jm76237

I heard about Topaz Simplify for making photos look like paintings and drawings. Looks interesting, then was redirected to their other products. The whole Topaz suite is pretty expensive, but looks like some nice modules. Anyone have it and what do you think of it?

mallen1330 Loc: Chicago western suburbs

I've used Topaz Adjust and Clarify for the past year or so, and very happy with both. Adjust does tone mapping and brightening to bring out the details in shadows and has many pre-sets that really make photos "pop".

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

I have the entire Suite as it was two years ago. They have added modules since. I've used it a few times for various things. I tend to use Nik more. But most of the time I use Photoshop alone.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

If you are looking for the painterly effect, I would suggest Topaz Impression for an all around solution. Simplify has some artistic modules, but Impression takes it to the next level. See example att.

(Download)

Zone-System-Grandpa Loc: Springfield, Ohio

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Topaz is Top Shelf pp software ! If you don't mind spending the money for it, you will love it ! Several of our members have it and they will tell you the same..

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Indeed, I have the full set, but primary is deNoise, Detail, Clarity. Rest is fun stuff. Adjust gives you a nibble of most things.

Other companies make reasonable painting programs.... Jixipix, DAP. (expensive, but great) . Dynamic Autopainter are examples

Alll give 30 day trys

finalimage Loc: Brattleboro, VT

I have the entire suite-it is very impressive. Use Define for noise reduction every day. Impression is awesome. All of their products are first rate. Topaz was on sale recently, 40% off as I recall. Look for sales.

pecohen Loc: Central Maine

If you sign up for their newsletter you will get offers of discounts on one or another of their tools - and as you buy a them they will give you a reduced price on the entire suite. Eventually the entire suite gets down low enough you are apt to decide to buy it - that's what happened to me; I think it took a bit over a year of buying one piece and then another (on sale) before buying the whole suite looked attractive.

My own interest is in realistic looking images and so I don't get much use of some of their tools like Restyle, Simplify and Star Effects. However I use DeNoise and Adjust on nearly every image I edit; Detail and Clarity I use almost as much. I don't use Clean or InFocus very often but I probably would if I shot a lot of portraits. ReMask is quite good, but it can be a bit tedious to do this kind of editing - so it is something I tend to avoid when I can.

I have a love/hate relationship with the Topaz photoFXlab. I have started using it as a standard part of my workflow since I do use the Topaz plugins quite a lot and I find my efficiency is better in FX than when I try to use the plugins from my editor. That being said, Topaz really needs to make some improvements to FX - there are a lot of missing features that should not be hard for them to add that would make this tool much more user-friendly. A particularly annoying one, for example, is that the name of the current file being edited appears nowhere on the screen and in some cases may be difficult to determine.

finalimage Loc: Brattleboro, VT

Just realized I said I use Define ( Nik product ) every day. Meant to say DeNoise-it is very good.

nikonboy Loc: Apple Valley, MN and Pine Island, Florida

I love all Topaz products. Simplify is great for various painterly effects. I like the BizSim presets for looks such as this watercolor treatment...

jm76237

Thanks to all and glad to hear it seems to be a good, stable product. The whole suite is "on sale" for $499, but I think I'll try a few modules first. All the feedback is very helpful and appreciated.

Marilyng Loc: Lorain,Oh.

I really love all of topaz filters,I use them often on my photos.Simplify is nice but Impressions is awesome!

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

I have the whole suite use clarity Denoise Detail the most Until the 22 May 40% off the suite
http://www.topazlabs.com/store" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.topazlabs.com/aff/idevaffiliate.php?id=850&url=http://www.topazlabs.com/store

warrior Loc: Paso Robles CA

Treepusher Loc: Kingston, Massachusetts

I have many of Topaz's programs, along with NIK and OnOne. I use Topaz far more than the others, and couldn't do the stuff I do without them. They make processing much more fun, and are well worth the money. I do use them within Photoshop, and one or more programs on every photo I do. Adjust on everything. Detail on many. Simplify on most. Glow on most. DeNoise on some. ReStyle on occasion. Clarity is one of Dixiegirl's favorites. Clean is one of Angler's favorites. The others, l rarely use. Impression I didn't care enough for to buy.

Buy them on sale. They usually offer one every month or so at a steep discount, or watch one of their webinars--they discount that product if you do. The current 40 percent off isn't a bad deal, but some of the programs I didn't find worth getting or using for what I do.

Whether you get the entire suite or just a few, you won't be disappointed with them.