Software Reviews
Topaz Adjust 4.
Reviewed by d.a.w DESIGN
Topaz Adjust by Topaz labs is a plug–in for Adobe Photoshop and compatible host programs. Topaz Adjust provides amateur and professional photographers, graphic designers, and photo retouches the ability to take exposure, detail and color control to new heights.
The intelligent exposure detection not only corrects both underexposure and overexposure in images, but it also has the ability to create HDR–like images using just a single exposure. The artistic HDR–like effects created by Topaz Adjust reveal image detail while adding a dynamic pop to the image.
With 64 bit support, Topaz Adjust is accessed like most plugins via the filter menu in Adobe Photoshop. Once you have your image open in Adobe Photoshop, selecting the plug–in will open up a very friendly amazingly simple to use UI (user interface) window.
Figure 01 – Topaz Adjust UI.
1 - Preview – Displays the preview of the processed image.
2 - Presets & Preset Preview – Provides "snapshots" of accessible filters.
3 - Menu – Enables user settings and contains other options. User Guide, Tech support etc..
4 - Settings and Parameters – Controls the editing using sliders to adjust the various effects.
5 - Preview Navigator – Displays the zoom options of the preview image you are currently focused on.
On the left, there are dozens of presets. If you scroll over these preset names with your mouse or wacam pen something cool happens, you will notice that the small thumbnail will change to that setting but not the main preview screen that is very smart. Clicking on one of them quickly shows the larger version in the main preview.
Figure 02 – Settings and Parameters.
After you choose one of the presets from the left, you can then make little tweaking adjustments with the sliders on the right hand side (settings and parameters). These are:
• Exposure – various sliders to quickly shape and manipulate light in your photos.
• Detail – easy–to–use controls to enhance and creatively remove detail from your images.
• Color – special color enhancement algorithms give highly unique effects.
• Noise – convenient noise reduction option destroys noise while preserving detail. I recommend that you play with them a lot to get familiar with them.
The Exposure section of Topaz Adjust controls all exposure-related capabilities of the software. Add a unique and pleasing effect to your photo that makes it pop out to your viewers with these controls.
Use the Adaptive Exposure and Regions slider in conjunction with each other for a visually pleasing tone–mapped effect, conveniently adjust Contrast or Brightness, and protect your Highlights and Shadows all within Exposure.
The Topaz Adjust Detail tab makes it easy to creatively enhance or remove details in your photo. Even previously unseen image details can be recovered and enhanced.
The Strength and Boost parameters specify the exact amount of detail you want to enhance, while the Threshold and Radius options specify the size. Also, apply detail Sharpening when you need it.
The Color tab specializes in manipulating image color with a special technique that yields very impressive results in your photos.
The primary Adaptive Saturation and Regions sliders work together, to create brilliant color effects. The Saturation, Saturation Boost, and Hue controls can be conveniently accessed when needed.
Use the tools in Topaz Adjust to easily reveal highlights, shadows and image detail without having to create bracketed exposures that require merging. This single–image workflow offered by Topaz Adjust enables users to easily achieve the popular HDR look through a simplified and intuitive workflow.
Topaz Adjust revives intensity levels, vibrancy and detail from direct light and dark shadow areas. Users can also adjust the Adaptive Exposure in the Exposure settings options to create more extreme image effects. Topaz Adjust offers a variety of dynamic image treatments ranging from soft to hard sharpening, low to hyper-saturation, high contrast and over–sharpened looking effects.
Pricing and requirements
• Topaz Adjust has a MSRP of $49.99 USD.
• The Photoshop Bundle that includes Adjust, DeNoise, Simplify, Detail, Clean, ReMask, and DeJPEG - $179.99.
• Already have Topaz Adjust and want to upgrade to the bundle it’s $139.99.
For more pricing see https://www.topazlabs.com/store/
Host Requirements
Topaz Adjust is a plug–in and will require one of the following:
Windows
Adobe Photoshop 7 through CS5, Adobe Photoshop Elements 1–8, or another editor that supports Photoshop plug–ins. These include: Irfanview, PaintShop Pro, etc.
Adobe Lightroom supported with free download.
Mac
Adobe Photoshop CS3 or CS5, Adobe Photoshop Elements 6–8.
Apple Aperture 2, Lightroom for Mac, and iPhoto supported with free download.
System Requirements
Windows
• Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7 (32–bit and 64–bit)
• 1 GB RAM
Mac
• Intel–based Mac OS 10.4–10.6. PowerPC processors like G4 or G5 are not supported.
• 1 GB RAM
Conclusion / My thoughts:
Topaz Adjust does a great easy elegant job, the product that allows you to achieve HDR like results from a single image.
I really like Topaz Adjust software because it’s easy to use and applied to your work to make your images pop.. This plug–in will make life easy and should be useful for amateur and professional photographers, graphic designers, and photo retouches who want that HDR look. I recommend you get the full Photoshop Bundle, because it comes with all their products and it is a fantastic deal. Topaz Adjust is cool!
Cons:
• There is NO extension panel for Photoshop CS4 / CS5 users.
• There is NO update button in the UI.
• No display output on a new layer. When you apply a filter to your image, it doesn’t automatically (or give you the option) to create a copied version of your image with the filter applied. So make sure that you duplicate / copy your original image first.
Pros:
• Very easy to use and navigate around the UI.
• A nice range of preset filters available.
• Very helpful video tutorial’s on the Topaz Labs website.
• Windows 7 (32–bit and 64–bit)
• A very cool forum where you can ask for help, or give help and post your Topaz work.
Click here for Examples
Topaz Adjust 4.
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