Topaz AI3

[blackstar]

Topaz Photo AI 3 is released. Looks like there are many new and useful functions/features and improvements. Unfortunately, there is no free trial version available. Anyone upgraded?

 

[Clovishound]

My first year upgrades ran out this spring. I've been waiting for a while before thinking about buying another year's worth of upgrades. My biggest issue with Topaz is the grid pattern I often get in shadows with Photo AI. I have taken to going back to Sharpen for my macro photos, since most of them have deep shadows in the background. I'm hoping that they will figure that one out, but not sure how I would know for sure they have. When I contacted them about it before my upgrades ran out, they said to wait for the next major upgrade. That one didn't fix it. The enhancements I have seen them talk about with the new upgrade look nice, but not worth spending $100 for. That's half the purchase price.

 

[nikonbill]

@blackstar -- I have been using 3.1.2 (latest) mostly as a plug in with Affinity, I sometimes use it stand alone as well on Windows 11. I have been very happy with it, I have not had the "grid lines" many have reported. From time on the Topaz forum, most issues seem related to certain hardware/software configurations. I think there are more noted issues for Photoshop/Lightroom users than others.

I came in at version 2.4, the latest is much improved for me. Topaz does offer a 30 day money back policy not as convenient as a free trial but something to consider as the price is on the high side (I'm cheap). You could ensure it will work on your hardware/software combo.

In an honest evaluation I can get very close using Affinity by itself, however it takes a me a lot longer to get that result and many more steps. The sharpening module is the hardest to do as well of a job without using AI3. The speed of processing is what moves me to liking it, I will upgrade when the time comes if it keeps improving and working for me.

Hope this helps - Bill

 

[blackstar]

Thanks for your input, Bill. Likewise (I am cheap too), I am keeping my older free version for now. Since I can't have a hand on an AI3 free version, I wonder if anyone can would share some light on the new functions and features.

 

[nikonbill]

In the next day or so I'll do some screen shots of how they have changed the sliders and work flow ( I think that's what you want to see).

I came into Topaz just when they changed the workflow, I was fine as I did not know the old way (I'm more laid back than most when changes come I just try to adjust). They really seem to listen to the users, recent changes seem direct from forum requests.

Bill

 

[blackstar]

Appreciate, Bill.

 

[nikonbill]

@blackstar - let me know of an area I may not touch

The opening screen you can drop photos in or browse

Here is a RAW file opened - the RAW denoise is the only automatically applied setting, you can adjust many of its perimeters to suit your style this is "Auto" pretty subtle

 

[nikonbill]

next is available modules to apply

You apply one or several or let the AI decide then add your own here is just sharpen

or several, you can delete any you find not what you want or adjust the sliders on each one

The photo I used here was pretty OK as it was, they have improved things to cut down on "over" doing it

 

[nikonbill]

When Topaz AI3 is used as a plug in it opens into the screens shown, the only difference is the RAW denoise is not applied

Here is the file opened as a plug in from Affinity

Let me know if this is helpful - Bill

 

[Clovishound]

Yeah, Photo AI is really bad about oversharpening. When I use it, I virtually always have to crank down the amount of sharpening.

 

[blackstar]

Thanks and appreciate, Bill. From the info you shared, I don't see anything new as of my old free version probably except some fine-tuning of the tools and also the beta light adjusting and color balance become formal. I'll keep using the old free version (stand-alone) for now...

 

[nikonbill]

Yeah, Photo AI is really bad about oversharpening. When I use it, I virtually always have to crank down the amount of sharpening.

The screen shots are just that (poor resolution) but since they made adjustments to the program I find I can take the desired AI output almost always

 

[nikonbill]

I'll keep using the old free version (stand-alone) for now..

Sounds good - glad it was helpful - Bill