Topaz labs issue

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Another Topaz issue that I've recently re-experienced.

They finally updated it so it works with Photoshop SmartObj layers (this was a year or two ago), but it's not all hunky dory.
  • When you update a part of the smart object, PS asks all other components of the object to update, most of which do (you see the progress bar for each in turn). The Topaz component of the smart layer doesn't do that — it brings the full interface back up and sits there waiting for input. I'm confused: if I hit cancel (because I don't want to change anything I did before) will it remove the previous processing? To be sure, one would hit the Processing button, but now I wonder "if it kept the previous processing, is it not applying even more processing?" It should simply apply processing without bringing up the user interface.
  • Duplicate the SmartObj layer: it brings up the interface again. If you dismiss (cancel) the UI here, it causes PS to cancel the entire layer duplicate process.
  • Duplicate the SmartObj layer and let it process: it processes the original layer again, and then when the duplicate layer is created, it brings up the UI again (that's twice for a single layer duplication process). If you cancel the process, it causes PS to cancel the layer duplication process, including the layer it already created (it is removed).
It took a good part of a year (after I first requested it, not that I was the only one) for them to support Topaz processing of SmartObj layers; when it came, it was half-baked, did not perform as expected from the behavior of other plug-ins / processes.

Chris
 
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Hi - just heard back from Topaz who have provided an update to fix the issue with Topaz Photo AI I reported in my earlier post. The fix works great.
ajm057 said:
In case you folk missed it there is a NEW Topaz Photo AI product - Anthony does another great job describing what it does. If you own the Image Quality bundle you can download and activate a pre-release version for free to play with. - Topaz Photo AI - Anthony's video -- this product combines Denoise, Sharpen and GigaPixel into ONE even smarter and quicker product.

Saying that - I did "claim" the product from my Topaz account, download and install it and then hit a roadblock when it came to activating it - I was not alone and Topaz support are acting on it.
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I assume the "new" version is now live on the Topaz site. If any of you have difficulty let me know - or just contact Topaz support and they should get back to you quickly.

You can view a comparison versions of the shot of a small parrot on top of a large tree a very long way away in evening light taken with 1600mm focal length at f/13 and 1/2500th (Nikon Z9 using Z 800mm f-6.3 VR S Z TC-2.0x) - the image on the left is the original which was processed with DxO Pure Raw 2 and then adjusted in Lightroom Classic. The original image was then sent through Topaz Denoise AI and then Topaz Sharpen AI using automatic settings. The second version is the same Lightroom Classic version just sent to Topaz Photo AI - again with all automatic settings used.

Follow this link to the album on Flickr -- you will be be to see the full sized uncropped image.

To my eye the Topaz Photo AI version is a little cleaner and sharper -- and it took a tiny fraction of the time the previous version took.
 
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Had another play with Topaz Photo AI, no solutions to my problems found.

I did check out Topaz Gigapixel AI as well and it does very well with processing when used with a X1 setting, worth having a closer look.
 
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theEntreriCode said:
The plug ins are showing up in PS but not LR for me. Trying to figure out the problem.
Click to expand...

If you are using a MAC then I suggest you do what I do. I guess windows is similar.

I find that quite frequently I have to:
  1. Close down Lightroom/Ps etc AND topaz.
  2. Go To the Apps folder and find the application I want to use.
  3. Click-on-it to highlight it, Right-Click and Open Package Contents.
  4. Then move down to the Resources Folder and find the [XYZ ].lrtemplate, right click and copy the file. (see below) AND
  5. then find your Lightroom or Lightroom Classic App, select it and right click, Show Package Contents and find the PlugIns directory and PASTE the shortcut into it. You may need to replace the existing lrtemplate. AND that is OK. (see below).
  6. Then you can open LR/LRC again and the correct plugin should appear when you select Edit In.
  7. You can edit your edit in options in Lightroom Preferences. The method above works the best for me.

I seem to have to do this each time LRC updates and each time Topaz updates and randomly as well it seems.

.
Screenshot 2022-08-14 at 07.51.02.png
Screenshot 2022-08-14 at 07.52.11.png
 
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I'm now having Sharpen 4.1.0 issues on my MacBook pro M3 Max with plenty of space. It worked fine as a stand alone and via LR plug-in for about 6 months but suddenly stopped working. I don't use this often but would like to occasionally.

I have uninstalled and reinstalled v 4.1.0 with no luck. I did download their trial of photo AI and that opens and is usable but you can't export any processed files.

Have others found sharpen no longer opens like @sh1209 mentioned initially and was there a fix? Was the fix to upgrade to photo AI? I have no clue why it suddenly stopped working.

Thanks for your help.
 
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Mommacat said:
I'm now having Sharpen 4.1.0 issues on my MacBook pro M3 Max with plenty of space. It worked fine as a stand alone and via LR plug-in for about 6 months but suddenly stopped working. I don't use this often but would like to occasionally.

I have uninstalled and reinstalled v 4.1.0 with no luck. I did download their trial of photo AI and that opens and is usable but you can't export any processed files.

Have others found sharpen no longer opens like @sh1209 mentioned initially and was there a fix? Was the fix to upgrade to photo AI? I have no clue why it suddenly stopped working.

Thanks for your help.
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I can still use sharpen but have to use an older version which is strange. Topaz worked a couple hours with me but never could resolve it
 
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Mommacat said:
Thanks, Steven! Did you end up upgrading to photo AI or have you stopped using sharpen? Thanks?
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I really only use sharpen on Macro work and I think it's the best. Photo AI really comes and goes but currently is pretty good on the latest release. They should have left it alone because the individual programs were very nice IMO
 
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sh1209 said:
I really only use sharpen on Macro work and I think it's the best. Photo AI really comes and goes but currently is pretty good on the latest release. They should have left it alone because the individual programs were very nice IMO
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Yes, I totally agree!

Interesting how things stop functioning after a sale ends. Oh well ... I guess I'll need to upgrade unless support responds telling me something different. It's been two days but my guess is they are backlogged after the holidays.

Many thanks!
 
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Mommacat said:
Yes, I totally agree!

Interesting how things stop functioning after a sale ends. Oh well ... I guess I'll need to upgrade unless support responds telling me something different. It's been two days but my guess is they are backlogged after the holidays.

Many thanks!
Click to expand...
They really have to give you a solution because sharpen is yours meaning a lifetime purchase even if its not being updated
 
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sh1209 said:
They were pretty decent to work with in the past
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I heard back from Topaz and they said that for unknown reasons Sharpen stops functioning on some newer Macs. They were great as you mentioned. They gave me a free copy of photo AI and sent straightforward instructions on what needed to be installed/removed before reinstalling. This new software does work thankfully. I haven't had much opportunity to use it yet but when I have, it's been a bit finicky. Hoping it's just me learning new software.

Can't comment yet on IQ differences between original Sharpen and Sharpen in Photo AI.

Thanks for your suggestions and help, @sh1209!
 
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Mommacat said:
I heard back from Topaz and they said that for unknown reasons Sharpen stops functioning on some newer Macs. They were great as you mentioned. They gave me a free copy of photo AI and sent straightforward instructions on what needed to be installed/removed before reinstalling. This new software does work thankfully. I haven't had much opportunity to use it yet but when I have, it's been a bit finicky. Hoping it's just me learning new software.

Can't comment yet on IQ differences between original Sharpen and Sharpen in Photo AI.

Thanks for your suggestions and help, @sh1209!
Click to expand...
It takes some tinkering and usually the auto settings are a little aggressive. This latest version seems to be finally getting there
 
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