I typically refrain from reviewing software since functionality and technology evolve even more rapidly than new cameras and lenses. Nevertheless, occasionally, a standout piece deserves a thorough exploration. Topaz AI is a prime example of this.
Image Test 1
Results 1
Results 2
Image Test 2
Conclusion
Version Update AI 3 v3.3.2
Postprocess Workflow
For more than two decades, I’ve been utilizing both Macs and Windows systems. Photoshop has consistently served as the primary cross-platform tool throughout this period. With the introduction of Lightroom, opting for it over the proprietary Mac software, which held a market-leading position at the time, was an easy decision.
Given my frequent travels and the need to work in remote locations, cloud-based versions are not suitable for my workflow. Currently, I’m using local versions of Photoshop 2023 and Lightroom Classic 13.1. While both seamlessly integrate with each other, when it comes to sharpening, Photoshop still outperforms Lightroom on its own.
Over the years, I’ve experimented with various standalone tools and plugins, but my success has been quite limited, and their integration into my workflow is less than optimal—something crucial when managing my extensive catalog of over 320,000 images. Through my lens reviews, I’ve gained a solid understanding of environmental influences and technical constraints, particularly with older yet still professional lenses.
Test Gear
My favorite wildlife lens is a Nikon 200-400 f4 VRII It s quite a beast at over 7lbs, was introduced in 2010 and still retails for around $5,500 US.
I match this with a Nikon D850, which is a 45 Meg Full Frame DSLR. A tried and tested combo I have used for numerous photo safaris.
Canon equivalent would be the EF 200–400 mm f/4L from 2013 not the one with the built in Teleconverter. Combined with the EOS 5D Mark III or IV
Shooting any lens fully open isn’t the optimal setting (check MPL charts) however most photographers do it to get the right burry backgrounds or bokeh, keep iso low or bump up the shutter speeds. I was keen to see how the Topez plug in for lightroom could improve sharpness inadequacies common in less then perfect conditions or with older lens with fewer coatings, etc.
The Plug in allows for mostly upscaling, noise reduction and sharpening. For this review I will focus on the latter and the auto masking ‘subject only’ feature
Lightroom Plug in Installation
Opting for caution not to disrupt my existing workflow, I went for the free trial of the standalone version. The interface and outcomes proved to be remarkably impressive, offering diverse options and the capability to process a broad range of RAW formats while retaining full editability with DNG output. Convinced by its performance, I proceeded to acquire the full version along with the Lightroom plugin.
Installation was a breeze. In Lightroom library mode, the plugin is easily accessible and seamlessly launches the software as a window over Lightroom.
Observation 1
Selecting your raw file and launching Topaz opens the RAW file without your LR edits. This is the best way to work, as there are no effect clashes. Output as a DNG version, and once automatically imported as a separate file in LR, you have full control, the same as with native RAW.
Image Sample 1 – Black Crested Snake Eagle
1/5000 sec f4 400mm iso 400
I picked a random image from a recent photo safari. I knew the high-resolution sample would allow for careful detail checking, especially since I would be selecting just a small part of the full frame.
Focus Check
Observing the image, it appeared reasonably sharp, and I successfully achieved focus lock. When I zoomed in to a 200% view in LR, I realized I had captured something quite unique. I had caught the Black Crested Snake Eagle blinking, revealing a moment when half of its eye was covered with a nictitating membrane. This membrane moves horizontally and is semi-transparent, unlike a solid top-to-bottom membrane.
My ideal end image would be a tight portrait crop to emphasize the bird and draw attention to the blinking.
As you can see the crop Im looking to perfect appears soft/blurry
Launching Topaz
Here we have the plug-in launching. I am using the autopilot feature to give me a baseline point. After which I will run through each of the Four AI models offered.
The software can automatically select a subject allowing selective editing. You can override or modify the selection at any time.
Sharpening options
Lens blur – out of focus images
Motion blur – streaking in images
Standard AI
Here a standard 85% sharpening and 14% minor denoise have been selected. The beak, eye and head have been well rendered. The throat feathers are soft but not a concern, minor denoise has reduced some background artifacts.
Strong AI
This rendering seemed to bring out more throat detail without overworking the pixels. As well as generally better sharpness then the standard setting.
Lens Blur
The autopilot selected lens blur gave a very good result with an increase in overall sharpness higher than both the standard and strong setting. It also maintained a softness on the body feathers without excess noise or the image looking overworked.
Motion Blur
This last mode produced almost identical results on the chosen preview crop to Lens Blur mode. Again the sharpness while maintaining a natural feel was better the both Standard and Strong modes.
Observation
The subject is relatively static with a shutter speed of 1/5000 subject. Movement caused by wind on the branches should be minimal. The 200-400 is relatively well supported so lens blur should also be minimum, VR is off due to the support.
This Set up would lead us to assume that the Standard or Strong AI modes would render the best results. Although they are an improvement on the original image they didn’t give the best ‘auto pilot’ results
Results 1
Each sharpening mode although designed for specific image issues might not render the best result for the subject. So far Motion Blur 36% is producing the most desirable result.
Non static or blurred elements test
I decided to move my preview image to the blurred branches. Whether caused by movement or an out-of-focus zone. For these tests the ‘subject only’ masking is disabled and the whole image is rendered in the selected modes
I selected motion blur based on the results generated by the previous test. I can say without a doubt the rendering was OUTSTANDING compared to the original
Whole image rendering
I decided to extend the preview to the whole image
Even at this full-frame view increased clarity in the branches is visible with no excess noise or imperfections being generated.
I ran through the same sequence of modes this time focusing on the effect they would have on the branches.
Standard – Whole Image
As you can see Standard sharpening renders only a minor improvement to the branches. Hardly worth applying to the whole image.
Strong – Whole Image
The results here are very similar to the standard mode. Only a slight improvement on the original can be noted.
Lens Blur – Whole Image
We see quite a visible improvement using the lens blur mode. Texture and imperfections in the wood are significantly clearer then both the Standard and Strong mode.
Observation
Given the wide open lens setting of f4 and 400mm Topez appears to be correcting for some of the environmental effects when the lens coatings are falling short
Motion Blur – Whole Image
Here we have perhaps a 25% improvement on the Lens Blur mode with edges rendered much crisper.
Results 2
In this test, the image gained an advantage by avoiding subject masking and letting Topaz render the entire image using the Motion Blur mode on autopilot. This proves to be an excellent method for addressing challenging conditions, such as haze, where even professional lenses may not deliver perfect results.
Texture Rendering
For the last test with this image I selected the heavily textured feet to see how Topez would handle lots of detail and tones.
On a 200% image zoom we can see although standard mode does a good job motion blur is still a winner.
Topaz has managed to do an amazing job with rendering the Eagles legs from a blurry image to a clear and sharp picture. Note the foreground branch still remains slightly out of focus as it should,
2nd Image Test
I decided to pick a less saturated but more textured image for a second image test.
D850 200-400 f4
280mm f4 1/640 iso 2500
The complete original image appears satisfactory, but I aimed to enhance its impact through cropping. I thought Topaz could assist in preserving quality, enhancing sharpness, and minimizing noise for large-scale printing. Here is the unaltered full original image alongside the motion blur mode, with a focus on the protected elephant to the left.
Next motion blur on the young elephant. Note standard blur rendered a result that was a little less sharp
Final Versions
Here is the final Topaz version
Brought into lightroom the image is converted to monochrome and cropped. cropped. Further adjustments to shadow, highlight. etc. are made.
Test Results and Conclusion
With over three decades of experience capturing wildlife, I am discerning when it comes to selecting subjects and curating images for sale and marketing. The challenges inherent in shooting scenes often push professional equipment to its limits, contending with factors like haze, dust, varying angles of light, cropping considerations, shooting at maximum focal length wide open, and employing high ISO settings during peak animal activity. Unfortunately, these variables are often beyond our control.
This is where post-processing becomes crucial. Even with just utilizing the auto-pilot feature in Topaz, the results are truly game-changing. It stands out as the best photo-related product I’ve acquired within its price range. While initially skeptical about the merits of adding another software piece, both in terms of results and integration, I have been amazed by the diverse options and quality of output.
Relying solely on Lightroom or Photoshop can sometimes lead to over-processed images, where each pixel is pushed to its limit. Topaz takes a unique approach to sharpening and noise reduction, delivering remarkable results. Its efficacy is evident in examples like the before-and-after crop of eagle feet.
Software Update Topaz AI 3 v3.3.2
Update Overview
Topaz has introduced exciting new tools and enhancements, refining its models with improved algorithms and user data. Here’s a breakdown of some highlights:
Key Features being promoted:
- New AI Sharpness Modes – Sharpen your images with improved precision.
- Super Focus (Beta) – Advanced AI for enhanced focus adjustments.
- Face Smoothness Controls – Fine-tune facial details for a polished look.
- Subject Removal with AI Fill-In – Easily remove unwanted elements and replace them seamlessly.
I use Topaz as a Lightroom plugin, and it’s worth noting that working with collections in Lightroom can be slower compared to working directly with catalogued originals. This may impact workflow speed for users depending on their setup.
Installation Experience
The installation process for this update was noticeably slower than previous ones, likely due to the need to download additional AI components. A notification indicated that further downloads might be required upon subsequent use, likely because of ongoing improvements to the AI models based on user feedback.
Performance Requirements:
Hardware: The tool demands significant RAM and storage space, particularly on the C drive, even if your files are stored elsewhere. Offering an option to cache data on a different drive would be a welcome addition.
File Processing:
File size: 45MB (5504 x 8256 pixels @ 300 lpi).
My system: Windows 11, i7 processor, 16GB RAM, x64 architecture.
Despite the advanced AI features, processing delays are expected for high-resolution files.
Workflow Integration:
Processed files are automatically reintegrated into Lightroom as DNG or TIFF files, ensuring a seamless workflow for photographers.
Overall, this update brings powerful new features, but users should be prepared for higher system demands and some adjustments to their workflow.
Sharpness
Straight out of the box, the update performs impressively with its Autopilot feature, automatically applying a standard sharpness model. Skin and hair details are rendered perfectly, showcasing a significant improvement over previous versions, where the system occasionally struggled to choose the best settings.
Even when working with high-resolution files, the software excels. Selecting and processing small areas of an image delivers outstanding results, while maintaining a clean, natural appearance throughout. This refinement highlights the positive impact of user feedback on the tool’s performance.
Super Focus
The Super Focus mode introduces a fresh interface for checking sharpness, moving away from the traditional split-screen and zoom tool approach. While still in beta, it will be exciting to see how it evolves into a fully implemented feature.
The function is AI driven which is great for small files or small areas but I found full res images to be incredibly slow.
Face Smoothness and Lighting
These are probably my least used features in Topaz. To give them a good test I used the stand alone program. The first thing I noticed was that the speed of processing was much faster then the plug in.
The application also seamed to have a camera type detection running in the background which picked up the shot meta data and know it was set to ‘neutral’ for my images. Running on auto pilot didn’t appear to pick up a face but then applying the recover face enhancement the software had no trouble. The feature has several advanced modes for multiple faces, etc.
The example also shows the adjust lighting enhancement, the auto setting wasn’t to my liking and required some manual adjusting. The end results were quite pleasing.
Al Removal Tool
My least favourite feature is the AI removal tool. Using the selection tool was easy and it did a great job of isolating the subject. The problem was the program time to remove and replace the subject was too long. This could be because of the large file size or just the AI processing but manually using photoshop or lightroom tools is faster and with the latter tools like cloning over the object are non destructive.
Update Conclusion
It’s refreshing to see a company so committed to continuous innovation. This update is definitely worth exploring, especially if you have a collection of older digital files that aren’t as sharp or clean as you’d like—processing them through Topaz can deliver impressive improvements.
However, my only concern is that, like many software products, there’s a risk of drifting too far from their core purpose. This can lead to features feeling diluted and the application becoming larger and more cumbersome over time. Striking a balance between innovation and a streamlined user experience is something I hope Topez will maintain.
For those interested, the software is available here.
It’s important to note that this review is unsolicited and uncompensated by Topaz Labs.
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