BillsFace Loc: Michigan

Just getting started with Topaz apps after using Adobe Camera Raw and Photoshop exclusively for years.

What is the best order to use Topaz DeNoise, Sharpen and Gigapixel when you plan to use all three?

Also, should I edit my raw images in Adobe Camera Raw, then save as a psd or jpg and use the Topaz apps? or use the topaz apps first and save as dng and then edit in Camera Raw?

If I plan to use Topaz DeNoise and Sharpen, should I still use those in adobe camera raw?

So many options!

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

First step is Denoise, then crop etc. then last Sharpen (otherwise you sharpen all the stuff you are going to edit). And if the file is now too small for what you plan to do with it (like a large print) you use Gigapixel to scale it up.

I use the Adobe Light Room Classic + Photo Shop subscription plan with Topaz and NIK as plugins/addons. Light Room Classic and Photo Shop both have Adobe Camera Raw as their base code for editing. LrC adds a powerful image organizer to the package and PS goes far beyond the editing basics to the advanced things. LrC does do simple layers but PS does it all.

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

DeNoise always the first step for me, then to ACR. I start with the Auto button and then adjust sliders as necessary. I crop to size then if I need to Sharpen AI.

Orphoto Loc: Oregon

I will start with denoise on the raw file unless using a nonstandard conversion profile, such as linear. Otherwise acr, then sharpen and so on.

John Kwas Loc: Eagle Bridge, NY

I found this video put out by Topaz to be very informative.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80aasB7Oaw8&t=7s

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

I complete everything in RAW, then go to finish in DeNoise and Sharpen.

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

Topaz recommended Workflow and Settings work better (for me) at least 97% of the time.
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

You may always go back and second guess the programs, however, their order of use and defaults really work well.
Don't forget the Very useful tutorials at the startup of each program and the great masking option available for DeNoise AI and Sharpen AI.

Best Wishes,
JimmyT Sends

Capn_Dave

That is good information and I started following it about a month ago. Note one thing about Topaz AI suite of programs, each program will add sharpening. Make sure you do not use any sharpening in LightRoom or Camera Raw. You might to reduce the sharpening in in the Topaz programs too

neillaubenthal

Although I have DeNoise…I use DxO instead first as it does a better job for me. Topaz says that Gigapixel should be used after the rest of your PP workflow and it works fine. However…for images that are destined for screen output rather than print…the LR Enhance which doubles the resolution is plain good enough. If you take a LR Enhance image and compare it to a GP enhanced 2x image in LR and pixel peep…the comparison varies. Sometimes LR wins and sometimes GP wins…in my experimentation it was about 55-60% wins for GP…but only when pixel peeping. When the LR enhanced and GP 2x images are output as something like 1024 pixel wide jpegs for web pages or Instagram or whatever…there's no noticeable difference in the final output. Given that…and that LR Enhance is a much faster process and fewer PP steps…in most cases LR Enhance is just fine.

One potential issue with GP…especially if you go more than 2x and if you have a high MP body (like my Z7Ii for instance)…is that LR sends the entire image to GP even though you've cropped it in to what you want rather than just sending the cropped version. This can easily result in a GP 3x or 4x image that exceeds the LR import limits and hence you can't get it back into LR. To prevent this one needs to export the image to PS first to reduce the actual image to the cropped size and then back into LR before going to GP…or save PS and then GP and export to LR.

mikegreenwald Loc: Illinois

Thank you for this tip- VERY HELPFUL.

JeffDavidson Loc: Originally Detroit Now Los Angeles

It depends. If you use all three, Topaz recommends using DeNoise first, then Sharpen. If you use Gigapixel AI it is always last.

You don't want "magnification" of noise and blur.

I use all three and have been very happy with the results.

Good luck and looking forward to your posts.

cactuspic Loc: Dallas, TX

I first start with Denoise. From Lightroom I drop the thumbnail of the image onto the Denoise icon on my dock. This allows me to use Denoise on the raw file. I then bring the DNG back into lightroom. If you export Denoise into using LR presets, you will be working on a tiff not the raw file.

I would then export into AI Sharpen making sure LR was doing no sharpening. Lastly I would use the Gigapixel program.