Hi folks,
I just noticed that there is a new addition to the suit of Topaz Plugins for their Studio host application.
So now the 2 must-have plugins, both Clarity and Detail, have an equivalent in the new Studio environment.
The upgrade for those who already have a license for the previous stand-alone Photoshop plugin versions is free.
For new purchasers, there is an automatic (temporary) introduction discount, no coupon required.
As delighted as I was, there is, however, a difference in behavior that I do not like. Detail used to be a virtually Halo-free operation, which made it very intuitive to use. Just a look at the almost real-time updated preview made it easy to see the effect and hone in on the right amounts. Now, one has to also keep an eye on whether the adjustments create a visible halo at the intended output size, so one needs to zoom in/out too much.
I've raised the issue on the TopazLabs forum, so I'll have to wait and see if this will be fixed.
Anyway, the Photoshop Plugin can also still be called from within the Studio Host program, under the Plugins menu option. But I hope the different behavior of the new 'Studio version' will be made to look much more like the adjustments used to be.
So in summary, for the moment, the upgrade is free but I'd wait if you're a new purchaser. Hopefully, the issue will be resolved before their discount lapses.
Cheers,
Bart