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I'm just curious
- Thread starter iDad
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inkpad.t
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I have the full set of topaz including the software suite ( the fx bundle ).
I find them very time saving when wanting to do certain things like re moving noise, sharpening etc. some of the pre sets on other filters are also very good and time saving , things like the masking filter, i find this better than Photoshop and get a better result removing complex backgrounds. [FONT=Lato, sans-serif]Creative detail enhancement. is another very quick filter with great results.[/FONT]
[FONT=Lato, sans-serif]As in most things the filters can be adjusted to your requirements.
The only thing that makes me use it though is my lack of knowledge on how to do these things in Photoshop.
I guess if your a Pro or well versed in Photoshop you might not need them. Like everything , if there's a quick and easier way to do it, and it gets the results you want, then why not.
It is pricey though, but for some one like me at this time it seem to be worth it.
Having said that i wish ( in hindsight ) i would have put the money towards a graphics tablet than the topaz. i think i would be further down the line by now in stead of struggling with a mouse ( and now being skint ). [/FONT]
I find them very time saving when wanting to do certain things like re moving noise, sharpening etc. some of the pre sets on other filters are also very good and time saving , things like the masking filter, i find this better than Photoshop and get a better result removing complex backgrounds. [FONT=Lato, sans-serif]Creative detail enhancement. is another very quick filter with great results.[/FONT]
[FONT=Lato, sans-serif]As in most things the filters can be adjusted to your requirements.
The only thing that makes me use it though is my lack of knowledge on how to do these things in Photoshop.
I guess if your a Pro or well versed in Photoshop you might not need them. Like everything , if there's a quick and easier way to do it, and it gets the results you want, then why not.
It is pricey though, but for some one like me at this time it seem to be worth it.
Having said that i wish ( in hindsight ) i would have put the money towards a graphics tablet than the topaz. i think i would be further down the line by now in stead of struggling with a mouse ( and now being skint ). [/FONT]
inkpad.t
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Here's a tut i found on You Tube using topaz and this pointed me to by it in the first place.
This was only because of my lack of knowledge i did so , but still enjoy it and get results i need.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYv3F2PiKyg.
This was only because of my lack of knowledge i did so , but still enjoy it and get results i need.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYv3F2PiKyg.
Tom Mann
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Hi iDad -
I've been using Topaz products continuously since a year or so after they first hit the market. I have almost the entire set (bought them one at a time), and I would say that I probably use at least one of them in every "winner" image of mine that's going to get published / printed, and that image needs individual attention in the areas of artistic enhancements, stylization, and occasionally to help correct lighting problems (eg, reining in excess local contrast, evening out the distribution of light over a scene, etc.)
In addition, I have been in friendly correspondence with Eric Yang on and off since around 2008. In fact, I suggested to him that he modify "Detail 2" to include separate adjustments for "lights", "shadows", and "overall" to position his product favorably against Nik's "Tonal Contrast". He incorporated these features in the next release of "Detail".
I am fortunate to have a huge number of photography related software products at my disposal, and am even more fortunate not to be financially constrained ( within reason ;-) ) in my choice of software, so I use whatever I find to be best for the task, and Topaz products often are the best choice for me.
However, I do a lot of event work for my employer, and will often shoot several hundred images in one session and be under time pressure to get them out. In fact, just yesterday, I edited about 1700 images from the spring, getting them prepared for fall publication.
That's the one situation where I wouldn't dream of using Topaz. It is not even on my radar screen when I have to crank out a large number of images in a limited period of time. In the last couple of years, IMHO, the best choice for such jobs is clearly Lightroom. Before LR3, I used Bridge and ACR. Before then, I don't even want to think about it (and Topaz wasn't even a gleam in Eric's eye back at the university). LOL.
Any you asked a very good question and I hope I was able to convey how I use their products.
Cheers,
Tom
I've been using Topaz products continuously since a year or so after they first hit the market. I have almost the entire set (bought them one at a time), and I would say that I probably use at least one of them in every "winner" image of mine that's going to get published / printed, and that image needs individual attention in the areas of artistic enhancements, stylization, and occasionally to help correct lighting problems (eg, reining in excess local contrast, evening out the distribution of light over a scene, etc.)
In addition, I have been in friendly correspondence with Eric Yang on and off since around 2008. In fact, I suggested to him that he modify "Detail 2" to include separate adjustments for "lights", "shadows", and "overall" to position his product favorably against Nik's "Tonal Contrast". He incorporated these features in the next release of "Detail".
I am fortunate to have a huge number of photography related software products at my disposal, and am even more fortunate not to be financially constrained ( within reason ;-) ) in my choice of software, so I use whatever I find to be best for the task, and Topaz products often are the best choice for me.
However, I do a lot of event work for my employer, and will often shoot several hundred images in one session and be under time pressure to get them out. In fact, just yesterday, I edited about 1700 images from the spring, getting them prepared for fall publication.
That's the one situation where I wouldn't dream of using Topaz. It is not even on my radar screen when I have to crank out a large number of images in a limited period of time. In the last couple of years, IMHO, the best choice for such jobs is clearly Lightroom. Before LR3, I used Bridge and ACR. Before then, I don't even want to think about it (and Topaz wasn't even a gleam in Eric's eye back at the university). LOL.
Any you asked a very good question and I hope I was able to convey how I use their products.
Cheers,
Tom
Tom Mann
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I agree, iDad. I think a lot of them are produced with the help of a Topaz plugin or two, but it's getting really difficult to tell. Some of the NIK filters are pretty close, and I think there are lots of folks who who roll-their-own using native PS tools. The latter are never the same, but can come pretty close.
T
T
Tom Mann
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Neither. I was referring to NIK Color Efx Pro (aka,"NIK CEP"):
http://www.niksoftware.com/nikcollection/usa/colorefexpro.html
http://www.niksoftware.com/colorefexpro/usa/interface.shtml
etc.
FWIW, I probably use it about as much as I use Topaz products, and in much the same way. It's a bit different than Topaz products, but the two may be slowly converging as they each try to get market share from the other.
T
http://www.niksoftware.com/nikcollection/usa/colorefexpro.html
http://www.niksoftware.com/colorefexpro/usa/interface.shtml
etc.
FWIW, I probably use it about as much as I use Topaz products, and in much the same way. It's a bit different than Topaz products, but the two may be slowly converging as they each try to get market share from the other.
T
chrisdesign
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I'm a regular TOPAZ user since 2011. I work in printing business with ADJUST, CLEAN, DETAIL almost every day, but with my own subtle presets.
ALB68
Dear Departed Guru and PSG Staff Member
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I have both. I have the full suite of Topaz that I bought as a package. Before I came here, I had no knowledge of such a thing, but once I saw it, I had to have it. There is not a day goes by that I don't use something in the suite. I get a lot of use out of Clean, ReMask, DeNoise and DeJpg. ReMask is really very good with practice. You have to get use to exactly how it works, once done, I find it quick and can produce accurate and easy cut outs. Now I have the new ReStyle and it is very cool, haven't worked with it much as I just acquired it, but I like it so far.
Tom turned me on to Nik. Google acquired them and dropped the price dramatically and I bought it. They have some specific filters I like, such as Midnight, Indian Summer, Classic Soft Focus,Vignette etc. Vivesa2 is great too. I use it for making selective adjustments on a regular basis. It has helped me improve my images and lord knows I needed all the help I could get and still do.
Tom turned me on to Nik. Google acquired them and dropped the price dramatically and I bought it. They have some specific filters I like, such as Midnight, Indian Summer, Classic Soft Focus,Vignette etc. Vivesa2 is great too. I use it for making selective adjustments on a regular basis. It has helped me improve my images and lord knows I needed all the help I could get and still do.
Hoogle
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To be honest I use to like the gimmick side to topaz but really I like their black and white plugin that gets used more these days but also I like silver effex where as topaz b & w has more realistic presets to start from in my opinion where as color effex vs adjust color effex has the better starting off points and offers a better fine tuning tool
Either way topaz or Nik software both have their pros and cons and I am still meaning to have a more in depth look at the new restyle plugin hoping it is not another bullet looks, alienskin exposure, color effex or slight variation of adjust hoping it is a unique option which has a a usage otherwise now all the main strea, plugins are basically producing their own version of the same thing.
Either way topaz or Nik software both have their pros and cons and I am still meaning to have a more in depth look at the new restyle plugin hoping it is not another bullet looks, alienskin exposure, color effex or slight variation of adjust hoping it is a unique option which has a a usage otherwise now all the main strea, plugins are basically producing their own version of the same thing.
Tom Mann
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Why, it's LIGHTROOM, of course. I'm surprised you didn't know this. :-( . ... Wait .... Hold the presses .... We're talking about language translation here ... oh, what the heck, the question doesn't matter -- the answer is still Lightroom.
T