a6k Loc: Detroit & Sanibel

One of the replies to one of my recent posts kindly demonstrated "sharpen" in that application. Of course, he had to do it from my JPG. The result was impressive but the pixel peeping on that result was sub-optimal. I read up on it and took advantage of the sale, bought the application. My goal was to work with my raw files to avoid the artifacts that working from a JPG produced.

I use Sony cameras which produce "ARW" raw files (𝜶6500 and RX10m4). I mostly use CaptureOne for Sony but also others including Pixelmator. My computer is a maxed out (32 GB RAM, best graphics card, I9 processor) 2018 MacBookPro 15" plus a BenQ 27" photo monitor.

Bad news first:
The application, even on my fairly strong computer, is really, really slow. I understand why so I'm simply reporting it. The second bad news item is that when trying to export the results of sharpening a ARW file it usually crashes do badly that I don't even get a response from the OS. It simply vanishes.

In my opinion, the user interface lacks some important options and is not yet mature. Example: you can't set up a default for the output format nor can you change it for the same image on which you have already worked. That can be a difficult thing to work around.

The good news:
I can usually get the application to finish the job by giving it a TIFF instead of a ARW. I also figured out how to invoke it from inside CaptureOne and complete the "round trip". I'm not sure it's worth doing it that way but it can be done. It's not a plug in but it will do the round trip. There is a minor "gotcha" in that but it probably only applies to Capture One and is not a big problem.

Evaluation (preliminary). I have used it for sharpening and for "stabilization". That's two of the three modes the application offers. If there is a way to have it do more than one on a single picture I have not yet figured that out. Working from either ARW or TIFF, it does what it claims to do and it does it amazingly well. The AI is doing things that no painstaking manual intervention could do (my opinion). I especially like the stabilization mode because other programs do a decent job of sharpening most of the time but curing motion blur (what stabilization means) is a "black art" and it's really amazing. For a BIF, the price of the application is dirt cheap since no lens can do that. I have not done anything yet with the third mode which is "focus".

I would buy it again, warts and all. I am willing to answer questions but keep in mind that I'm not an expert at this and my experience is limited to my gear.

fredpnm Loc: Corrales, NM

Good information, thanks for sharing. Suggestion/Comment on it working really, really slow. Mine did also UNTIL I went into preferences and told it to use GPU for processing. (That assumes you have a video card that is acceptable to the program for that purpose). The program was much faster, but not blazingly fast.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

I have no problems with it on my computer (i9 w/32GB RAM and a 6 GB graphics card) sending and saving to and from LR and PS. Most images it takes from 5 to 20 seconds to do the cycle. The bigger the image, the longer it takes. I also have Denoise AI.

sodapop Loc: Bel Air, MD

Quite pleased with it..A little slo,w but not bad for what it does. Have a PC with32 G Ram, which I think helps

tcthome Loc: NJ

It should be a tiff file when it comes back. Try converting it to a tiff file before sending it to DeNoise.

will47 Loc: Indianapolis, IN

I have Denoise AI and Sharpen AI. When I first started using them I was moderately impressed.
After a update I quit them.I went back to Denoise 6 and either hi pass sharpening of smart sharpen. I think I get better results the old way.

JRiepe Loc: Southern Illinois

Initially mine was extremely slow but after updates on Sharpen and Denoise they both are much speedier.

a6k Loc: Detroit & Sanibel

Another thing I discovered is..

Turn off the automatic preview and make the window that shows the preview show a small part of the image. That speeds it up a lot. Once I have my preferred settings I can just go directly to export and skip the preview. I don't need to see the preview because the rest of my post processing will be with another application anyhow. Generating the previews is the slowest part, maybe tied with the export itself.

My raw files are 25MB. But it runs faster and more reliably with a TIF/TIFF that is much larger. I suspect without proof that the application is not fully compatible with the raw files from my 𝜶6500. Size alone can't explain the crashes.

Perhaps it runs better on Windows. Perhaps more GB's in the graphics card matter (seems likely). For those who may be interested, here are my computer's specifications. There are certainly faster computers but this is well above average. I will probably get the next MBP when it uses the "Apple Silicon" processor. Saving my pennies. I'd get a MacPro but I need to be able to easily transport it between "up north" and Sanibel.

2.9 GHz 6-Core Intel Core i9
32 GB 2400 MHz DDR4
Radeon Pro 555X 4 GB
Intel UHD Graphics 630 1536 MB

Will47's comment is interesting. I would probably agree about normal sharpening but I've been able to de-blur parts of an image where focus was not the issue; subject motion was.

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

Try these tips and then let us know if/what helps. I had similar problems when I first started out with Topaz Sharpen AI.
I discovered and started using their recommend workflow and followed their "How to make Topaz Products Run Faster"
video (below) and now I LOVE Topaz products.

How to make Topaz Products Run Faster: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GraqwH2YYJ4
If you are in a hurry, start at about 1:40 min. into the video

Also: Close all programs not in use as this will allow your computer to perform at its best.
Also: DO NOT select "Auto-Update Preview"!! Un-check it on the top right panel of the program after an image has been loaded.
It may be handy for making small changes but it will REALLY ADD to your processing times!

Topaz Products FAQs: https://help.topazlabs.com/hc/en-us

Topaz workflow: https://topazlabs.com/the-ultimate-workflow-for-topaz-labs-ai-software/?utm_source=Topaz+Updates&utm_campaign=8c480bdca3-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_11_19_04_29&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5e4dd8652a-8c480bdca3-92602881&mc_cid=8c480bdca3&mc_eid=c9be7297b0

Tutorials: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=topaz+tutorials+on+youtube
Jim Nix Topaz Tutorials: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Jim+Nix+topaz
David Kelly Tutorials: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=dave+kelly+topaz

I do not have ANY relationship with Topaz Products - I just Love to help folks with info
that will help others as the UHH Community has helped me.

Have a Safe and Healthy New Year!
Smile, (With Your Mask On!)
JimmyT Sends

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

I will echo what Will47 said: After the most recent update to the sharpen program, it's a LOT faster!

a6k Loc: Detroit & Sanibel

Thanks for the links. I have them qued up and ready to watch. I agree about auto update as I noted in a follow up post.

David Martin Loc: Cary, NC

I've had no problem running Topaz Sharpen AI or DeNoise on my mid-2014 MacBook pro (2.8GHz i7 processor and 16GB RAM) to process 30 MB NEF files. Saving a file takes perhaps a minute or 2. I keep the preview set at zoom=100% and I do leave auto-update preview on.

RJW Loc: Oregon

Thanks for bringing up Denoise 6. I have Denoise AI and Sharpen AI. I had Denoise 6 in the past so downloaded it again and worked on a photo I had run through Denoise AI and Sharpen AI clear and was able to get even more detail and sharpness without overdoing it, when running it through Denoise 6. I noticed more user control with Denoise 6 to getter better detail and better end result. So, again thanks and I will add it back into my active arsenal of editing programs. RJW

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

Hmm, I am running the latest version of that program on an 8 year old iMac with no problem but I do have the old i7 processor with 32 gig of RAM, are you sure that it is the software and not the computer?

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

The more I read the happier I am that I decided to stick with Luminar 4