Topaz Adjust

So, does anyone use it? If so what are your thoughts? I downloaded the demo and the effects are pretty cool, but I am having a few reservations. Mainly because applies default effects, I can't help but to think that its cheating somehow. I'm still fairly new to photo editing and I am discovering tons of photoshop plugins. Any advice on which plugins are worth it would be greatly appreciated, along with your experiences with Topaz brand plugins.

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Permalink Reply by Daniel Leis on November 20, 2011 at 9:01pm

Hey Jared,

I've used it, but I find I don't use it all that often, I've found the effects in Nik Soft's collection to be more useful to my taste anyway. Topaz has its moments, but take a look at http://www.niksoftware.com/colorefexpro/usa/index.php You can get a free trial from them as well.

As for the effects being 'cheating'...its a point of view. One that you'll no doubt receive a ton of different answers to. Photography is an art form. If you want to record things exactly as they are, you can do that, just press the button and leave it as is. No harm in that, also no harm in adjusting things to the way you like to see them. Its all a point of view. What do you like to see in your photo? Its a personal thing in the end. I do my photos the way I like to see them, not how others want them to be. If they don't like them, they don't have to look at them. So for it being cheating, I'd drop the 'H' out of that word and replace it with an 'R'

Hmmm, just thought of a shot I did... http://www.picturesocial.com/photo/the-dragon-wagon-version-2?conte... ... there is mix of Color Efex Pro, Photoshop, and Topaz adjust (in particular Topaz's denoise cranked way up to give a smooth dolphin-like skin texture to the car.) So, there you go, pick and choose, they all have something to offer.

Good luck!

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Permalink Reply by Jared Weaver on November 20, 2011 at 9:17pm

It is a 50$ program, so its not like I would be out much money if I didn't use it often. I am defiantly interested in Nik software plugins, but those cost some serious cash comparatively. As for the whole feeling of altering images using plugins and filter effects being cheating, I suppose its a result of me being relatively new to photo processing beyond minor alterations. Anyways, thanks for the advice I will defiantly look into Nik plugins when I get home (My laptop likes to blue screen when I open the Nik plugin).

PS- Love the Dragon Wagon pic, its one of my favorites.

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Permalink Reply by Papa Rotzzi on November 21, 2011 at 3:41am

Ah... plugins! I LOVE plugins. The best part of Photoshop, for me, is it's ability to use the best plugins! The purist crowd will complain if you use photoshop, the photoshop crowd will complain if you use plugins.. and the plugin crowd will complain if you use default settings. Your AUDIENCE, SUBJECTS, CLIENTS.. don't care what you use so long as you are producing great images. I relly like what Daniel just said.. Cheating?!? Drop the "h" and add an "r".

Get as many as you want and can afford. I have tried them all! The last couple of years has been OnOne plugins for me. It has just come down to the best balance of cost vs features.

Look at Topaz, Nik, OneOne, AutoFX.. they all have some awesome stuff at various prices. And, each company has more than one product.. you might find yourself using Topaz for general "pop", Nik for black and white conversion, OnOne's "FocalPoint" for DOF effects, and AutoFX for edges/frames and borders!

You are only limited by your imagination and your budget.

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Permalink Reply by Gary Vernon on November 21, 2011 at 5:00am

Hi Jared,

i have the plug in and it only applies default settings if you want it that way, you can render your image with the manual settings which i do, however the different "Topaz Detail" gets more use from me than the Adjust program.

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Permalink Reply by Jared Weaver on November 21, 2011 at 9:14am

Do all of these plugins work with all Photoshop programs? I have Elements 9 and am looking to get Lightroom 3 soon.

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Permalink Reply by Papa Rotzzi on November 21, 2011 at 11:02am

Jared, I know that OnOne works with CS3-CS5 and Elements directly. They have made great progress in integration with Lightroom (I am not sure how it works.. I don't use Lightroom.) Plus the OnOne "plugins" can also be used directly as their own stand-alone software.

Topaz integrates with Elements but requires a free software to integrate to Lightroom.

Nik software is fully compatible with Elements and Lightroom.

AutoFX seems to be Photoshop Only.

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Permalink Reply by Dora Williams on November 22, 2011 at 7:50pm

You said it!! Sometimes I like my shots clean and relatively pure and other times I feel fun and funky! Have fun with it, Papa is right - "You are only limited by your imagination and your budget."

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Permalink Reply by Jack Harwick on December 17, 2011 at 1:48pm

I have used all of the Topaz filters for years. If you look at my portfio you will see the resuts. Nearly evey photo gets kissed by one of their filters. They are just tools to help me achieve the final effect that I want. If a mechanic uses a swivel head socket wrench is that "cheating"?

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Permalink Reply by John Martin on January 7, 2012 at 2:01am

Well said Jack. Totally agree with you.

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Permalink Reply by Ronnie Reid on December 31, 2011 at 11:44am

Hey Jared- Happy New Year I have Topaz and I really like it. I also have OnOne which I do not like as well. I can not get it to work with my Elements 9 just 7. There are many filters that you can get for free on the internet. I think each person has their own favorites. You'll just have to work with them and see what you like best

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Permalink Reply by Marcia C on January 1, 2012 at 7:40am

I have the complete Topaz Suite. I just got it a few weeks ago and I have not used all of them yet. Still learning but I like it so far. I have also the OnOne suite 6. I really like it too but for different things it can do that Topaz can't. I use them in combinations sometimes.

I edited one of your pics you posted in the Chatter a couple of weeks ago with some of my normal editing and also combination of Topaz and OnOne. I was hoping you would come back in and see it. I know you could probably do a lot more with it since you have the original file and I only spent a few minutes on it. Plus, you could put your on taste in the editing.

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Permalink Reply by Papa Rotzzi on January 1, 2012 at 9:55am

Other than an excellent noise reduction application, I have not been able to find anything that Topaz does better than OnOne. And I LOVE OnOne's new stand alone interface. I may be able to leave CSx behind for good!