Before and After Example Topaz 2.0.5

adot45

Senior Member
B4 n aft topaz.jpg
 

Whiskeyman

Senior Member
I was skeptical that any real difference would be apparent with the photo size restrictions on uploads, but I now see that is not the case. I definitely see the difference in edge contrast!

WM
 

adot45

Senior Member
I was skeptical that any real difference would be apparent with the photo size restrictions on uploads, but I now see that is not the case. I definitely see the difference in edge contrast!

WM

I'm using the trial right now Whiskeyman, Still not sure if it's worth it (to me) to justify the expense. I watched a few you tube videos of older versions, the newer version is easy enough to use but as I mentioned, it seems pricey, for a casual user like me.
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
I'm still on the trial version also but it's been kinda interesting to really crank the ISO on night shots and get rid of the noise.
Just to give you an idea of what DeNoise can do I'll submit the following. This is probably not the best example since, 1) I wouldn't consider this shot a "keeper" to begin with, 2) There was practically no post processing done in Adobe Camera Raw and 3) I just took a wild stab at the settings I used in Topaz and didn't even try tweaking them. Preview is zoomed to 100%.

Since this is a screen shot, I'll tell you the shot was taken with a D850 using f/2.8 at 1/125, ISO 25,600.

Topaz settings: Remove Noise 45, Sharpen 0, Recover Original Detail 10, Low Light Mode "On", Color Noise Reduction 0.
.....
Nutcracker vs Topaz Denoise.jpg
 

john*thomas

Senior Member
Just to give you an idea of what DeNoise can do I'll submit the following. This is probably not the best example since, 1) I wouldn't consider this shot a "keeper" to begin with, 2) There was practically no post processing done in Adobe Camera Raw and 3) I just took a wild stab at the settings I used in Topaz and didn't even try tweaking them. Preview is zoomed to 100%.

Since this is a screen shot, I'll tell you the shot was taken with a D850 using f/2.8 at 1/125, ISO 25,600.

Topaz settings: Remove Noise 45, Sharpen 0, Recover Original Detail 10, Low Light Mode "On", Color Noise Reduction 0.
.....
View attachment 341998

Thanks......I haven't had much time to fool around with the software yet. I like to shoot inside dark buildings but I don't like the way flash looks. I also don't want to carry a bunch of equipment.
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor

Woodyg3

Senior Member
Contributor
@adot45 on the original comparison was there any sharpening at all done to the before picture? Thanks for the comparison. If I get a computer with a more powerful graphics processor I am going to give Topaz a try.
 

BackdoorArts

Senior Member
Which Topaz product are you using? Sharpen? Adjust? Denoise? I've got a bunch of their products and there's not a photo I've worked on this year that hasn't seen Denoise, Adjust, or both, and I don't know that I have ever been as happy with my images and done processing them so quickly. I use Adjust primarily for working details, and Camera Raw for the rest. Pricey? Yep, but if you buy bundles you save and there's always a discount code on top of it (bundles will be cheaper than their sales price). And unlike others you pay once and you're done. And the nice thing about bundles is that if you buy one and they add something to it later, or put something you have in another bundle, they prorate bundle prices for anything you already have. I effectively got the Mask AI app for under $35 since I had Studio 2 (they gave it to me free for having Studio 1 which was also free) and Adjust AI.
 

adot45

Senior Member
@adot45 on the original comparison was there any sharpening at all done to the before picture? Thanks for the comparison. If I get a computer with a more powerful graphics processor I am going to give Topaz a try.
No there wasn’t Woody, that was the original. FWIW My computer is no screamer either but I found that if I first crop the picture down close to it’s final size then drag it into Topaz it cut preview generation and final saving down from minutes to 10 or 15 seconds. Probably not the recommended workflow but keeps me from falling asleep. ��
 

BackdoorArts

Senior Member
Just did some digging and found that 2.0.5 is the current release of Sharpen AI. I find that tool only useful if you need to fix an unsharp or out of focus photo, in which case it's pretty good. But it's not something I'd buy up front. Try both Denoise (which does sharpen) and Adjust before you plunk your money down. I effectively presharpen with Denoise and then use Adjust to pull additional details much like you would with the Texture and Clarity sliders in Camera Raw, only these are far more focused (Clarity by luminosity level and Texture by size). Far more versatile product.
 

BackdoorArts

Senior Member
@BackdoorArts I’m using Sharpen AI (I should have listed that with the title) :redface-new: Some of the comments are addressing the DeNoise program.

Right, which is where the Topaz suite gets a little confusing. The Sharpen program sharpens, but so does the Denoise program. The Sharpen programs strengths are not in basic sharpening they are in corrective sharpening - shots that are slightly out of focus or have minor movement and shake. Denoise does a very good job applying your basic sharpening as you would in Camera Raw, with the AI to put it where it's needed and not put it where it's not. When they advertise Denoise it's the sharpening portion of the tool that they lean on heaviest even as it does a great job removing noise while preserving details. I only use Sharpen for fixing as Denoise and Adjust make details pop in a well focused photo.
 

adot45

Senior Member
When I first became aware of the Topaz suite of programs the sharpen AI appealed to me because I think my biggest problem is camera movement. I just can’t hold the camera steady. I really wasn’t sure what the denoise program was for. Maybe it would be really informative for me to d/l the program and run the original photo that I used as my example of sharpen AI and see what the denoise program can do with it....?
 

adot45

Senior Member
OK, here is the original photo and then after running through Topaz DeNoise (settings were 66 DeNoise and 66 sharpen)

after deNoise.jpg

I have no idea why the color shift, there was no color shift using Sharpen AI
edit: Sharpen AI wasn't used on this image, just the first post and that is the "no color shift" I'm referring to.
 
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adot45

Senior Member
Another example where there was no color shift. 33 denoise and 33 sharpen.....notice the little bug

lilly 33, 33.jpg

the bug on the flower.JPG

I think I like the DeNoise program better than the Sharpen AI program.
 

Fred Kingston

Senior Member
It's nice that you're posting these, but I can't help but feel that it's ineffective because your images don't include EXIF data... Trying to compare whether a De-Noise program is doing anything without some baseline ISO reference isn't really a comparison.

I was an early adopter of Topaz's software many years ago, and quickly tried their new AI stuff, and quite frankly, get better range of adjustment using the built-in sliders within Lightroom. I just can't see spending the Topaz money for the little it does...
 

adot45

Senior Member
It's nice that you're posting these, but I can't help but feel that it's ineffective because your images don't include EXIF data... Trying to compare whether a De-Noise program is doing anything without some baseline ISO reference isn't really a comparison.

I was an early adopter of Topaz's software many years ago, and quickly tried their new AI stuff, and quite frankly, get better range of adjustment using the built-in sliders within Lightroom. I just can't see spending the Topaz money for the little it does...

OK, I won't bother with it anymore.
 
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