Tack Sharp AI In ON1 Photo RAW 2023 - A Deeper Look

[@merlebecker8417]

Thank you Scott, Wow this is going to be interesting, and as always your guidance is going to be very important and appreciated. Did order 2023 via you - I hope they bounced it back.

[@ScottDavenport]

Thanks for the support, Merle!

[@DannyFyffe]

I used the SDP20 and sure enough it worked for my upgrade yesterday.

[@ScottDavenport]

Thanks for the support, Danny!

[@jean-lucgrand190]

Thanks Scott. As always, a clear and concise teaching.

[@peterbusuttil9533]

Thanks for the video Scott. Your explanations on how to use ON1 are always simple yet straightforward. I gonna have to go through my entire lot of photos to use just tack sharp. And by the way, thanks for the 20% discount - I saved nearly $20 off the product.

[@ScottDavenport]

Thank *you* for the support, Peter. Have fun!

[@artisanwest9730]

One area that Topaz sharpen AI shines is for motion blur. I have had a few photos complete saved that had motion blur due to slow shutter speed. However, I am getting PhotoRaw 2023 as well since I love photo software.

[@ScottDavenport]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts ... Topaz has been the standard to measure against. I've been very pleased with Tack Sharp AI results thus far. Haven't yet had time to try out Topaz's new Photo AI though.

[@Londinense]

Thanks Scott. I have already pre-purchased my copy v2023 and used your code. As others have commented, Tack Sharp AI will not be able to replace Topaz Sharpen AI for me until it integrates masking without having to use the layers work-round. Ideally, it should be there as one of the links within the new Super Select AI

[@ScottDavenport]

No dispute that native masking for Tack Sharp AI would be a welcome feature. Wrt replacing another tool ... if the hurdle is layers, I suppose each photographer needs to weigh impact to their workflow. Is it more "expensive" to use a plug-in/separate tool or to add the layer and mask? No wrong answer, really... up to the individual.

[@chuckdefiore225]

Thank you Scott. Your videos are a help in deciding whether or not to upgrade. PR is not my main editing program, but I do like it. Not really sold on Topaz Photo AI. I have the 3 components already and would have to see a large improvement to say it would be worth while for me. ON1, on the other hand gives more value for less money. I wish they would say what's being changed in the plugins. I use them more in PS then the whole program. Thanks again for all your work.

[@ScottDavenport]

Hi I Chuck ... glad to help. And you're aware of this ... but for any others reading the comment thread ... Photo RAW does *not* work as a plug-in to other programs. So, yes, the plug-in crowd is still waiting. (My guess is we'll see a 2023 iteration of NoNoise that adds Tack Sharp).

[@RSV9]

A game changer would be to be able to include a mask to either mark regions for sharpening or to avoid it.

[@ScottDavenport]

I agree it would be nice to include masking directly in the panel. You can achieve the same thing, but need to use layers. Add a layer, do the sharpening, then use Super Select AI or Mask AI on the layer.

[@fjperras]

Along with your previous videos on Mask AI and Keyword AI, you are really making it hard to resist taking the upgrade aren't ya. Well done and thank you for sharing.

[@ScottDavenport]

Ha ha! I don’t mean to raid your wallet. I _do_ want to unpack these features for you, so you can make and informed decision on upgrading.

[@fjperras]

@@ScottDavenport And it is much appreciated, thank you :)

[@rapaent]

Thank you for another awesome tutorial Scott!! I'm a newbie using the standalone ON1 Photo Raw 2023 w/ Plugins. I've been practicing a little with Tack Sharp & NoNoise on my MacBook Pro M1 Max. After making my adjustments, my .jpg exports are way over sharpened compared to what I'm seeing on my MacBook Pro. I'd like to add, I do have the photo zoomed in while making adjustments. Just wondering if you may know what might be causing this? Thanks again. Happy Holidays!! 👍😊

[@ScottDavenport]

Check if you are also applying Sharpening during export.

[@rapaent]

@@ScottDavenport Thanks Scott for your help! I started out with a .jpeg photo zoomed in approx.150% for better viewing along with not to over sharpen. After appying Tack Sharp I adjusted the sharpen slide adjustment down to about 30% which looked great without it being over sharpened. Once done, I clicked on the Apply Lock tab and then exported as a .jpeg. Upon viewing it outside of ON1 in Photo's and Preview, it was way over sharpened. It looked great in ON1. Is there a step that I missed other than what I mentioned? Thanks again, I sincerely appreciate your help. Have an awesome Christmas Eve & Christmas!!! 👍😊

[@NJM1948]

Thanks for another top drawer video...well explained as usual. I have the topaz products and they are market leaders in each category...but, they have had more experience and have released lots of updates to get it right. Until the new product - Photo AI is released (today I think) you have to go to each program seperately to enhance an image that needs noise reduction and sharpening. Yes, each product does a little of both but sometimes you need each separately which really slows down your workflow. This idea from ON1 will certainly speed up the workflow, but as Topaz are releasing exactly the same "all in one" product, ON1 really needs to get those issues you have highlighted sorted out

[@ScottDavenport]

Thanks for watching, Nigel. And yep… all the vendors keep pushing the envelope. Ultimately, good for all photographers - we get choice and can pick what is best for us.

[@bobessner734]

Scott .. thanks for taking time to explain the upcoming "tack sharp" feature. Is there any way to invoke "tack sharp" for local areas where you could brush over and adjust the opaqueness? I realize you could use layers to accomplish this but it's more work.

[@ScottDavenport]

Hi Bob … layers is the only method to do that.

[@soularproject]

Thanks for the great review. What is the relationship in the algorithms when comparing TaxSharp with Resize AI. Unless I'm wrong, it seems that they both work toward sharpening the image.

[@ScottDavenport]

ResizeAI is about upscaling for a print. The sharpening there is output sharpening, so your print remains sharp. Tack Sharp AI is sharpening to correct capture-time problems (focus slightly off, camera shake, etc)

[@philmarsh5593]

Really useful to see, thanks. I've been using v3 of Topaz' Sharpen AI and it performs miracles - but upgrading to v4 would cost me as much as I paid for v3, so I stuck with the old version. As a user of ON1 2022, I'm hoping this replaces putting the photo through Sharpen AI separately - an all in 1 solution would be really good. Will most definitely use your code to upgrade in due course. Too much good stuff coming in ON1 2023 not to upgrade I think.

[@ScottDavenport]

Hi Phil ... I certainly agree. There is a whole lot of coolness coming in the 2023 release.

[@craigozancin]

Scott, I have a question. Is there any reason that ON1 does not include no-noise/tack-sharp in the local adjustments. Seems like a better way to localize where and how much sharpening / noise reduction.

[@ScottDavenport]

I presume there is a technical one, though I am not sure. Another comment (maybe on this video, maybe another) another viewer gave a detailed explanation about how the sharpening is working and why it's done globally instead of locally. The workaround is to use Layers (watch my Mask AI video ... you'll see that in action).

[@vclparke]

Masking capability is such a key product strongpoint for ON1. So it puzzles me that the Noise and Sharpening AI panel is only in the Develop tab where there are no integrated masking capabilities. For the Tone and Color panel, local adjustments provide the equivalent adjustments with masking capability and for Transform and Lens Correction masking isn't relevant, so it is only the Noise and Sharpening panel that requires you to use the Layers work around to add sharpening only for selected objects, not the background. I wonder why the AI Noise and Sharpening adjustment doesn't also feature in either the local adjustments tab or as an effect, so that masking would be an integrated capability?

[@ScottDavenport]

I don't have an explanation as to why these tools are in Develop. For noise ... maybe, since noise would affect an entire image. For sharpening, less of an argument to be made IMHO. Layers is our only workaround for now.

[@datstheone1]

For RAW images NoNoise is built into the initial demosaicing process taking advantage of access to all the RAW data, I assume that Tack Sharp is another addition to the initial creation of an RGB image from the RAW data. For NoNoise they added a High Detail mode that is intended to work on TIFFs etc which are already in RGB mode, so perhaps in the future they might update their Noise Reduction and Sharpening Effects filters to use this mode so can be masked in. The way that Noise/Sharpening is applied at the very first step is why the before can't take adjustments into account since these are applied to the image after Noise/Sharpening have been applied.

[@richardberke4539]

It feels like an additional layer copy of the image is needed. Apply a set of changes, and then a mask to the top layer.

[@ScottDavenport]

Yep ... that's the way to handle selective sharpening. Spot on, Richard.

[@mariusm2402]

Nice presentation Scott. Unfortunately I've already pre ordered without your promo code. Not always a good idea to pre order early. I'm wondering why the sharpening cannot be applied with filters. Isn't there a risk the sharpen algorithm is messing up the Bokeh? However. Looking forward to the final sw.

[@ScottDavenport]

Hi Marius ... you can partially apply Tack Sharp AI by using layers. Duplicate your photo on a new layer, apply Tack Sharp AI to the layer, and use masking on the layer. This question is coming up often ... I'll try to work in a video on this.

[@mariusm2402]

@@ScottDavenport thanks for your reply. Of course working with layers is a solution - I didn't consider this. 🙈

[@fonthiller]

Hey Scott! TackSharp is the feature I’m looking forward to most when 2023 gets released. Appreciate the sneak peek on a few different photos that definitely represent cases in my catalog where it will be helpful; maybe even ‘rescue’ some near misses. You are absolutely on point with the gripe about the preview mode ‘before’ not taking other adjustments into account. Fairly disappointing this *still* hasn’t been addressed, but hopefully with the feedback of ambassadors like you it will get addressed soon, if not in the first 2023 release. Similarly, the absolute global-ness of the NoNoise & TackSharp is a tad frustrating. Though layering serves as work around, it brings a speed and file size penalty in contrast to how versatile & powerful it would be if these tools could live in, or at least be able to behave more like, Effects, where we could apply different adjustments and masks to different regions of an image. (Kind of feel there could be some deeper tech reason why this is easier said than done we’re not hearing about.) Finally, figured worth mentioning that your discount code worked for purchasing the upgrade - which I didn’t necessarily expect, figuring it might only be applicable for new users. So for others (like me) who have been with (you &) the product for a while, take advantage - & smile a little more at what you’re not paying for a Lightroom & Photoshop subscription !!

[@ScottDavenport]

Glad the promo code worked! I agree it would be nice to have NoNoise and Tack Sharp "natively" maskable.

[@pixelgermane]

Does the Professional PlugIn bundle include all functions of FotoRAW 2023, i.e. also HDR from multiple images, sky and FocusStacking? Of course, the catalog function is not needed out of Lightroom. FotoRAW could be accessed via "Export" from Lightroom and the PlugIns probably under "Edit in". Would I have to call each PlugIn individually, so create in Lightroom constantly new file, because back in Lightroom each PlugIn "burns in" the change or could I call again the same PlugIn to subsequently adjustment again? -- In FotoRAW I could apply all tools one after the other and export to Lightroom and ... would then have to set extra catalog in FotoRAW so that settings remain reversible ... or can I use selbige folders as in LR ? -- Last question: Can I install the PlugIn bundle or FotoRAW also on 3 of my Mac devices, where I always use only individually? -- Explain no one does so far, but could you help me - thank you!? 👍

[@ScottDavenport]

ON1 typically licenses for 2 computers. They offer subscription models for licensing up to 5 machines. Check their site for details. It is reasonably easy to deactivate one installation and activate another, so you can manage which computers can actively use ON1 software. From an editing perspective, the Pro Plugins have *most* but not all of the functions of PhotoRAW. Things I can think of that are *not* in the plug-ins are: sky replacement, focus stacking, pano stitching. If using the plug-ins directly from LR, yes, each round-trip to a plug-in makes a new file. You mention Lightroom... assuming you have LR/PS, you could bounce through Photoshop and launch plug-ins within PS. Or, use a Smart Object workflow to invoke multiple ON1 plug-ins and maintain a single file. See scottdavenportphoto.com/blog/using-photoshop-smart-objects-for-round-trip-edits-in-lightroom for an example.

[@pixelgermane]

@@ScottDavenport

[@datstheone1]

Scott, it may be a beta thing but it seems that Tack Sharp always comes up at 100%, rather than adjusting to actual needs of image, or if it does then it does behind the scenes. I think that if you reduce the Deblur amount then you should find that the tree line harshness is reduced. Given that Tack Sharp is just one element of PhotoRAW 2023 I wonder if looking at it in isolation as the be-all and end-all of sharpening in PhotoRAW. Could it be that the intent is, along with NoNoise, is to deal with "faults" in an image such as noise and image softness to give a better foundation on which all the other adjustments can be applied? PhotoRAW already has things like Texture in Local Adjustments, Dynamic Contrast and Sharpening Filters which can already be masked in. So perhaps the way to process images in PhotoRAW 2023 is to start by applying Noise and Sharpening to get the best RGB image from the RAW data without over doing it, then apply development settings and finally mask in other adjustments such as localised sharpening using one of the existing tools. Even with the few seconds delay when moving a slider PhotoRAW has a speed advantage over Topaz's new PhotoAI, so much quicker to move around preview and zoom in and out. The release of PhotoAI is supposed to have improved performance on M1 Macs but seems to have slowed down from earlier betas. Improvements via PhotoAI don't seem as good as with the individual products. If, as seems likely given how it fits into PhotoRAW, Tack Sharp is included in NoNoise AI 2023 when it comes out, then Topaz could well have a fight on their hand to gain traction for PhotoAI.

[@ScottDavenport]

Hi David … this far, the Deblur slider does come in at 100% every time (reminds me of the color noise slider). I did try backing it off to tame the tree line, worked some, but then the sheep lost its punch. You’re absolutely correct about NoNoise/tack sharp being an up front step - and maybe dynamic contrast and other selective adjustment, in combo with a moderate amount of NoNoise/tack sharp, yields results you’re happy with. Also … thank you for the great technical description of noise reduction in the other thread!

[@psfphotography]

Can you bulk adjust images, or does it require individual processing?

[@ScottDavenport]

Yes, you can batch by putting Tack Sharp AI settings into a Preset. Then apply the preset to a set of selected images.

[@psfphotography]

@@ScottDavenport Thanks Scott. Ill be purchasing the 2023 version in the next few days via your link and discount code.

[@ScottDavenport]

Thanks for the support Paul. Have fun!

[@branchau]

Scott, your link offering a 20% discount does not work. It returns this: Hmmm...can't reach this page.

[@ScottDavenport]

Thank you for the heads up. I’ll look into it.

[@ScottDavenport]

Perhaps a temporary glitch? bit.ly/sdp-ON1 is landing on the main ON1 page where 2023 is located. To get the discount, add Photo RAW to your shopping cart, then enter the code SDP20 in the "Have a promo code?" box. The discount should be applied and the discounting pricing reflected.

[@RSV9]

In the image with the sheep and the kimonos it seems that the colors were also changed. They became more intense... 🤔

[@ScottDavenport]

Looking again … Agreed on the kimonos. They did pop. Interesting … will need to explore more. Thanks for raising that.

[@roninmantis7584]

Topaz Labs continues to kick ON1s butt when it comes to denoise and sharpening. ON1 has always been weak on sharpening and denoise. I was hopeful that ON1 would develop a competitive product in this area, but not. ON1 does other things very well, just not sharpening and denoise.