3 Reasons I Use Topaz for Sharpening Photos

[@KevWilOG]

My only problem with using apps that are external to Lightroom is the extra files that have to be kept track of. If I do some stuff in LR, then sharpen with Topaz, then do some cleanup in Photoshop, my 50 MB raw file becomes a 150 MB tiff and a 180+ MB psd and I feel like I have to remember the order somehow and ... it's all too much. I tend to only use Lightroom, and I'm happy with the new Denoise (once it gets the ACR update to not create a separate file) and I'm usually happy with the sharpening. But I'll give this further testing. Maybe open the raw with Topaz and do noise & sharpening, then import the original raw and the new tiff into LR.

[@martinlennon4673]

Thanks Matt and cheers for PDF 👍

[@BubbleGendut]

Lightroom does a good while retaining the original image. I find Topaz & DXO add generated details where the noise has merged pixel detail a bit crunchy.

[@grumpywiseguy5992]

Matt, nice review. What do you think about DxO PureRaw 4? How does DxO compare to Topaz? Thanks

[@sounderdavis5446]

I'm using latest versions of both DxO and Topaz apps, but I'm using DxO PhotoLab, not DxO PureRaw.. On most images, especially when my focus was good, either DxO or Topaz is good enough, but I routinely start with DxO and don''t need Topaz. {DxO is better in noise reduction, very useful with high ISO.) I do use Topaz after DxO when I slightly missed focus on a wildlife subject (either motion or lens blur). Push it too far with missed focus, and still no app can rescue it, but if it's just slightly off in focus after DxO, Topaz excels at sharpening and can save it. Your Mileage May Vary! (I used to delete images with slightly missed focus... no more. I save them in case tech continues to evolve.)

[@suxxesphoto6419]

What about the lighting and colouring enhancements in Topaz, any good? considering purchasing it as part of my workflow. But not clear on how much editing do in lightroom first or after, if using Topaz sharpen, do I put lightroom sharpen down to zero as defaults to 40? bit confused....

[@patrickvanderwest6795]

Hi Matt. In your opinion is it worth upgrading to the new version of Topaz Gigapixel?

[@MattKloskowski]

Hi. I’d skip gigapixel Photo ai has all a photographer needs. Thanks!

[@salihguler3876]

Hi Matt, Even though I wrote down my email address and the date I purchased Topaz AI, I did not receive anything about PDF Shortcuts. Is this something that will take time?

[@kevins8575]

Very expensive just for two features. They say buy once - own forever. But that's a trick. $199 for the first year and then $99 per year forever if you want improvements.

[@MattKloskowski]

If you find a software company that says "Buy once... get updates forever" let me know ;-) I'll make sure never to buy it because they'll be out of business before long.

[@BubbleGendut]

@kevins8575 agree it’s disguised yearly subscription.

[@andyhughes073]

Don’t forget their cloud credits as well, pay a high price to buy, then annually to update, then on top of that if you want faster processing and access to latest AI models you have to pay even more! I have no issues with the first two, because that’s the way it is, but I wonder if Topaz will migrate more features to the cloud and make the credits more and more essential over time. If cloud credits become essential to the effective functionality of Topaz products, then I’m out.

[@georgecarpenter4126]

Matt - I Have both Adobe Lr Classic and Ps as well as Topaz Photo Ai. Recently, I have been unable to get the photo into Photo Ai from Lr. I use the Edit In function, but nothing happens Any suggestions ? TIA

[@keeskraaijeveld4704]

I’m using Topaz Denoise and Topaz Sharpen already. Is Topaz Photo AI overdone by using that too? Or is it complementairy?

[@MattKloskowski]

Hi. Your apps are discontinued Photo AI is the new version of those but all in one.

[@keeskraaijeveld4704]

@@MattKloskowski OK, thx. So, you should advice to go for Photo AI? I most of the time doing bird-/naturephotography.

[@davehenson5390]

I would like to use Topaz more, but I keep getting colour shifts when saving an image from Topaz to Lightroom - do you have any suggestions?

[@aussie2uGA]

It's a wow feature for sure. I'm just not sure if it's worth the workflow juggle from what is done in Lightroom and Photoshop. I love the concept of competition however and hope Topaz survives the AI onslaught.