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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> New: Topaz Labs Clarity next week
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 05/15/2013 06:30:12 AM · #1
A quick sneak peak. I have used the final release now on half a dozen images and it is simply stunning. The finite contrast and colour control is a time saver like no other. I'll add more of my own images to my blog post in due course here. Price has not been set, as soon as it is I'll post an update. Note you do not need a third party photo application to use TL if you get their "photoFXlab" application.
 05/15/2013 08:53:19 AM · #2
I've been using the beta as well and I like what I'm seeing. It allows you to crank up images without a tonemapped appearance. I used it on this outtake from the automotive challenge.

05/15/2013 09:16:33 AM · #3
This is one thing that really bothers me about Topaz.

You already own Adjust. You already own Detail. You own In Focus. Now you have to buy Clarify? These are all "supposed" to do just about the same thing. But rather than improve them, they just add new software. All of those features could have been rolled into Adjust. The reason they don't is their "no fee upgrade" policy. They don't make as much money adding features to existing software as they do rolling out a new version.

Hmmm..I want to sharpen this image. Which do I use?

And if you have the Bundle, your bundle is now not easily updateable, because it doesn't include the new additions. So you have to update each of the individual additions separately (different keys).
05/15/2013 09:21:17 AM · #4
Originally posted by Neil:
This is one thing that really bothers me about Topaz.

Yeah :-( And it's very interesting that Nik went the other way, after Google acquired it, rolling all their products into a single, more affordable, package...
 05/15/2013 09:52:16 AM · #5
Topaz plugins are also priced a lot less than most competitors products. Have to make money somehow.
 05/15/2013 10:12:29 AM · #6
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
Topaz plugins are also priced a lot less than most competitors products. Have to make money somehow.

Not now that Google's changed the pricing model on Nik, maybe... Though if Topaz still will sell individually, then if you only WANT one module that's a better deal. But on the flip side of the coin, Nik has a higher level of functionality, with the control point technology... Anyway, I like both lines and I use both, though I tend more towards Nik. Topaz's latest version of B/W Effects has some great features though.

Message edited by author 2013-05-15 10:12:42.
 05/15/2013 10:15:45 AM · #7
Which is better for DPC Ribbons, Topaz or Nik? ;-)
 05/15/2013 10:17:26 AM · #8
Originally posted by Strikeslip:
Which is better for DPC Ribbons, Topaz or Nik? ;-)

Obviously, whichever one YOU are using for the hammered effect on your self-portraits "-)
 05/15/2013 10:19:14 AM · #9
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
Topaz plugins are also priced a lot less than most competitors products. Have to make money somehow.


It's not just pricing that's the issue for users.

My point is that the model that keeps their income flowing is a clumsy model for end-users. From the point of updating, and even use. If you are a LR user, each time you want to run a different "sharpening" program--and if you accept the kool-aid that they are all (slightly) different--you generate a new TIF file, and a new LR entry. And you have to call Fusion each time, and pick from an ever growing menu of options. (Yes, I know you CAN set LR to edit the same image over and over again, but then there's no going back, and that's not a model of use I like to use.)

Consider if these sharpeners all were just in Topaz Adjust...how much easier that would be. What's the advantage to END USERS to separate them?

Message edited by author 2013-05-15 10:20:11.
 05/15/2013 05:16:57 PM · #10
Yes there is some crossover in the TL product range. Perhaps the fierce competition of Google/NIK now will force TL to simplify, merge and reduce the price of their product offerings. For a private company that must be a bitter pill to swallow considering for years they stood on their own two feet against the "big boys" of photo enhancement software.

I couldn't afford Nik a few years back (up until the purchase by Google and subsequent $149-00 price cut - notably excludes taxes and the cost of a qualifying product you still have to pay extra for) and it was very pricey and components also sold separately. Also that without a qualifying product (added from $100-00 for Elements right up $$$1'000's of dollars for Adobe CS etc to the overall Cost of Ownership) it was useless to me. TL model and pricing was more attractive. That was then, I get it.

I went with TL as it was a model I could afford and it let me choose only the parts I needed and I did not to spend extra on CS, Aperture, LR etc to make NIK work. With their compatibility software aka photoFXlab at $79-99 and Topaz Fusion Express (Apple, Free) it's a lot cheaper in totality than NIK +3rd Party s/ware even at the "Google subsidised" $149-00. I also got every major update and improvement for free thus far. From what I understand NIK cannot work standalone, correct me if I'm wrong? If it does it's a tough ask from little ol' TL to match the price. Notably Clarity has got masking built in, so you wouldn't need TL ReMask 3 for example like you would if you bought TL B&W effects for example.

Yes there is some overlap (perceived or otherwise) in the products and that's where TL has it's localised vendors, guru's and online videos and communities that assist owners and potential buyers alike make a wise choice for their needs. (NIK does too no doubt). However I can chat directly with TL as have other owners and make direct requests or suggestions, many of which have been implemented. I am working on two atm and in the next month hope that they will be implemented to the benefit of all users. I can't speak for NIK, I hope they have open minds and ears like TL.

Things change, also COUPONS and special deals come out. Last year the Full TL Suite was on sale at $199-00 for a limited period after discounts/coupon codes.

I work with a lot of photo hobbyists and in terms of Post Processing packages like PS, LR, etc. they do not even know how to resize an image from the 24MB 5000+px 50MB down to 960px72dpi 300kb or less for Facebook...never mind layers, masking and the dozens if not hundreds of additional tools we use daily in our (DPC'ers) workflow. The Topaz Labs package is really simple from the get go and one click solutions for the majority. Love it or hate, Instagram on your phone is being used by millions daily to submit millions of altered purple Polaroid like retro ! images. TL and NIK is not as popular, at least not to that extent that cell apps are.

We might see in the not too distant future a shift in product spec/mix/price. Every year the TL gurus come to our photo expo and sell the ENTIRE TL on one DVD for a special show price of ZAR R1899-00 ($210-00). "Price War" is being done already.

H

Message edited by author 2013-05-28 15:53:24.
 05/28/2013 03:54:57 PM · #11
TL Clarity is now available at $49-99. $29.99 until 5/31/2013 with coupon code "claritynew"
 05/28/2013 04:02:09 PM · #12
I have been using this for about a week now. My current impression is very positive.

It brings out details extremely well, without giving the overdone look that Topaz Adjust often does. It doesn't work on every image, but 95% of images I have used it on come out much cleaner.

This is a tool I see myself using a lot.
 05/28/2013 04:17:54 PM · #13
What is different from other plugins is that it works by contrast range, rather than highlights/midtones/shadows. Some images it is great for, but in other cases, I want to pull details out of a slightly backlit scene, so I still seem to go to the tonemapping plugins for that. I do really like the color adjustments it offers.
 05/31/2013 03:33:59 PM · #14
boy do I have mixed feelings about this one. I watched the seminars, and I've tried it. I have yet to have a good result.

I hate to miss the intro price if I change my mind later. But I still think I get better results from Nik Color Effex Pro.

I just don't see it doing anything magical. Someone convince me before tonight--show me something that it's done really well.
 05/31/2013 04:04:07 PM · #15
I bought mine last night. I already had the entire suite, than added B&W effects when it came out (Actually won that software), and now I have Clarity which I do think is unique too the other tools. I have gotten good results already with it, and find it easy to use.

The only Topaz package that I don't have is Lens Effects and the Star FX or whatever it is. Don't really feel the need to have those.

Dave
 05/31/2013 04:30:19 PM · #16
Originally posted by HarveyG:
TL Clarity is now available at $49-99. $29.99 until 5/31/2013 with coupon code "claritynew"

Bought mine today. Was very pleased with some of the results, for me it it a good tool next to PE9.
 05/31/2013 05:38:44 PM · #17
Originally posted by HarveyG:
Yes there is some crossover in the TL product range. Perhaps the fierce competition of Google/NIK now will force TL to simplify, merge and reduce the price of their product offerings. For a private company that must be a bitter pill to swallow considering for years they stood on their own two feet against the "big boys" of photo enhancement software.

I couldn't afford Nik a few years back (up until the purchase by Google and subsequent $149-00 price cut - notably excludes taxes and the cost of a qualifying product you still have to pay extra for) and it was very pricey and components also sold separately. Also that without a qualifying product (added from $100-00 for Elements right up $$$1'000's of dollars for Adobe CS etc to the overall Cost of Ownership) it was useless to me. TL model and pricing was more attractive. That was then, I get it.

I went with TL as it was a model I could afford and it let me choose only the parts I needed and I did not to spend extra on CS, Aperture, LR etc to make NIK work. With their compatibility software aka photoFXlab at $79-99 and Topaz Fusion Express (Apple, Free) it's a lot cheaper in totality than NIK +3rd Party s/ware even at the "Google subsidised" $149-00. I also got every major update and improvement for free thus far. From what I understand NIK cannot work standalone, correct me if I'm wrong? If it does it's a tough ask from little ol' TL to match the price. Notably Clarity has got masking built in, so you wouldn't need TL ReMask 3 for example like you would if you bought TL B&W effects for example.

Yes there is some overlap (perceived or otherwise) in the products and that's where TL has it's localised vendors, guru's and online videos and communities that assist owners and potential buyers alike make a wise choice for their needs. (NIK does too no doubt). However I can chat directly with TL as have other owners and make direct requests or suggestions, many of which have been implemented. I am working on two atm and in the next month hope that they will be implemented to the benefit of all users. I can't speak for NIK, I hope they have open minds and ears like TL.

Things change, also COUPONS and special deals come out. Last year the Full TL Suite was on sale at $199-00 for a limited period after discounts/coupon codes.

I work with a lot of photo hobbyists and in terms of Post Processing packages like PS, LR, etc. they do not even know how to resize an image from the 24MB 5000+px 50MB down to 960px72dpi 300kb or less for Facebook...never mind layers, masking and the dozens if not hundreds of additional tools we use daily in our (DPC'ers) workflow. The Topaz Labs package is really simple from the get go and one click solutions for the majority. Love it or hate, Instagram on your phone is being used by millions daily to submit millions of altered purple Polaroid like retro ! images. TL and NIK is not as popular, at least not to that extent that cell apps are.

We might see in the not too distant future a shift in product spec/mix/price. Every year the TL gurus come to our photo expo and sell the ENTIRE TL on one DVD for a special show price of ZAR R1899-00 ($210-00). "Price War" is being done already.

H


How much cheaper do they have to be? Their apps are largely inexpensive to begin with relative to nearly everyone else out there. They always have promotions like this current one. Updates/Upgrades are free. They all work together in their fairly new PhotoFX Lab stand alone shell program. They don't charge higher prices for people who want to use the plugins in Photoshop as opposed to Lightroom. You buy any program or the suite and it works in either of those or stand alone. They have a large free webinar and tutorial archive etc. Some of their programs such as DeNoise are argueably the best in their specialty.

I personally don't feel Topaz needs to do anything else to compete. Companies like Nik who also make great software are being to learn that there is a limit to how far they can go with price and the market.

Dave
 06/01/2013 12:20:51 AM · #18
I purchased the Topaz Bundle suite 4 or 5 years ago for a Thanksgiving special pricing of $130 and haven't looked back. Later adding B&W Effects, Star Effects and photoFXlab, I use it for probably 90% of my editing. Only NIK HDR Efx Pro gets used for HDR merges and even then I can bring the results from there into Topaz for further processing. Rarely do I use Levels or Curves anymore. I love Topaz Adjust but there is one glaring fault it has and that is halos. Push the program too far, which often doesn't take much and you get wide, prominent halos around major subject matter in the image. From my brief reading on the Topaz web site this is what I believe Clarity addresses. It probably refines the local contrast issues of Adjust so halos are eliminated. I don't care that I have to install another Topaz module but one thing I wish they would address is multiple license numbers. If they could issue just one number for customers that have multiple plug-ins it would make things much easier and I could memorize it instead of having to keep paper and email records.

Since downloading the NIK suite I also find that Sharpener Pro does much better than Topaz for sharpening images. I never got good results with InFocus and while I get better results with Detail I only use its medium or large sliders for sharpening. I realize that InFocus uses new deconvolution technology that needs to mature, and that its results are very subtle but no matter how much I played around with it I usually discarded those layers produced with it. Sharpener Pro really makes the image pop too. Topaz customer service is also very good and they respond quickly. I contacted them twice about special offers I had missed and they did adjust the price of one.
 06/01/2013 03:05:13 PM · #19
Aaargghhh! I forgot to buy Clarity before May 31. I've been so busy with photo shoots, post processing and filling orders that I completely forgot.

But wait! The coupon still works!

Yes, purchased it, downloaded it and works great so far. If you haven't purchased it on sale yet there might still be time....
 06/01/2013 09:26:44 PM · #20
Indeed tis true! Just bought it myself, after thinking I had waited too long.
 06/01/2013 09:35:04 PM · #21
Originally posted by Neil:
boy do I have mixed feelings about this one. I watched the seminars, and I've tried it. I have yet to have a good result.

I hate to miss the intro price if I change my mind later. But I still think I get better results from Nik Color Effex Pro.

I just don't see it doing anything magical. Someone convince me before tonight--show me something that it's done really well.


If you have preciously purchased their package deal, you can upgrade after the intro is over for the intro price. I missed the into on B&W Effects, and when I asked about upgrading they gave me a key for the original $29.95 intro price.
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