Topaz Sharpness Program

[rpcrowe]

Whether it is my way of holding a camera and/or the shutter speeds/focus methods that I select; I haven't had any problems with image sharpness.

However, I always willing to try a new post processing program. Has anyone worked with Topaz Sharpness AI?
https://topazlabs.com/sharpen-ai/ref/81/

[Antonio Correia]

Isn't this software more directed to large prints ?
The results in their site look fantastic. I wonder if...

[russellsnr]

Downloaded the 30 day trial but only played a little, thus far to my eyes it seems to make an image pixilated but as I say only just dipped my toes. Russ.

[John 2]

Downloaded the 30 day trial but only played a little, thus far to my eyes it seems to make an image pixilated but as I say only just dipped my toes. Russ.

I used Topaz InFocus for a period but wasn't that impressed. For a while now, I have settled a combination of Highpass sharpening and Topaz Denoise. The Denoise is used to lose any sharpened noise artefacts in the HighPass layer which are inevitably enhanced alongside the image detail (might be seen as pixilated). If anyone is interested, I can post the workflow.

[Wendy Stanford]

There is a list of the hardware requirements on the site, including the minimum video card size, looks like it needs a bit of churning power.

[Shadowman]

I haven't tried it yet but if you increase your screen magnification to 200% and look at the shake reduction/Topaz comparison you see what the software is capable of. The Topaz sharpening didn't seem to change the sharpness as much as Photoshop Shake Reduction, however SR produced more fringing or blur distance similar to what can be adjusted using Focus Magic.

[Manfred M]

I’ve tested it in a few images and was suitably impressed with the final result. I was less impressed by the speed. It seems to work very slowly.

[pschlute]

This thread prompted me to go back to a picture of mine from a couple of years ago. It had always annoyed me that it was a wonderful spontaneous capture but was not sharp enough. The reason was that it was a new camera with an old lens that I had not calibrated for AF adjustment. It looked fine at small sizes but I figured I could never make a print out of it.

Well I used the "Shake reduction" facility in Photoshop , and after a few goes found a result that looked like it worked. I was aiming for a 24"x16" print so it was with trepidation I sent the file off to the printers. The result is glorious and is hanging on my wall now.

I guess the moral is to try your existing software first !

ps.there is no point trying to demonstrate the image here as only the large image (7200x4806 pixels) is relevant for getting a good print, but I link a picture of the image just for the sake of completeness (and hopefully some applause !!)

[pschlute]

.....and

[Antonio Correia]

A nicely framed image !
The image in itself is already nice and spontaneous, but framed adquires a new dimension !

[JohnRostron]

I have just tried Sharpener AI on selection of scanned 35mm slides. I could discern no visible improvement in any image. I have been using Topaz AI Clean which does seem to do a better job, and rather faster.

John

[pschlute]

A nicely framed image !
The image in itself is already nice and spontaneous, but framed adquires a new dimension !

Thank you Antonio. I was out with my boys on Horsell common where we go every day and i called to them and they stopped and looked back at me. I got no chance for a second shot as they were off again in an instant. This really was a case of capturing the moment.

[Shadowman]

Nice lighting and pups in post #8.

[rpcrowe]

I’ve tested it in a few images and was suitably impressed with the final result. I was less impressed by the speed. It seems to work very slowly.

I totally agree with you, Manfred... I downloaded a test program and it is still working on my first image. Far too slow for my uses...