Topaz Plugins Bundle 2018 – Bring Your Photos To Life

You already know Topaz Gigapixel AI is my favorite corrective imaging tool! It does an unbelievable job with small and detail-challenged images, making them not only much bigger but also much clearer. Of course it even improves upon the already decent results from high end cameras, so it’s not only a salvage tool for the desperate ;-).

Topaz Plugins Bundle 2018 – Bring Your Photos To Life Cycle
Topaz Plugins Bundle 2018 – Bring Your Photos To Life Span

>Gigapixel AI is available for $79.99 (regularly $99.99) through 11/6. The Utility Bundle, which includes DeNoise AI, Gigapixel AI, Sharpen AI and JPEG to RAW AI, is also on sale through 11/6 and is discounted to $195 (regularly $249.99). **Be sure to use coupon plugsnpixels on the link above for AN ADDITIONAL 15% off!**

Today Topaz released the latest update to Gigapixel AI, version 5.2.1. Before we get started with examples, here’s a look at the new interface as it appeared in a late-beta stage:

This is a whole new look: Topaz has taken quite a bit of care to make the colors more consistent across the entire Gigapixel AI user interface. No more issues with buttons that do the same thing having different colors, and the entire UI has been made to look more appealing in general.

Stats Swot Analysis Templates Keynote Keynote Templates 2018 Keynote Bundle. Bring your creative projects to life with. Apply any of your Topaz effects from a searchable library. Remask: Create precise selections effortlessly. Restyle: Use beautiful one-click effects to infuse your images with emotion, and make your regular photos extraordinary. Simplify: Turn your photos into works of art. Star Effects: Create beautiful star and lighting effects: Texture Effects. Aside from web browsers, another software that benefits from plugins is Adobe Photoshop. Plugins are separate files that interact with Adobe Photoshop to increase its functionality and introduce new features. In Adobe Photoshop, plugins range from filter and patterns, to brush and pen styles.

Using Gigapixel AI couldn’t be any easier either. Load your image(s) [batch processing is supported], choose a degree of upsizing (0.5 – 6x) or manually input exact maximum width and height dimensions. If a face is present in the photo you can test the results of using Face Refinement. Choose an Image Type that matches the type of photo you are working with, and finally, either Auto-detect or manually adjust noise and blur refinement settings.

The photo in my example below is a 2006-era, 4-megapixel image. You know the drill on this blog: For my Gigapixel refinement examples, I dig back into my personal photo archive to find less-than-perfect, technically-challenged original images to enhance. This particular one, a photo of a scale model of an old hotel on display at the LA County Fair, is not bad, but it’s not DSLR-quality either. It was shot with a Minolta DiMAGE S404 “popper”. It’s such a cute camera, Google it.

Here is the full frame image, reduced, for perspective:

Let’s pixel-peep different areas of the full-res image in Gigapixel AI and see what it can do (open any screenshot in a new window to view at 100%). We’ll start with the little man-model approaching the toy taxi:

Gigapixel AI took the very soft original and beautifully refined the details. I am always amazed at how pretty much any image has new life breathed into it!

Notice I am using the new Compressed image type setting. According to Topaz, “The ‘Compressed’ image model is meant to clear artifacts such as the salt and pepper found on old family photos, color noise from older smartphone cameras and blurriness found in images that have been downloaded from the internet or converted to file types with smaller file sizes (JPG in particular).”

In most cases you may find the Compressed model the most useful. Here is a comparison of all three models and the slightly varying results as applied to the same small section of our hotel model image:

Standard

Architectural

Compressed

Another new feature in version 5.2 of Gigapixel AI is the Crop tool. It used to be that if you only needed a small section of an image enlarged, you had two choices: Run the entire image through Gigapixel at a great cost of time spent (depending on original image dimensions and resolution as well as computer beef) and crop it later in an image editor, or crop first in an image editor before treatment. Either way, you needed some sort of image editor, probably not free.

Now you can load the entire image into Gigapixel AI and do the cropping right there, as shown below (where I am only interested in the blue pickup truck way down in the lower right corner):

Now I can do my adjustment preview on only the section of the image I really need. Again, look at the level of detail restoration taking place, even at the default noise and blur settings!

Here’s the result:

If you don’t already have Gigapixel AI, download the free demo and give it a try on your own images!

Major Features

•New AI Model – “Compressed”. You can find it under the “Image Type” option in the right panel. This image type works best with photos that have a lot of artifacts, old family photos, and images downloaded from the internet
•Whole New Look – Entire program has been given a UI overhaul to make it look more pleasing, as well as more consistent.
•Crop your images using the new Crop Tool

Improvements

•Faster previewing and saving of images
•File list is now collapsible, and you can now add images directly from the file list
•Tutorials have been moved to the drop area on the starting screen

Fixes

•Multiple crashes have been fixed
•Auto-detect settings should proc correctly when images are added / selected
•Images should check / uncheck correctly in the file list
•Tutorial panel should no longer show up when all opened images are unselected
•When starting a trial, program should no longer incorrectly display that you have 0 days left on the trial
•Login panel should no longer spin indefinitely if there’s a connection issue
“Original” label should now show correctly in single image view mode

v5.2.1:

Fixes

“Unable to Verify Ownership” dialog will now open the login screen instead of closing the application
“Use Discrete GPU” toggle will no longer say it’s on when it’s not. Previously, the toggle would suggest that GPU mode was turned on when the Preferences dialog was closed and re-opened

Known Issues

•When launched as a Photoshop plugin, assigning a color profile is sometimes required before the plugin will launch
•Color shifting can be observed with certain images, particularly non-photographic images. Topaz is currently working on a new AI model that fixes this.
•GPU image quality has artifacts not present when processing with just OpenVINO or CPU. Topaz currently working on this and will have a fix out soon.
•When processing has been cancelled and auto-update preview is turned off, a smaller version of the previewed image will show up in the preview panel.
•When in single image view mode and auto-update preview is turned off, the processed image will not show back up when mousing down on the previewed image
•“Previewing…” overlay will flash on screen when auto-update preview is on and preview has already been processed

If you’re looking for maximum creative control over your photos including adding, removing or changing any part of the image, Photoshop is the industry standard for designers and photographers alike. Its built-in features can keep you busy and creative for the rest of your life, or at least till the next version is released… :) But for those things it doesn’t do, or actions and effects that can seem overly complex, there’s a whole world of plugins available. Some address key practical features like sharpening or erasing objects. Others focus on creative effects, allowing you to quickly change the look and feel of your photos and/or develop a unique style. Whatever fix or effect you’re looking for, using plugins – especially premium plugins – can revolutionize your workflow. Here are some of our favorites.

Portrait Retouching

Retouching is something every serious portrait photographer ends up doing a fair amount of, and using Photoshop alone can be a bit long and arduous, even with a good set of custom actions. That’s where the following plugins can help.

1. Portraiture

Portraiture focuses on getting perfect skin texture without losing any detail. No need for complex masking or even the healing brush. Portraiture’s presets automatically smooth the skin, while removing blemishes and maintaining both texture and detail. In fact, the default settings and presets are so good that you may not find much else to change. (Just stay away from the “Smoothing: High” setting, unless you’re looking for a mall-brand, doll-like image.) The user interface is pretty sleek and approachable, yet hides a lot of power under the surface. The price is a bit high, but if you shoot a lot of portraits and need professional results, it’s well worth the investment.

Price: $199.95

2. PortraitPro

Looking for more than just skin softening? PortraitPro does everything you can imagine, from applying realistic digital makeup to face-sculpting. PortraitPro is especially amazing If you’re one of those retouchers who likes to sculpt the face, as it immediately outlines facial elements upon import, then allows you to drag the lines of the eyebrows, lips, nose, and eyes anywhere you like. It also knows just how to lighten and smooth eye bags, smooth out crow’s feet, detect pores, and its sliders isolate just about every detail on the face, so you have ultimate control. It’s won a number of awards over the years and is far cheaper than Portraiture. It also comes with a free trial.Price: $39.95 at time of writing (normal price is $79.90)

Removing Unwanted Objects/Backgrounds

While Photoshop’s healing brush and clone stamp do an amazing job of deleting unwanted objects and backgrounds, there are a few plugins out there that can make the job much easier.

3. Fluid Mask 3

Fluid Mask is an amazing little plugin that makes backgrounds disappear like magic. Fog, strands of hair, or other fragile or fading elements? Never fear. Fluid Mask’s ability to handle near-transparent objects is nothing short of amazing. You know the time it takes to create an in-depth selection? Fluid Mask can literally cut it out in a matter of minutes! If you’re a photo-compositor, graphic designer, or love to make memes, this little plugin will literally save you hours of time.Price: $99

4. Snapheal

Snapheal, by Skylum software, focuses on the quick removal of elements like traffic signs, powerlines, bystanders, road damage—whatever you might want to make disappear. It doesn’t have the finesse of Fluid Mask, and you’ll still have to manually cut out elements that lie on a tricky background, but for simple things, Snapheal is does a great job. It’s also fairly inexpensive. (Mac only)Price: $49.99

Working with Color and Contrast

Color and contrast are two of the main elements that will make or break the quality of your photos, and learning how to adjust them perfectly in Photoshop can take years to learn. Using the following plugins, however, takes far less time and often produces stunning results.

5. Color Efex Pro

Color Efex Pro, part of the Nik Tools Suite, has long been the professional photographer’s mainstay for color effects. The filters run the gamut from portrait and landscape to creative, and are not only stackable, but allow you to apply different ones to different areas of the photo all at once. If you’re a landscape photographer, their tonal contrast filter is worth the package alone. (I’ve not seen any filter come close to what Color Efex’s Tonal Contrast can do.) Their detail extractor is also the best I’ve seen on the market today. But these are just two of many, and you can have them all out for free ever since Google bought Nik Filters. And now that DxO has bought them from Google, there’s an update scheduled for 2018. Woot!Price: Free!

6. Topaz Adjust

Topaz Adjust is another industry-standard plugin that’s been around for years. The filters, though similar to Color Efex Pro, yield fairly different results. Most photographers will prefer one over the other, but those who love Topaz say that it pretty much “reads your mind” about what you’re looking for. And if you like quick, nice-sized previews, Topaz doesn’t waste your time churning away. You get to see what your image will look like almost immediately. The user interface is considerably different than Color Efex Pro, so you’ll need to play around with it and see what you think. But if you’re like many photographers, you’ll probably find filters you can’t live without.Price: $39.99

7. Intensify

Intensify is a newer Photoshop plugin and definitely packs a punch. It comes with far more presets than Color Efex Pro or Topaz Adjust and offers layer options and masking as well. The user interface is simple and intuitive, and there’s next to no learning curve. You can either work from a single-slider global adjustment in “filter” mode or make more detailed adjustments (i.e. exposure, structure, sharpness, etc.) in their adjustment panel. So, if you’re a presets lover and/or want something that’s super easy to learn—this little plugin will make your day. (Mac only)Price: $69.99

Noise Reduction

Unless you’re always shooting in bright conditions, a time will come when you end up with some noise in your photos. While you can remove noise in Photoshop, there are a number of plugins that do the job much more quickly and efficiently and, in most cases, with far better results.

8. Dfine

Another plugin from the Nik Collection, Dfine is much easier to use than Photoshop, especially when you want to adjust the contrast and reduce color noise separately. Noise reduction is applied only to noise elements in the image, and you can use Nik’s trademark control points to selectively control what the filter affects without using masks. And, like all the Nik filters, it’s free.Price: Free!

9. Noiseless

Skylum designs all its software to be incredibly easy to use and Noiseless is no exception. The plugin uses a smart algorithm to identify noise and automatically removes it. Then, it runs a second algorithm to add back the detail back in. You can either sit back and let the presets do the work or refine and fine-tune with their adjustments panel. The settings range from “Lightest” to “Extreme,” but if you’re going for a more realistic look, stick to the lower settings. They’re much subtler, and in my opinion, much more effective. And as Noiseless doesn’t have any masking options, make sure you open a duplicate layer in Photoshop before applying. (Mac only)Price: $70

Light Effects

If you’re someone who likes to add effects to your images, you’ll definitely want to take these two light plugins for a spin. They both create some amazing results.

10. Glow In Studio

Topaz Plugins Bundle 2018 – Bring Your Photos To Life Cycle

Another plugin from the Topaz suite, Glow in Studio offers everything from eye-popping brilliance to subtle, ethereal light.While the “Glow” adjustment is unique in itself, the HSL Color Tuning gives you almost superhuman control over your image’s hues, saturation, and luminance. A great option for intense, creative design—especially if you like to push the limits of what your images can do.Price: $69.97

11. Light

If you like playing with light and shadow but can’t always get the lighting you want in-camera, Dtf’s Light plugin might be for you. Light allows you to add shadow patterns into any image using the gobos of Gamproducts and Rosco. (A gobo is a stencil or template placed in front of a light source to control the shape of the projected light.) You can project everything from window frames to leaf patterns, or make your own template. The final lighting effects look as if they were shot in-session. Other effects include fog, diffusion, fill light, and glow effects. It comes with a layering system so you can use multiple effects selectively.Price: $50

Artistic Effects

Color effects not enough for you? Never fear—the plugins below offer many, many more options.

12. Filter Forge 7

Filter Forge comes with access to over 12,000 ready-made textures and effects. It works with both still images and motion pictures, and their advanced versions let you create your own filters, without any knowledge of programming or coding. While this might not seem so spectacular if you’re not designing your own content, artists creating new images—especially those working in 3D—will find Filter Forge absolutely essential.Price: The basic edition starts at $149

13. ON1 Effects

Though On1’s Effects 10 has fewer filters than Filter Forge, it will probably be more than enough for folks who don’t need to create their own. In fact, for many the number of filters can be somewhat overwhelming. Luckily the basic presets are of high enough quality that they’ll probably keep you satisfied until you feel like branching out to the others. The software comes complete with local adjustments, blending modes, and masking. You can even apply a filter to just highlights and shadows. Honestly, this plugin offers so many options, it’s best to start slow. (If you’re a landscape photographer, try the Magic Ocean preset!)Price: Effects 10.5 is currently free. Their 2018 version is $119.99

14. FX Photo Studio

Topaz Plugins Bundle 2018 – Bring Your Photos To Life

If you’re a Mac user looking for creative effects, you’ll definitely want to give Skylum’s FX Photo Studio a spin. It has a beautiful and intuitive interface, plenty of filters to choose from, and a smart brush that allows you to apply the effect selectively, without using masks. While it only has basic image editing options, this won’t affect plugin users much. Simply apply the effect to a duplicate image layer in Photoshop and edit away. (Mac only.)Price: $39.99

HDR

While Photoshop’s HDR option will combine your images for you, most HDR photographers find it seriously lacking in usability. And while many turn to stand-alone programs, that can really create more hassle if much of your workflow is already in Photoshop. The solution? Plugins.

15. Aurora HDR

Truly one of the best HDR options out there (both as a standalone program and as a plugin). Aurora allows for advanced (yet easy) HDR editing that can be anywhere from truly natural-looking to the wild and extreme. Most HDR editing programs don’t allow you to easily end up with a natural-looking photo, but Aurora really shines here. Comes with layering, multiple blend modes, amazing presets, and even lens correction. If you’re a serious HDR photographer, do yourself a favor and give Aurora a try.Price: $99

16. HDR Efex Pro

If Aurora’s not your thing (or you’re looking for something free), Nik’s HDR Efex Pro does a decent job of processing HDR photos. Most of the presets look clearly “HDR-ed,” so if you’re looking for a realistic-looking image, stick to the default or the Balanced preset. If you like the HDR look, then the presets will work fine for you. Either way, the default settings still look far better than what Photoshop and Lightroom offer for HDR (check out our post on Lightroom vs Photoshop here). The plugin also works in Lightroom, so an easy workflow is to do your lens corrections in Lightroom, then export to HDR Efex Pro.Price: Free!

Lens Effects

Sometimes we just don’t have the camera gear to get the depth of field (or other lens effects) we’re looking for. The plugins below can save a lot of hand-numbing work.

17. Topaz Lens Effects

Tuned to many of the more popular lenses out there, Topaz Lens Effects makes incredible bokeh, tilt-shift effects, motion blur, vignettes, polarization, and just about any other effect you can get out of a lens. As far as the effects are concerned, they vary from the subtle to the extreme. The most helpful ones will be for photographers who need filters that are simply too expensive to buy. Or, if you’re working with a slower lens/cheaper camera and need selective focusing, being able to choose the bokeh effect can allow you to precisely mimic a faster lens.Price: $79.99

18. Focus

If you’re looking for creative lens effects and like experimenting, try Skylum’s Focus plugin. It comes with both radial and linear motion blur controls, a “twirl” control, lens blur, and selective focus effects. (Mac only.)Price: $59.99

Enlargement

Enlarging photos without losing sharpness is definitely an art. These two plugins make it easy.

19. Blow Up 2

This easy-to-use plugin far outpaces Photoshop’s native options, especially where large art-quality prints are being made. Comes with a large library of standard paper sizes and Lightroom and CMYK support. For printing out images that just don’t have the resolution, this plugin will definitely make your life a lot easier.Price: $99 on its own, or $199 as part of the Exposure X3 Bundle

20. Resize

Topaz Plugins Bundle 2018 – Bring Your Photos To Life Span

Resize is different from Blow Up 2 in that it uses a fractal-based algorithm to resize your images. Some people notice a distinct difference and others don’t. One feature that sets it apart, though is its tiling feature that allows you to divide your photos into diptychs, triptychs, or mosaics—something super useful if you’re into creative art installations. It also has a “gallery wrap feature” that creates extended margins so you don’t lose any part of your photo when printing to canvas. (This seriously takes the guesswork out of sizing canvas prints!)Price: $59.99 at the time of this postTChoosing between Resize and Blow Up can be challenging—they both do pretty much the same thing. It’ll probably come down to what user interface works best for you, whether you’re already using other software from these two companies, and in the end, price.