Topaz DeNoise AI- Magenta image

Dawg Pics

Senior Member
Hi All,
I just downloaded a free trial of DeNoise. I have a MacBook Pro and Affinity for post processing so, I need to use DeNoise as a stand-alone program.

When I imported the RAW image into DeNoise, the program gave me a warning that the colors might be changed. I saved the sharpened image as a DNG file, which looked ok, and then loaded it into Affinity. The entire image went magenta. It was so magenta, that it couldn't be recovered, at least in Affinity it can't. Kind of makes sense that the program would use some magenta since there was a lot of green in the image. However, it shouldn't look like the image was put in the wash with a red sock. I reloaded the DNG back in to DeNoise, and the preview image was magenta. I guess, with that, I ruled out Affinity as the villain in this story.

Anybody have any clue, tip, wild-ass guess or anything that might help me resolve this.
My initial search didn't give me an answer, but I am about to do some more looking to see if I can locate the same issue.

Thanks

Hi, I am Magenta. Qauck Quack
Mallard 500_0640-denoise-clear majenta.jpg
 

Bengan

Senior Member
I'm not sure why you used a RAW file. Supported file formats are jpeg, tiff and png. I'm surprised that you could actually use a RAW file in the first place.

EDIT: I tried to open a DNG file and found that the program actually opens the embedded jpeg, so the DNG doesn't open and can't be processed
 
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Bikerbrent

Senior Member
I just confirmed that Topaz DeNoise AI (and in fact none of the Topaz software) supports RAW files. This would make Topaz software a deal breaker to me.
 
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Fred Kingston

Senior Member
From Topaz's web site:
DeNoise AI supports all major RBG color profiles. It does not support CMYK at this time.
Some RAW files can be used in the software, such as DNG (digital negative), and camera-specific files, such as NEF, ARW, and ORF files. However, we use third-party libraries in our software to display RAW images. Due to this, there can be some RAW files from certain camera types where you might see some conflicts.

If you see something odd in the image color, desaturation, or overall display of the RAW files, we suggest converting the images to TIFF. Similar to RAW files, TIFF files contain plenty of data for editing and are compatible across a broad range of programs where RAW files may have conflicts.
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
From Topaz's web site:
DeNoise AI supports all major RBG color profiles. It does not support CMYK at this time.
Some RAW files can be used in the software, such as DNG (digital negative), and camera-specific files, such as NEF, ARW, and ORF files. However, we use third-party libraries in our software to display RAW images. Due to this, there can be some RAW files from certain camera types where you might see some conflicts.

If you see something odd in the image color, desaturation, or overall display of the RAW files, we suggest converting the images to TIFF. Similar to RAW files, TIFF files contain plenty of data for editing and are compatible across a broad range of programs where RAW files may have conflicts.

I don't know where you found that, Fred, although I'm not saying you're wrong. They must be releasing conflicting information. :confused: This is what I found:

https://support.topazlabs.com/hc/en...You can then bring the,that way in Topaz Labs.

Does Topaz Labs work with RAW files?
No, RAW files cannot be directly opened in Topaz Labs. If working with a raw image, you'll need to covert the raw file with an editor like Adobe Camera Raw first. You can then bring the raw file into Photoshop via ACR and work with the image that way in Topaz Labs.

Another option is in Lightroom, you can open the file as a smart object in Photoshop and then bring the image into Topaz Labs.
@BackdoorArts - Jake, how do you access Topaz to make adjustments, and what types of files have you used? Do you always access Topaz via Photoshop or Lightroom?
 

BackdoorArts

Senior Member
@BackdoorArts - Jake, how do you access Topaz to make adjustments, and what types of files have you used? Do you always access Topaz via Photoshop or Lightroom?

Always from Photoshop for me, though you can do it it from Lightroom and save it back as a Tiff (which only makes sense to me if you do not use Photoshop).
 

BackdoorArts

Senior Member
I just confirmed that Topaz DeNoise AI (and in fact none of the Topaz software) supports RAW files. This would make Topaz software a deal breaker to me.

This objection doesn't make much sense because you cannot save edited Raw files. Photoshop has Camera Raw as an interface to convert the RAW file to something usable and saveable. Lightroom does the same when invoking an outside editor of any kind (your choice in preferences). If you cannot invoke the Topaz product from something like Affinity (note: I've confirmed that they work together) you can open the file and save it as a TIFF, open it in Topaz, save, and reopen in the editor of choice.
 

Fred Kingston

Senior Member
Cindy...That quote came from the Topaz support forum...

It's rather misleading... I installed Denoise as a trial and tested it... I set it up using Lightroom... You install it as an external editor in Lightroom's Preferences dialogue... It then converts and sends the NEF file as one of the 3 Topaz file types... and then can be saved back to Lightroom as such... Tiff having the most data...

Frankly I think it's severely over priced for what it does compared to simple Noise adjustments in Lightroom... All that converting and back and forth and it doesn't do any better that what LR does...

Even the Nik tools will do what Topaz does, with the addition of letting you control the areas that get denoised...

Noiseless CK from Macphun software blows all the above methods out of the water and is my goto denoise program... and doesn't use 1/100th of the resources that Topaz does...
 

Dawg Pics

Senior Member
I'm not sure why you used a RAW file. Supported file formats are jpeg, tiff and png. I'm surprised that you could actually use a RAW file in the first place.

EDIT: I tried to open a DNG file and found that the program actually opens the embedded jpeg, so the DNG doesn't open and can't be processed

Because I didn't follow the instructions. Doh. I think I just skimmed what it said, and apparently, converting to DNG is a step prior to loading into Topaz not what you do after.

I have had almost no sleep in the last 2 weeks. I am a danger in the kitchen and even looked in the pantry for bacon. So, I am going to cut myself a break and blame lack of sleep for not being able to troubleshoot something so simple like file compatibility.
 

Woodyg3

Senior Member
Contributor
I have had almost no sleep in the last 2 weeks. I am a danger in the kitchen and even looked in the pantry for bacon. So, I am going to cut myself a break and blame lack of sleep for not being able to troubleshoot something so simple like file compatibility.

I get plenty of sleep, but I do things like looking for bacon in the pantry all the time. I almost poured myself a bowl of cat food for breakfast this morning. :)
 

Dawg Pics

Senior Member
Stop shooting during the Magenta Hour.


/Sorry... I got nuthin'.
Made me laugh, that is worth something.
Topaz doesn't play nice with Nikon specific NEF. I read the part about converting to dng, but missed the part about doing that prior to loading the image into Topaz. So, I don't know that I want to convert to dng and then sharpen and then put the image back into the software I have. Too much trouble. I will play with it and see.
 

Dawg Pics

Senior Member
I get plenty of sleep, but I do things like looking for bacon in the pantry all the time. I almost poured myself a bowl of cat food for breakfast this morning. :)
Ha Ha. :D. Kind of like when I pick up the salt shaker and hold it over my coffee cup. Yep, done it.
 

Dawg Pics

Senior Member
Thanks, everybody. I just didn't pay attention to the supported files. Problem solved.
I didn't know my issue would open up such a complex dialogue.

The program did a nice job of reducing noise and sharpening up the image. I will try again and see what I can do with it, and if it is worth the money for me.


. If you cannot invoke the Topaz product from something like Affinity (note: I've confirmed that they work together) you can open the file and save it as a TIFF, open it in Topaz, save, and reopen in the editor of choice.
Thank you, Jake
I didn't see Affinity listed on the Topaz site, but the Affinity forums suggested you can add it as a plug-in just like with Nik Tools.

edit:
Well, I couldn't stand it, so I went ahead and added Topaz as a plug-in. It worked just fine, except when I moved the view some, it took a while to process. Easy to use and looks good. See below:

Thank you Nikonites, I am no longer magenta. QUACK QUACK
Mallard 500_0640 Topaz Plugin.jpg
 
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BackdoorArts

Senior Member
Well, I couldn't stand it, so I went ahead and added Topaz as a plug-in. It worked just fine, except when I moved the view some, it took a while to process.

The one tip I give everyone with Denoise AI and Sharpen AI is to turn off the Auto-generate Preview function so it doesn't regenerate every time you move the view. Set the view you want to check and then hit the Generate Preview button. Depending on your computer and what else you have open it can be maddening. And the more complex the image the longer it takes. I occasionally make videos for friends showing them how I processed something and just having Quicktime doing a screen recording while I'm using Denoise can make it run 3-4x as long just because it relies on access to the graphics processor. Sharpen AI is even more demanding.

That said, it has become indispensable to my workflow. I've used it enough where I can actually just set it and not check a preview. I've not used the High ISO color noise function yet as I don't consider 4000 to be "High" anymore, but when I played with it I did notice a slight loss in detail vs. the otherwise acceptable version without it. Need to spend some more time with it.
 

Vixen

Senior Member
Ha Ha. :D. Kind of like when I pick up the salt shaker and hold it over my coffee cup. Yep, done it.

Aha!! but that is not so silly. If you add salt to coffee it decreases the bitterness and it was a regular addition years ago when coffee was not as good as it is now :D
 
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