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Author Topic: New Topaz plug-in  (Read 23155 times)

Philip Weber

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Re: New Topaz plug-in
« Reply #40 on: May 28, 2013, 01:24:40 pm »

I'm a big fan of plug-ins too and have all the Topaz and Nik stuff, although Nik products seem to be more in my workflow lately.

Question - where does Topaz Detail fit in the workflow now that Clarity is out (and what with the Topaz Adjust possibilities too)?

I just got back from a trip in the eastern Sierra's and have a ton of images to work on, so I'm looking forward to trying Clarity out. It'd just be nice to have a better understanding of how it fits in with my other Topaz products, not to mention things like Nik's Tonal and Pro Contrast.

Thanks!
Phil
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Bart_van_der_Wolf

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Re: New Topaz plug-in
« Reply #41 on: May 28, 2013, 01:45:04 pm »

I'm a big fan of plug-ins too and have all the Topaz and Nik stuff, although Nik products seem to be more in my workflow lately.

Question - where does Topaz Detail fit in the workflow now that Clarity is out (and what with the Topaz Adjust possibilities too)?

I just got back from a trip in the eastern Sierra's and have a ton of images to work on, so I'm looking forward to trying Clarity out. It'd just be nice to have a better understanding of how it fits in with my other Topaz products, not to mention things like Nik's Tonal and Pro Contrast.

Hi Phil,

They address slightly different things in an image.

"Topaz Detail" targets multiple feature sizes (Small, Medium, and Large) individually, in an image, and allows to change (boost or suppress) their visibility, and adjust the overall Tonality and Color which may have changed due to certain features becoming more prominent, and it uses deconvolution sharpening to really sharpen the finest details.

"Topaz Clarity" adjusts the contrasts that are present in the image, usually before the details are made more visible with "Detail" later.

Topaz Labs has posted a Blog entry where they compare the 4 plugins that affect the appearance of sharpness of the image most. They also have a diagram where in the workflow each plugin is normally used.

Cheers,
Bart

P.S. Maybe an imaginary example to make the difference clearer would be a portrait retouch. "Clarity" could be used to sculpt the facial features and lighten dark hair and the shadows under the eyes, and reduce low and micro contrast in the skin while leaving the eyes and lashes out, then "Detail" could be used to enhance strands of hair and perhaps reduce micro-pores a bit, and sharpen the eye-lashes. Some of it can be done in a single run with the plug-ins, other things may require targeting specific areas, and combining them in layers.
« Last Edit: May 28, 2013, 07:18:30 pm by BartvanderWolf »
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Philip Weber

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Re: New Topaz plug-in
« Reply #42 on: May 28, 2013, 06:46:50 pm »

Thanks so much Bart, that's very helpful.

I'll have to study it more and, of course, I'll be experimenting soon. It appears that Clarity is more in the same league with Nik's Tonal Contrast, which will be interesting, as I've long been a big fan of that application.

All the best,
Phil 
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mdijb

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Re: New Topaz plug-in
« Reply #43 on: May 28, 2013, 07:21:50 pm »

I just did a side by side comparison between Tonal COntrast form NIK and Clarity.  In my opinion I think the results were better with NIK and using the sliders were more intuitive.  I did this on several images and the results were consistent.  I found no edge artefacts with either product.

Try it for yourselves

MDIJB
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BigBadWolfie

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Re: New Topaz plug-in
« Reply #44 on: May 29, 2013, 11:28:48 am »

Okay so I downloaded the trial copy of Clarity and I have to agree with Jack Hogan that Pro Contrast is easier to get the desired results (maybe because Nik renders previews more quickly).  I do believe Clarity is the more powerful program as the sliders allow you to tweak things to a large degree.  But if you're familiar with Color Effex you can probably easily develop a recipe that achieves a similar effect.  I'm play with it some more as I can see that it can be a useful tool.
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Damon Lynch

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Re: New Topaz plug-in
« Reply #45 on: May 29, 2013, 03:57:20 pm »

As a Photoshop plodder I find plug-ins like these helpful. The attached image (before and after) didn't take me much time. First DxO viewpoint to correct the distortion, then Topaz Clarity with one of the documentary presets, then Perfect Effects "daily vitamin" at 50%, then some creative sharpening on the front boy's eyes and lips, and then the final output. It might be a little over-the-top -- sometimes I'm unsure how far to push these things. I guess if I had used Canon's DPP instead of Lightroom then I could have gotten a considerably sharper base image, because its optimizer can do amazing things with the 16-35mm f/2.8.
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Rajan Parrikar

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Re: New Topaz plug-in
« Reply #46 on: May 29, 2013, 04:07:10 pm »

Damon,

That looks fine.  I would pull down the saturation a hair.

I am finding Topaz Clarity to be an excellent plug-in and it nicely complements Topaz Detail.  Nik's Tonal Contrast is something of a blunt instrument (although with care it can work well).

BigBadWolfie

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Re: New Topaz plug-in
« Reply #47 on: May 31, 2013, 12:47:43 pm »

So I decided to purchase Clarity.  I ended up processing a few more photos and Clarity allowed me to achieve the look I wanted more quickly on some of them (I achieved something really similar by stacking filters in effex 4). I actually ended up starting with Clarity and then used Nik.
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plugsnpixels

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Re: New Topaz plug-in
« Reply #48 on: May 31, 2013, 02:09:03 pm »

The Topaz Clarity 40% off sale ends today, 5/31 at midnight US Central time. Reverts to 15% thereafter.
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ymc226

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Re: New Topaz plug-in
« Reply #49 on: May 31, 2013, 02:30:59 pm »

I just installed Clarity, my first Topaz product.  I'm used to working with LR and NIK plug ins.  I also use PS CS6 occasionally accessed via LR4.  My question is:  can I access Clarity from LR4 just like the NIK plug ins?  Currently, I have to open up the picture in PS and then select under filter to get to Clarity.
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plugsnpixels

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Re: New Topaz plug-in
« Reply #50 on: May 31, 2013, 02:40:40 pm »

You'll need to use the free Topaz Fusion. (I need to modify my description to include its support for Lightroom, but follow the More Info link.)

Topaz plug-ins can also be run on their own (without a host) using Topaz photoFXlab, but I believe it will need to be updated to accommodate Clarity.
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Kirk Gittings

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Re: New Topaz plug-in
« Reply #51 on: May 31, 2013, 08:56:49 pm »

The Topaz Clarity 40% off sale ends today, 5/31 at midnight US Central time. Reverts to 15% thereafter.

HELLOOO.

No offense but this doesn't work. It is currently 6:55 PM Mountain Time on the 31st and the discount code will not work. It remains 49.95 no matter what I do. It says the coupon code has expired.
« Last Edit: May 31, 2013, 09:03:31 pm by Kirk Gittings »
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Thanks,
Kirk Gittings

David Sutton

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Re: New Topaz plug-in
« Reply #52 on: May 31, 2013, 09:08:09 pm »

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plugsnpixels

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Re: New Topaz plug-in
« Reply #53 on: May 31, 2013, 10:18:42 pm »

I told Kirk via PM if he can't get this working I'll contact my Topaz rep Monday.
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ymc226

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Re: New Topaz plug-in
« Reply #54 on: May 31, 2013, 10:18:55 pm »

You'll need to use the free Topaz Fusion. (I need to modify my description to include its support for Lightroom, but follow the More Info link.)

Topaz plug-ins can also be run on their own (without a host) using Topaz photoFXlab, but I believe it will need to be updated to accommodate Clarity.

Thank you.  This worked.

Lawrence
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plugsnpixels

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Re: New Topaz plug-in
« Reply #55 on: May 31, 2013, 10:21:31 pm »

Very good, thanks for the follow-up.
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Kirk Gittings

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Re: New Topaz plug-in
« Reply #56 on: June 01, 2013, 11:36:35 am »

I apologize. On the first screen it wouldn't take it and said it was expired but if you clicked through to the cart and applied the code it would-confusing to me. Thanks.
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Thanks,
Kirk Gittings

Bart_van_der_Wolf

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Re: New Topaz plug-in
« Reply #57 on: June 01, 2013, 11:45:37 am »

I apologize. On the first screen it wouldn't take it and said it was expired but if you clicked through to the cart and applied the code it would-confusing to me. Thanks.

Hi Kirk,

Just in time, congrats.

Cheers,
Bart
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Eric Myrvaagnes

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Re: New Topaz plug-in
« Reply #58 on: June 01, 2013, 02:37:17 pm »

I'm glad you got it, Kirk. I haven't done much with it yet, but already I think it's worth the (discount) price.

Eric M.


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plugsnpixels

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Re: New Topaz plug-in
« Reply #59 on: June 01, 2013, 02:42:21 pm »

Even though the 40% deal is over, there's a permanent 15% discount available for Clarity and any other Topaz plug-in/bundle.
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