JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

I have been using Topaz's Sharpen AI for some time now, and I am so impressed with what it can do. There are 3 modes it can operate in, and you need to pick the best mode to work in:

Sharpen Mode -- Use if you are only interested in doing sharpening

Stabilize Mode -- If there is some shake in the image, it can do amazing things with it. I have even found that if I am panning and my panning speed is off a bit, it may even fix that too.

Focus Mode -- This mode has the ability to increase the depth of focus.

As an example, I am going to reach back in time and take an image taken in JPEG in 2014 with a Fuji HS30EXR. This is an early super zoom. It used a 1/2.3" sensor. I only shoot RAW now, but back then, I used JPEG. I used this image to show that it works with JPEG. Works even better with RAW.

Image #1 is the original JPEG of a chestnut taken on a tree in Korea. I wasn't happy with the focus of the chestnut.

Image #2 is a crop increasing the size of this focus challenged chestnut.

Image #3 is after using Sharpen AI, Focus Mode. Notice that everything is sharper, including the leaves.


Feel free to add your Sharpen AI examples, if you are so inclined.

Should also mention that this program is very computational intensive and underpowered computers may struggle making use of it.

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Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

In my case you are preaching to the converted. Giving in to the shellbacks I will agree that almost anything we can do in Sharpen AI they can duplicate in PS but not nearly as fast or as easily. Coupled with DeNoise AI, I can correct almost any thing except focus and I would not be surprised it that is too far in the future.

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

After what I have been able to see using Sharpen AI, Stabilize Mode, it is in a place that Photoshop cannot duplicate. And I also use Denoise_AI too.

Here is one more example using the same camera. Image #1 is the original and Image #2 is after Sharpen AI - Focus Mode.

Please note: I often will try all 3 modes. If a mode is not suitable, it will likely look worse. But the one that it needs, good things can happen.

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ClarkJohnson Loc: Fort Myers, FL and Cohasset, MA

On really challenging images, using Sharpen AI and then DeNoise AI in sequence can do miracles. i just rescued a blurred once-in-a-lifetime image of my three young granddaughters by the Christmas tree, and i am thankful for the technology that has such capabilities.

yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

Had a malfunctioning lens that would periodically lose it's auto-focus, and Sharpen AI worked miracles on several images. Wouldn't have believed it possible if I hadn't see it with my own eyes.

spaceytracey Loc: East Glacier Park, MT

Seems to have brightened the image as well. Nice. Am going to check it out. Thanks.

Ednsb Loc: Santa Barbara

struggle is an understatement and as Topaz is absolutely terrible at overpromising and under providing, no thank you.

DaveJ Loc: NE Missouri

I also am a new user of DeNoise AI and Sharpen AI. Happy with results so far. After buying, they sent me a code to give anyone 15% off any purchase (full disclosure they said they will give me $10 bucks when someone uses it) which I will share by private message if asked.

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

I used to think this. I have all the earlier Topaz attempts over the past 6 years and I wasn't using them. When these AI products came out, things were different -- although not quite immediately. But after the initial releases, updates started coming along, and the products started improving - a lot.

What I am seeing now is that I can take an image taken with a less than top of the line lens and improve it to the point that for those of us that can't afford the 'L' or 'GM' type lenses, that we can improve the results so much that perhaps we don't need those expensive lenses. Of course, some of the less expensive lenses may have other problems such a slow focus speed and this SW can't do anything about that. But things like slightly out of focus, or just edges out of focus, or slight shake can be dealt with in a way that us hobbyists can be quite happy with the results. And I suppose that things like fixing coma, or astigmatism or things like that may be next.

But the SW may not be for everyone. But for me, it is really something. And, yes, I do use Lightroom, and Photoshop and DxO Elite version. But these Topaz products are certainly something I now use.

Here is a heavily cropped image I just took use an Olympus 75-300mm lens at 300mm. It is a less than $400 lens and can't come close to the over $2000 300mm f4 lens. But it sure was able to make this image look sharp and I tried this with DxO and Lightroom and Photoshop and couldn't outdo it.

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Heather Iles Loc: UK, Somerset

I am impressed.

I too have Topaz and a few of the AI 's but am finding it difficult to find Topaz tutorial for beginners. Their Webinars are mostly of presets and they aren't many Youtube ones yet or perhaps I am not looking at the right places. Can I be pointed in the right direction?

Topaz site is unlike UHH as I couldn't find a section where members could ask questions and get help without asking Topaz directly where you have to send them a question and they either reply or not.

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

For the most part, webinars aren't even needed. And most of the time, default settings work well. There are sliderd to work harder on blur, or to adjust noise, if needed.

And there are choices to what mode to use: Denoise AI vs AI Clear for Denoise AI. Or Sharpen vs Stabilize vs Focus for Sharpen AI.

And Adjust AI presents more manual options.

I find the jury still out on Gigapixel AI vs ON1Resize. Both beat the offering in Photoshop.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Interesting.

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

In the case of AI Clear, they came out with a separate application. Then they added it to Denoise AI, and suddenly it took a step backwards. But now, a couple updates later, it is now even better than the original.

Heather Iles Loc: UK, Somerset

Thanks for your response. I will have to play with the sliders.

I find Photoshop difficult to learn and I don't want to pay for a Lightroom prescription although I found that easier to learn.

fantom Loc: Colorado

How does this compare to NIK sharpen and denoise?