaz Adjust is ok in small doses but I think detail is more pleasing.

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

10/23/2010 10:34:12 AM · #4

What do you mean by 'tone mapping'?

What makes the program different to photoshop?

Thanks for the help :)

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

10/23/2010 11:04:42 AM · #5

Adam,

1: Topaz is a "plug-in" for photoshop, it's a piece of software that uses a unique interface on the photoshop engine to produce certain effects. So it's an enhancement of photoshop, not a replacement for it.

2: Tone Mapping is the basic finishing process that underlies HDR (high dynamic range) images. It is used to mute the highlights and enhance the shadows so nothing's over-or-under-exposed, and it provides what is called "local area contrast" enhancement as well. If you are currently shooting RAW and using CS3 or above, you can get a taste of local area contrast in ACR (the Adobe Raw Converter) by pushing the clarity slider all the way up. For that matter, ACR provides also shadow fill and highlight control, so up to a point the RAW converter can behave like a tone mapping program.

3: Nevertheless, programs like Topaz Detail (or Adjust) provide a much easier, more intuitive way of working these variations. Plus, Topaz Detail has some "tone sliders" that allow you to adjust the relative brightness of yellow v, blue, red v. cyan, and magenta v. green, allowing some incredible fine tuning of the the luminance of the image. Plus, these tone sliders make dandy B/W conversions when saturation is dropped to zero.

4: Topaz DeNoise is, IMO, the best noise removal program on the market currently. Others may not agree.

R.

FocusPoint

XIAOMI Redmi Note 8 Pro

10/23/2010 11:10:19 AM · #6

I just downloaded and trying it... I love this program, and will purchase it for sure :)

question though, is the "Expert editing" only allows us to use this plug in?

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

10/23/2010 11:13:19 AM · #7

Originally posted by FocusPoint:

I just downloaded and trying it... I love this program, and will purchase it for sure :)

question though, is the "Expert editing" only allows us to use this plug in?

Topaz Detail and Adjust and DeNoise and even Simplify can be used in basic, advanced, and of course expert. You need to be careful not to use them in so extreme a manner that it constitutes "creating an effect", in basic, but the line on that is awfully blurry; I haven't seen anyone DQ'd on that basis yet. If you just use them to enhance your images and give them pop you will be fine. I do it all the time.

R.

Message edited by author 2010-10-23 11:14:07.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR

10/23/2010 11:27:43 AM · #8

Ahh right, thanks a lot for the help.
I've downloaded the trial and am enjoying it so far. Most of the effects are really nice.

Thanks :)

NikonJeb

Nikon D850

10/23/2010 11:47:06 AM · #9

FWIW, I use & love Adjust, but it takes a while to get the hang of using it effectively where it doesn't overpower the image. It also helps if its particular effects complement what your subject matter is. It's very nice for accentuating the raw, bleak, and desolate feelings that I strive for in my abandoned buildings and cars.

Not so useful for those delicate portrait shots........8~)

colorcarnival

Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III

Olympus 45mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko Digital

10/23/2010 12:07:54 PM · #10

I use Topaz Detail and Topaz Denoise all the time and I use them in the basic and advanced editing challenges.

Kelli

Canon EOS-D60

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

10/23/2010 12:34:50 PM · #11

I have adjust, detail & denoise. I use them on pretty much everything. You know that you can make an adjustment in one of these, and then when you go back to photoshop you can hit edit-fade (you must do this first before you touch anything else in PS or it won't work). As long as you keep it on normal mode it's legal. But you can really fine tune an effect this way pretty decently.