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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Topaz Photo AI
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11/09/2022 11:21:41 AM · #1
I downloaded Topaz Photo AI yesterday and have been testing it on a few photos but I'm undecided about where it's worth the expense. I tested it on a small photo dating back to the 1930s and was pretty impressed by the results, but I'm not sure how often I'll use it for that purpose. Is it worth having for normal use or is there a cheaper option that will do as well?
11/09/2022 11:24:51 AM · #2
I like the control I get using Topaz Studio instead. I have Photo AI (since I own a Topaz bundle I rec'd it at no cost). I've used Photo AI a couple of times but ending up backing out the changes and just doing it via separate processes. Photo AI seems a bit heavy-handed.
11/09/2022 11:33:48 AM · #3
Sorry, I should have mentioned that I have Topaz Studio 2 which is pretty much a standalone photo editor for applying filters, using Topaz plugins, etc. I use Topaz Sharpen AI, DeNoise AI plugins via Studio 2 the most.
11/09/2022 11:46:53 AM · #4
Can one upsize using Studio 2? What other benefits does it offer compared to Photo AI? And how does the cost compare? Photo AI seems very expensive when converted to South African currency and I presume that Studio 2 is even more.
11/09/2022 11:53:22 AM · #5
I tried to install it as a trial recently, but the install errors out without telling me exactly what the problem was. Still working on it. I have some older versions of Topaz and called them asking about a discount. The woman told me I could get a minor discount but best to wait for a Black Friday sale.
11/09/2022 12:37:56 PM · #6
Originally posted by GinaRothfels:

Can one upsize using Studio 2? What other benefits does it offer compared to Photo AI? And how does the cost compare? Photo AI seems very expensive when converted to South African currency and I presume that Studio 2 is even more.

Studio 2 is like a wrapper ... I can use it to do some editing and then, within Studio 2, use the menu to open up any of the Topaz AI plugins. I also have Topaz Gigapixel AI, which is reachable as a plugin in Studio 2 also (although, honestly, I haven't used Gigapixel yet).

I think they've also incorporated Gigapixel AI in the Photo AI piece, yes? Sorry ... I'm recalling from memory as I'm not near my home computer at the moment.

None of the Topaz stuff is inexpensive, that's for sure. :-(
11/09/2022 12:43:16 PM · #7
Support forum on the Topaz website is helpful.

This block of text came from one of the forums there.

"Does Topaz Photo AI replace existing Image Quality applications (DeNoise AI, Sharpen AI, Gigapixel AI)?"
"We created Topaz Photo AI to be an auto-pilot for image quality. We started with the image quality issues we already have experience in — denoising, sharpening, and upscaling — and will continue to add more features for improving image quality. The other image quality applications will give you much more control over fixing these specific problems."
11/09/2022 01:03:51 PM · #8
Originally posted by glad2badad:

Originally posted by GinaRothfels:

Can one upsize using Studio 2? What other benefits does it offer compared to Photo AI? And how does the cost compare? Photo AI seems very expensive when converted to South African currency and I presume that Studio 2 is even more.

Studio 2 is like a wrapper ... I can use it to do some editing and then, within Studio 2, use the menu to open up any of the Topaz AI plugins. I also have Topaz Gigapixel AI, which is reachable as a plugin in Studio 2 also (although, honestly, I haven't used Gigapixel yet).

I think they've also incorporated Gigapixel AI in the Photo AI piece, yes? Sorry ... I'm recalling from memory as I'm not near my home computer at the moment.

None of the Topaz stuff is inexpensive, that's for sure. :-(


Yes, they have incorporated Gigapixel it in. That's actually what made the most impression on me. Maybe I should download the trial version of that and see if I can get away with it on its own. I was amazed at the detail Photo AI managed to extract from a small blurry family photo dating back to the mid 1930s, so I presume Gigapixel would be useful for cropped photos too.

Edit to add: I've just noticed that Gigapixel is the most expensive of the 3 components of Photo AI.

Message edited by author 2022-11-09 13:09:47.
11/09/2022 01:08:21 PM · #9
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

I tried to install it as a trial recently, but the install errors out without telling me exactly what the problem was. Still working on it.


Mine didn't finish the installation either, but when I tried again it picked up from where it had left off.

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

I have some older versions of Topaz and called them asking about a discount. The woman told me I could get a minor discount but best to wait for a Black Friday sale.


I don't have any other Topaz software so I didn't think about discounts. But if I can get a discount on Black Friday, that would be great. Sorry for my ignorance, but when is is Black Friday?
11/09/2022 01:13:20 PM · #10
Originally posted by GinaRothfels:

Sorry for my ignorance, but when is is Black Friday?

It's U.S. parochialism, not your ignorance -- it's the Friday after the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, which is on the fourth Thursday in November, so this year BF is 11/25.

AFAIK it was originally called that because the big bump from holiday sales put many businesses "into the black" (state of profitability) for the year.

Message edited by author 2022-11-09 13:16:29.
11/09/2022 02:02:20 PM · #11
Originally posted by GinaRothfels:


I don't have any other Topaz software so I didn't think about discounts. But if I can get a discount on Black Friday, that would be great. Sorry for my ignorance, but when is is Black Friday?

The 25th of this month, the day after the thanksgiving holiday here in the US. Traditionally the start of the Christmas shopping season and the biggest retail day in the US.

I have a few Topaz products, but it turns out the only one I actually bought was Adjust. The others I got as freebies because I was a beta tester for them a few years back, so those were not registered to me.
11/09/2022 02:41:31 PM · #12
Originally posted by GeneralE:

Originally posted by GinaRothfels:

Sorry for my ignorance, but when is is Black Friday?

It's U.S. parochialism, not your ignorance -- it's the Friday after the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, which is on the fourth Thursday in November, so this year BF is 11/25.


Thanks.

Actually we've been having Black Friday sales in South Africa for several years now. I've just never taken much notice of them because I don't like crowds.
11/09/2022 04:57:20 PM · #13
I'm finding Photo AI just wonderful for dealing with slightly disappointing images in general, but for sure you need to babysit the settings it's trying to use. Bear in mind that if you invoke it from PS on a separate layer you can easily fade the opacity AND selectively mask out specific areas, so that's one workaround...
11/09/2022 05:54:09 PM · #14
Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Bear in mind that if you invoke it from PS on a separate layer you can easily fade the opacity AND selectively mask out specific areas, so that's one workaround...


The only problem is that you can't upsize if you're invoking it from PS. Does that apply to Gigapixel too?
11/09/2022 06:12:18 PM · #15
topaz sharpen is wonderful and I use it a lot. I use denoise occasionally (sharpen does a good job of denoising, unless it's a very noisy photo, and then it stinks
11/10/2022 12:23:03 AM · #16
Originally posted by vawendy:

topaz sharpen is wonderful and I use it a lot. I use denoise occasionally (sharpen does a good job of denoising, unless it's a very noisy photo, and then it stinks


I love DeNoise.
11/10/2022 12:30:05 AM · #17
Originally posted by GinaRothfels:

Actually we've been having Black Friday sales in South Africa for several years now. I've just never taken much notice of them because I don't like crowds.


Most of the time I take advantage of Black Friday sales online.

AND!!!!!!!

There's Cyber-Monday!

That's the Monday after Thanksgiving where online sales do their best to make Black Friday a low rent day. LOL!

This year it's Monday, November 28th.

Wiki description: Cyber Monday

I rarely go to stores for anything any more.

I was cleaning out my filing cabinet over the summer and found my checkbook.

I hadn't written a check since January....

Of 2014.

I do EVERYTHING on line.

Message edited by author 2022-11-10 00:30:36.
11/10/2022 03:26:53 AM · #18
Originally posted by NikonJeb:

I was cleaning out my filing cabinet over the summer and found my checkbook.

I hadn't written a check since January....

Of 2014.

I do EVERYTHING on line.


In South Africa the banks have done away with cheques. It's all debit and credit cards now.

I hate online shopping because I like to see what I'm getting. I'll only buy something online if it's not available in the stores or if I can get a bargain.
11/10/2022 08:17:41 AM · #19
Originally posted by GinaRothfels:

I hate online shopping because I like to see what I'm getting. I'll only buy something online if it's not available in the stores or if I can get a bargain.

Yeah but that doesn't apply to software, which you can't "see" anyway until you install it, which practically everyone lets you do for a trial period before buying, eh?
11/10/2022 03:50:25 PM · #20
Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Originally posted by GinaRothfels:

I hate online shopping because I like to see what I'm getting. I'll only buy something online if it's not available in the stores or if I can get a bargain.

Yeah but that doesn't apply to software, which you can't "see" anyway until you install it, which practically everyone lets you do for a trial period before buying, eh?


True. And when I buy software online I don't have to wait around for a courier to deliver it.
11/17/2022 09:20:12 AM · #21
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

I tried to install it as a trial recently, but the install errors out without telling me exactly what the problem was. Still working on it. I have some older versions of Topaz and called them asking about a discount. The woman told me I could get a minor discount but best to wait for a Black Friday sale.


I'm so pleased you said this. I've just bought a bundle of Photo AI, Gigapixel, DeNoise and Sharpen for less than I'd have paid for Photo AI alone if I'd bought it the day I started this thread.
11/17/2022 11:49:24 AM · #22
I have the stand alone Topaz Lab suite, which I bought ages ago when the company came here for a photo expo and LOVE it. I heard about it here on DPC :-). Someone (no idea who anymore) used it on eyes in portraits and I thought it was stunning.
I use clarity, denoise, Adjust, sometimes Lens effect (I used that on the ghost in the recent Paranormal challenge) and sometimes I just play around to see what "could happen".

I opened Topaz Adjust AI in PS once or twice and wasn't bowled over , but in fairness I didn't spend enough time to play, because for me jumping into the stand alone Topaz is just so quick and easy.

12/01/2022 07:47:39 AM · #23
I'm so happy with the advice I got here. I used DeNoise and Sharpen on my free study and was amazed with the results.

Out of curiosity I've just tried editing the same image using Photo AI and was underwhelmed.

I'll post comparison images when voting is over.

Edit to add: I actually prefer the version with noise to the one edited in Photo AI.


Message edited by author 2022-12-01 07:50:44.
12/01/2022 08:55:49 AM · #24
Originally posted by GinaRothfels:

I'm so happy with the advice I got here. I used DeNoise and Sharpen on my free study and was amazed with the results.

Out of curiosity I've just tried editing the same image using Photo AI and was underwhelmed.

I'll post comparison images when voting is over.

Edit to add: I actually prefer the version with noise to the one edited in Photo AI.


Yep ... I've found Photo AI to be a bit heavy-handed on edits. Using DeNoise and Sharpen independently works better for most cases IMO.
12/01/2022 03:01:43 PM · #25
The thing about Photo AI is that the parameters are adjustable, and you can create your own presets. Which means, for a camera like my SX7 Canon, which is both noisy and soft in RAW (the JPG mode corrects both just fine) I can create a preset to dial in those corrections in one simple step, but still have the depth of RAW to work with.
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