Topaz Adjust Review
Topaz Adjust is cool! In short, it is a very simple, elegant, and easy to use product that allows you to achieve HDR-like results from a single image. I use it a lot, both as a product by itself, and as a finishing touch after my normal HDR process.
If you choose to order it from the Topaz Website (immediate download for the impatient!). At checkout, use the coupon code “STUCKINCUSTOMS” to save money as usual. I recommend you get the full Photoshop Bundle, because it comes with all their products and it is a tremendous deal. I use many of their products and even have a Topaz Detail review here on the site as well. My contact there, Eric Yang, said he can be contacted at any time if you have problems with the software — they seem like a great company!
I’ve heard from a few different photography friends that I should really try this thing, and I am glad I did. It’s really a wonderful product and I could not recommend it any more. I told the guys at Topaz that I was going to give this a positive review, and I only recommend software that I actually use.
Okay, now, on with the review! As you know, my reviews are usually short and sweet and I let the results speak for themselves. I’ll get started with a few photos where I used Topaz Adjust.
So, Topaz Adjust is a Photoshop plugin that produces HDR-like results from a single image.
Once you have your image up in photoshop, selecting the plugin will open up a very friendly window that could not be any more simple. The Topaz team has created an amazing simple (and fun!) UI.
Over on the left, there are dozens of presets. Normally, I hate presets and I can never find a single one to meet my needs. However, there is such a nice variety that you can get a cool first adjustment. Something that is very smart about these previews is that they show little thumbnails. Clicking on one of them quickly shows the larger version on the right. VERY quickly. I’m used to having plugin options churn away forever just to get a preview. It’s not like that with Topaz; it’s almost immediate!
After you choose one of the presets from the left, you can then make a bunch of micro-adjustments with the sliders on the bottom. There are so many things you can do… it is simply amazing. The names are strange because the effects are strange. Much like other tools, I recommend you play with them a lot to get familiar with them. I don’t plan on talking about each feature… but for example, the “Boost” slider seems to really pump up the “HDR” effect.
Below, I have put a lot of pics from the tool so you get an idea of what I mean. Also, you can see the “before” shot of the 57 Chevy before I ran it through Topaz Adjust. I used the “Spicify” filter, which is really a bit too extreme, so I dialed down everything a bit. I believe that every image is different, and you should use Topaz differently with each image.
In the last one, you will see that I am using the built-in Noise Reduction. If you also have Topaz DeNoise, you can check that box and it will use those improved algorithms. I think both are good together, and that is why I recommended the full bundle up above with the link. Besides, the bundle comes with Topaz Simplify, which is another plugin that lets you do some painterly things to your photos.
In sum, I think it’s a wonderful product. I’m happy to use it. I’ll continue using it… and I look forward to what is coming next from these guys!
Any questions about the nature of these reviews? Visit my Ethics Statement. It’s all quite simple!
[...] a wonderful new piece of software! It’s called Topaz Adjust and I’ve written a full Topaz Adjust Review here on the site. People send me software all the time to review, but I only end up reviewing stuff [...]
Trey….thanks for this….I will check it out.
Scotty
trey…nice review and introduction. i will definitely look at it based on your use and review.
david
Crap! I just bought it 2 days ago. I could have saved a few bucks. Topaz adjust rocks, I’m having a blast giving life to some old images.
Mark
Cool great!
Sorry about that Mark… I guess I was too slow in the review! But you are right… since it only requires 1 image, you can go back and re-process some of your older stuff.
Good review, Trey. I have been using it for some time. Here’s a link to all my stuff on flickr tagged with “topaz”:
http://ow.ly/4lgv
evan aka ecstaticist
Thanks for introducing me to this nice software package. You might want to include a link to their site, I had to google them
Sounds cool. I recently bought Photo Whiz Contrast Master and it seems to work well. I’d be curious to see you compare the two. This sounds like it might have a better UI and I definitely like the sound of the noise reducer. Have you checked out Contrast Master yet?
Looked cool enough before the Topazing. And the background shadows on the left side look way too over-processed. I think I’ll avoid this software for now. The rest of the image looks cool though. Not as good as an HDR, but better than nothing when you only have one image.
[...] of software! It’s a Photoshop plugin called Topaz Adjust and I’ve written a full Topaz Adjust Review here on the site. People send me software all the time to review, but I only end up reviewing stuff [...]
Nice review Trey.
As I told you, I use it on my 3 exposure HDR’s as a final “tweak”.
Basically I make a new layer, then do HORRIBLY extreme things to it, then bring down the opacity to “mix” it with the finished HDR, so the effects are very subtle. I think it is great for that! Like this one (for people who read this comment & not the one on the main page) http://www.flickr.com/photos/neilsingapore/3473690811/
And DRAT for me too, I only bought it a couple of weeks ago, after trialling it
i knew it, i knew when you said you were going to review a product that it might be topaz, i had let the trial version expire a year ago and revisited it last week, i saw that there were discount codes available but couldnt find one, i knew you sometimes have codes for products, and low and behold here it is, thanks im 10% richer. i have found it to be a great plug in for single frame portraits.
It is a great too l Trey. I have been using it for about 4 months and when an image just needs something special to make it pop Topaz Adjust can be just the thing. It may be worth mentioning, especially for anyone getting started in Photoshop, that duplicating the background layer before using it (CTL/CMD+J) and then using it on the new layer allows adjusting the opacity of that layer and lets you ‘dial up/down’ the effect.
So to all of you who are using Topaz, where do you think it ranks compared to Lucis Pro? It looks pretty similar.
Zsolt – sorry about that – I added a link to their site.
Jeff – no I have not tried that product yet… I’ll get it in my queue!
Steve – Thanks for the feedback. I cranked this one up a little bit to show what Topaz can do… but I tend to agree with your assessment
Neil – That seems like a good final step… I do the same thing sometimes.
Phil – Yes exactly right. I always dupe the layer too… I was gonna mention that, but I didn’t want to get too tutorially!
It’s nice to see an expert like you praise this product. I found it a couple of months ago (got in on a deal that gave Adjust free with the purchase of Denoise) and it has been a fun tool to explore. It can take what was a bit of a bland photo and open it up to new possibilities without having to spend hours in Photoshop. It has been great to go through older files that disappointed a bit and find a great picture there after all.
In addition to the extreme HDR effects you can achieve, it is also a great tool for just getting contrast and/or color pop.
The noise reduction tool (Denoise) is a great product as well. I took some shots at the beach a couple of years ago with the camera still on ISO 800. Hard light make for terrible noise but Denoise did a great job of rescuing them.
I haven’t sprung for Simplify so I would appreciate a bit of a review of that one from you if you could.
Thanks again. It’s nice to have confirmation of something I’ve begun to use a lot.
COOL! I’m going to go check that software out. Great photos and excellent results. I’ve been able to get some similar results with Photoshop’s Camera RAW on a single JPG image. But then I tried HDR Max and my images really came alive. I was thinking of buying that, but I’ll check this out first. Thanks!
I downloaded the package and gave it a whirl. As a test, I processed a bird picture I’d done just a few days ago and compared them. Topaz won, hands down. This package really does make post-processing much faster and easier. Gee, I guess I’ll have to scrape up the money somehow and buy it (the price is reasonable, but I’ve been unemployed for almost four months!). –Fenraven
Fenraven – Glad you like it! Sorry the unemployment continues! Best of luck though…. I think there are always cool things out there that we want but can barely afford whether or not employment exists!
I agree with you about Topaz Adjust. I have been using it for several months now, and I love it. It adds pop, and grittiness to some pictures.
hi trey,
could you tell me whether you think this is as good as photomatix pro as i am debating which bit of software to buy so i can start making my own HDRs. Currently messing with the PM Pro trial and am very impressed by it
thanks, dan
If you can only pick ONE, I still say Photomatix. However, I do use both quite a bit. Topaz can be used to add some pop back in after Photomatix.
There are occasions when you do only have one shot and it just won’t convert very well with Photomatix… in those cases, you can Topaz it!
I have used Photomatix before, and I find that using Topaz on single image can produce just as stunning results as an HDR! I think the key with Topaz is to fade it as you see fit with your image. I use Topaz to varying degrees depending on the quality, size, and composition of my image. Sometimes I like to play with old scanned photos in Photoshop. In that case, I generally avoid Topaz or do it lightly, because it brings out the imperfections in the quality.
Great work with the software though – you only just got it and you already seemed to have it mastered – I originally mistook these images for HDR!
Trey,
I have been using Topaz Adjust with some ACR shots and it can really make a bland image come alive.
Brian
Trey,
I’ve been using a product called Dynamic Photo that also uses single raw or jpeg to do a pseudo-HDR effect, and am quite happy with it. Are you familiar with DP, and how do you feel it compares to Topaz?
Almost all of the shots here were done with DP and a sinbgle raw or jpeg..
http://www.flickr.com/photos/swackman/sets/72157616278041470/show/
Great review Trey!! cool stuff
Trey – thanks so much – downloaded it today; played around with it for 20mn, bought it. Love it
Hey Trey,
Thanks for the review, I am downloading it now……Ferrell McCollough also reccomended it, so I have to get it…..anyhow….great work…T
i never use the Topaz software, Trey !!
Are you use often this technique when you make your HDR ?
Thanks all.
I sometimes use Topaz to add some pop to the photos after HDRing…yes. Sometimes, I JUST Topaz – depends on the sitch!
It’s summer, I don’t have to pay for heat…so I bought this software. I really, really like it. The noise reduction is the best I’ve used; it leaves me the details I want and gets rid of the noise I don’t. Thanks for the review. I’d never have known about Topaz if you hadn’t posted this. -Fenraven
Great to hear Fen!
Your web site is great. Where do I find the coupon?
Based on your site, I went to an HDR class yesterday and I have purchased the software you recommended. Results of a couple of shots are here with the HDR following the jpg. Last photo was just a single shot instead of the 5 shot spread.
http://www.clarityphotos.com/Portolio/HDRClassWeb/index.html
Thanks for the tips and getting me into this type of photography.
Ken Rockwell mentioned how good your HDR images are and I have to agree. They are the best HDR photos I have seen ! I just read your review of Lucis Art Pro 6.0. I have all of the Topaz products and I really like them. You said in your review that the advantage of Lucis Art Pro is that you can adjust the color channels individually. Can the same thing be done using Topaz Adjust seperately on each channel ? One look at your photos and I was ready to buy Lucis Art Pro which I can’t really afford right now.
Fantastic stuff – thanks so much yall…
Lenny – yes – you can do that – I’d keep experimenting – both are good.
Hey Trey, i referred Ken Rockwell to your site
any tips on how to get past swiss guides with a tripod when going to shoot St Peters in hdr?
Kindest Regards
Maurice from Australia
THanks Maurice – great of you to do that!
I don’t have many suggestions — swiss guards are tough!
Hi Trey, forgetting price for a moment I am having a real problem trying to fathom out the main differences between Topaz and Lucis Pro 6.00. Would I be right in saying one is fundamentally a more refined version of the other or has Lucis Pro actual cutting edge differences? Any feedback would be well appreciated as I intend to purchase asap. Thanks
WEEE!
great!
thanks for the REVIEW!
My first introduction to you and your photos was in the Complete Guide to HDR Photography book (which is excellent). From your website I found Stuck in Customs and your HDR Tutorial. Excellent sites and very useful. Next I saw your review on Noiseware. After deliberating over it and several other noise reduction programs, I purchased it. Excellent, again. Then, I saw your review of Topaz Adjust. Fantastic program. I find myself not only running all of my new HDR photos through it but I’ve been going back and running many of my previous photos through it. So, Trey, you are batting 1000% with me on every suggestion you’ve made. I have referred many of my photography friends to you and your websites. Thank you sincerely.
have you tried topaz detail? awesome sharpening program!
Another vote for Topaz Adjust. I personally prefer a somewhat subtle HDR look and Topaz does it perfectly. As mentioned above, I’m also having a ball redoing some of my older images. Try out their other plug-ins as well. Detail is awesome for the right image.
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If you had to choose between Topaz and Lucus Pro which would you find to be more useful? Also, would Topaz’s noise filter be an equal to or at least a close competitor to Noiseware?
It is a good question! Well… I think Topaz is maybe a little better in terms of speed and quick flexibility. However, I still use both!
As for the Noise Reduction, I use the Topaz one while using Topaz. Otherwise, I still use Noiseware.
[...] Topaz Adjust Review [...]
To anyone not sure if topaz is worth it…..stop wondering. USE THIS PRODUCT. As simple as that. If you want your images to just have that something different over everyone else’s then you will NOT be disappointed.
[...] courtesy of Stuck in Customs, I found out about an interesting set of Photoshop / Lightroom / Aperture plugins by an outfit [...]
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[...] is the very first time when i used topaz adjust plug-in for photoshop. This is a good review of topaz adjust, worth to take a [...]
Trey, thanks a lot for the introduction of Topaz. It is really great tool for remaking, especially for the single shots. I was using pseudoHDR technique, when I had a single RAW, but with JPEGs I couldn’t do anything. Now my photos look really different, and I am having really fun with the processing cause the user interface is really SIMPLE. Again, thanks a lot!!!
[...] Review by Trey Ratcliff [...]
I started doing HDR summer 2009. Your direction and advice has helped immensely. I am buying your book for the pleasure of enjoying your photography (and to return to you some value that your advice provides to me)
For Maurice G, we travelled to Italy this summer and were able to make HDR ready shots in St Peters using a Monopod. The photographer’s body becomes part of the tripod (hold your breath) – it’s not perfect but better than nothing. Got some great shots that i am looking forward to reprocessing using your methods.
M
[...] Topaz Adjust Review [...]
I have just purchased the Topaz suite. It is great an I am going to use it a lot.
[...] even more stunning. For this picture, I used something called Topac Adjust. Trey Ratcliff provides an introduction to the plugin on his site Stuck In Customs: Once you have your image up in photoshop, selecting the plugin will [...]
[...] pleasure. He is an expert and on his website I have found tutorial about Photomatix software and Topaz Adjust plug-in. Now Topaz company offers Topaz Fusion Express for Lightroom, Aperture and iPhoto. As I [...]
[...] Topaz Adjust Review [...]
Trey,
I first learned of Topaz from Rick Sammon who gave a seminar for my photo club. I bought the bundle after using the free trial. My favorite is Detail 2 which also has some great presets, some not as extreme as those in Adjust. I didn’t get the upgrade yet. They sent me an email when they ugraded Detail. I guess it is forthcoming.
[...] Topaz Adjust Review [...]
Hi Trey;
I’m a very big fan of your work and thanks to this review I’m currently trying out Topaz for mac on my latest tries at HDR. I only have one problem with it, the logarithms it uses for giving your images extra “pop” appear very good when the image is viewed in small or medium size on the computer, however, when my images are viewed in a larger size (i.e original in flickr) and when they are printed out in a slightly large size the logarithm’s patterns can be appreciated and they seem to screw up the image. This happens specially when printing, the first image in my flickr (www.filckr.com/hypercuber) is treated with topaz, when I printed on a slightly large size, the cool look topaz gave to the stones falls apart as the small pixelation patterns it has done on them are easily visible to the eye. I have only experimented to the moment for this image with the photo pop preset. Any Ideas? Am I using the sliders wrongly?
Thanks in advance;
Alex (contact me by email if you desire)
It’s actually the second image now, and my flickr had a typo:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hypercubers/4454060673/
Tried to download Topaz – never got a trial key via email as they said would happen. Emailed them as suggested and got a response that they no longer monitored their email. Basically they’ve stonewalled themselves with a forum that when you click on links about topics for the most part take you nowhere. My experience tells me they totally suck! Wish I could have actually tried the product!
Topaz:
Thank you for contacting us. It is our pleasure to assist you with questions and issues related to our products. As you may have noticed, we have recently moved our support assistance over to our new Support Forum.
This move is a part of our ongoing efforts to offer you the best and quickest support possible. In particular, we hope this change will address the email deliverability problems we have been experiencing (mostly due to spam filters). Most of all, we want to make the support process as easy and simple as possible, while quickly getting you the answers that you need so that you can enjoy your Topaz software.
Our Knowledge Base and Forum are both administered and monitored directly by our in-house staff Monday – Friday 8:30 to 5:30 CST, so rest assure that you will always receive a timely and courteous response to all questions and inquiries. Best of all, you can access the Knowledge Base and the Forum 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and in most cases your question may have already been discussed and answer there.
If you have already written your support request in an email you can easily transfer that to the forum. Please copy your pre-written message and paste it into a new or an existing thread on the Support Forum by clicking on the blue ?+New Thread? button in the Support Forum.
Please visit: http://www.topazlabs.com/support to post your message.
We look forward to receiving your message.
Best regards,
Ashley Robinson
Product Specialist
Topaz Labs, LLC
P.S. Sorry this email account is no longer monitored. Any emails sent unfortunately can not be responded to.
The keys finally showed up after I removed the software:-o Maybe I was hasty with my remarks – although companies that only allow contact through forums seen to want to avoid direct contact with customers which may not be a good thing!
This is a great program, I have been using it for some time now. I ave also found that there latest release of Topaz Denoise works great with HDR images. Here is a link to some of my HDR photos on my blog. http://stockphoto.com.au/blog/?tag=hdr
PS love your work.
[...] in Customs I have a wonderful new software found! It's called Topaz and I had full Plantagenet Topaz Adjust Review is this set to the site. People send me all the time software, using only things I have to end [...]
Trey,
Will Adjust work with Corel PSP X3?
[...] a wonderful new piece of software! It’s called Topaz Adjust and I’ve written a full Topaz Adjust Review here on the site. People send me software all the time to review, but I only end up reviewing stuff [...]
[...] you want to see other images from Topaz, see my Topaz Adjust Review here on the site… I try to pop new images in there from time to [...]
to Bob Wollman.. works w/PSP X2.. I don’t use it for everything, but I run pics thru the plugin to weigh things and always save my original. Just wished Topaz stuff works w/Bibble..tho I know that the software hasn’t risen as fast as either PS or PSP.. Ever think of trying their stuff, Trey? … after all, developed in Austin..