whitehall Loc: Canada

I just acquired the third part of the trilogy, which in addition to the built in features of Lightroom provides me with an abundance of pp cropping, de -noising and sharpening tools. It is not clear to me in what order O should use these tools, or does it matter. Thanks.

IGW

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

I found I like the original Topaz effects filters. With Ps, ACR, and Nik I'm happy. The new stuff interests me less.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Review the input requirements for Topaz, as in: what file format do the Topaz module accept?

I haven't gone to the latest Topaz software versions, but I think you'll find a 16-bit TIFF in ProPhotoRGB is the appropriate input to Topaz assuming you're shooting in RAW. If the newer software still operates best on TIFFs, visit your External Editor definition and set-up these parameters, including sending the file using the current status of the LR edits.

There's two ways to go:

1. Edit to completion / near completion in LR and then finish in Topaz. Or,

2. Perform basic technical adjustments in LR, send that version to Topaz, and then complete the image in LR.

By technical adjustments, I mean things like: keywording, lens profile corrections, Camera Calibration. These would be applied to the RAW, then sent to Topaz as a 16-bit TIFF. Upon return from Topaz, you'd continue with the general editing, including cropping, etc.

Given the run-time delay of Topaz, even on the best machines, hopefully you don't need all Topaz modules on all images. Personally, I bother with Topaz DeNoise only when I have a majority of low-light images mostly in the ISO-3200 range or higher. Or, maybe an airshow where the planes look good, but there's a grain in the blue of the sky.

whitehall Loc: Canada

Thanks. Yes I shoot in RAW. As usual excellent advise. Makes logical sense. I find I need De Noise if I shoot with my Olympus MFT but not when I use my FF Canon cameras.

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

One other Topaz tool I like to use is the Adjust AI. Especially on B&W images.

One point on the other AI tools. They keep getting better. And there are promises that they are not done. Sharpening had a couple of the sharpening modules, Motion Blur - Very Blurry and Too Soft - Very Blurry, updated to V2 in Release V3.3.5, and those are looking good. Most of the modules still say V1. But I expect to see more move into V2 status soon.

Denoise AI just moved to v3.4.2. I used to use Clear Mode the most, and now Low Light Mode is looking real good. This must be the module they worked on for this release. More coming here also.

As for order. The old rules just don't always seem to fit like they used to. The newer releases have improved on things like artifacts and often using Topaz first (after conversion to TIFF in Lightroom or Photoshop) works best. They now support RAW, but doing that impacts using lens correction.

Oftentimes, I use DxO first, and then go to Topaz (if I think it needs it). I really like Deep Prime and of course the lens correction.

But we really have a logjam at the moment with everything wanting first access to the RAW file. DxO wants the RAW file. ON1 NoNoise wants the RAW file. Adobe wants the RAW file.

ON1 NoNoise wins with the camera I had modified to be a mono sensor. I use an application called Monochrome2DNG which produces a monochrome DNG file. DxO won't work with that grayscale DNG file and neither will the Topaz products. They want RGB files. ON1 NoNoise to the rescrew. It accepts the grayscale DNG files. After doing this, I can load them into Lightroom which sends a RGB Tiff file to whatever it calls.

whitehall Loc: Canada

Thanks. Very helpful

Orphoto Loc: Oregon

Dear IGW.

Topaz sent around the following video that details their suggested workflow with the 3 products.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80aasB7Oaw8

other workflow videos are to be found on the topaz lab's website, under support, video library

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

Very good video. I hadn't seen this one before. Some good points are made.

tcthome Loc: NJ

Go through this guy's video list. He has a vid somewhere that talks about Denoise & Sharpen use order. He might have more or you could ask from that video. The other way would be to edit a copy of yuor photo with the apps (experiment/play), pixel peep & see what works best for you.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEcP2Oec0caHz23aKGGOayw

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEcP2Oec0caHz23aKGGOayw/playlists

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

My habit is when using a Topaz Plugin... Once the plugin is activated, go to that plugin's menu and choose "Check for Updates."

Orphoto Loc: Oregon

Fine. But how does that address OP's workflow question as to the order in which to use the programs?

Canisdirus

Okay, workflow with Topaz...

Open LR ... do basic adjustments...if shot at iso 640 or above (my preference)...then go to DeNoise.
Back to LR. Make color adjustments...check white balance and highlights for clipping...
Then crop the image...then open up Topaz Sharpen.
Back in LR...if satisfied with image size...maybe calibration adjustment a bit...you're done.
If size is small...then go to Gigaplex...Adobe is way behind in this arena.

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

A Very Good Video!

IMHO you want to perform the Topaz DeNoise AI function first, then Sharpen AI and from there you may either use their products or LR, PS, etc., then lastly Topaz Gigapixel AI if you started with a small file or if you were overly "Enthusiastic" with your crop.

No matter what path (order) you take, use the DeNoise AI function in the default settings FIRST to remove artifacts and restore/establish detail. You don't want "Sharpened Noise/Artifacts" in your picture. Then adjust the sliders as needed to meet your requirements. Most of the time the default Topaz settings work best for me. Please note that there is a built-in "Mask" located in the lower right screen as well as a built-in tutorial on the opening screen.

Then (if needed) use the Topaz Sharpen AI. Please note that there is a built-in "Mask" located in the lower right screen just to the left of the "Trash Can" as well as a built-in tutorial. on the opening screen. The default settings should keep you from oversharpening.

After using these first two Topaz Products continue using the remainder of the Topaz Products or LR, PS, etc. as you desire.
The Topaz Products suggested workflow follows: 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

Smile,
JimmyT Sends

cactuspic Loc: Dallas, TX

Regardless of what you have heard, the workflow recommended by Topaz, if you shoot in Raw is to go immediately to Denoise. This article by Topaz explains the workflow if you use Lightroom.

https://learn.topazlabs.com/introducing-the-new-denoise-ai-raw-model-remarkable-noise-reduction-using-raw-files/

You will get a DNG file in return. The newest version does its own demosaic work on the raw file, so I have been using Denoise before any LR adjustments and sending it the file with no noise reduction or sharpening in LR. After the return to LR, I would then make my color adjustments in LR and ship it is to either AI Sharpen or Gigapixel as need. I have not had the need for using both on the same image so I can’t speak to the priority between the two

Irwin

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

Thanks for the added info.
I mistakenly always speak from the standpoint of using Topaz Products as standalone and not as modules within PS/LR, etc.
No arguments, I'm learning a lot here.
JimmyT