Pokey Loc: Virginia

I just recently bought an r7 and was running a few pictures through Topaz AI. The ones I took were all jpeg. I'm waiting on another sd card to arrive from adorama so I can use separate cards to store raw and jpeg, but I have a question. If I don't process the pic beforehand, and go straight to AI, does it make a difference as far as image sharpnes etc, from one or the other? In other words, will raw give me a worse outcome? I'm thinking yes but I just wanted to get some opinions from others.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

What?? RAW give a worse outcome? Impossible.

What's important to understand is the bit-depth and colorspace of RAW give the most data into the AI processing, far more than the 8-bit depth of a JPEG where the colorspace is baked into the JPEG as either sRGB or Adobe RGB, both smaller than ProPhotoRGB that can still be applied to the RAW file.

Also, a RAW has no sharpening and no noise processing, two things AI software is free to manipulate. These two processing steps are applied by the camera for a JPEG, where more processing can only "enhance" what was performed by the camera, if the camera didn't actually destroy too much of the image data in that processing and conversion to 8-bit.

one_eyed_pete Loc: Colonie NY

You failed to mention which Topaz product you are asking about, Sharpen AI, DeNoise AI, Gigapixel AI or Photo AI (all 3). From my experience, these Topaz products are excellent at what the're intended, but are not a full post processing engine. I believe Topaz suggests you start in Topaz before doing other post processing. I have had best results by post processing in LR first then exporting to Topaz Photo AI for DeNoise and Sharpening (no denoise or sharpening in LR). I always start with RAW (to give the greatest post processing potential) unless I just need a quick snapshot for sharing or reference.

tomm101 Loc: Vermont

I use Topaz Sharpen AI when I feel I need it,maybe 5-10% of my images. I have mostly used it with Leica DNG RAW files. It handles the RAW file very well. I have not used it with jpeg files as they are distribution files, for me only. I try to do editing only in RAW before I drop the file to 8 bit depth. I haven't used DeNoise or Gigapixel yet. I am new here I guess I can't post illustrations of results.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

With Topaz Photo AI, I usually try that first if I think the special Topaz effects will be beneficial. Then I fiddle in Lightroom Classic as I see fit.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Two things:

first, in my experience, Topaz AI products such as Sharpen, Denoise, etc are much more effective on raw files than JPEGs.

Secondly, in the limited case of Fuji XTrans raw files, after testing, I have found that the results are slightly better by doing the raw conversion in Capture One first and then exporting to Topaz rather than doing the raw conversion in Topaz. I have no idea if this is true of other raw formats converted in other post processing aps such as LR/PS. I suggest testing with your own combination to see which workflow gives the best results.

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

Regarding Topaz Photo AI here is my “Sip of water from the fire hose”:
I have eight Topaz Products and it has been a Long Time since ANY (except Topaz Photo AI) of the original seven programs have been updated, and I checked each program for updates before writing this. I suspect that my first seven programs will become “Topaz Legacy” programs, available to the owner but never updated, like my Topaz Studio program. Topaz Photo AI is Frequently Updated.
Topaz Photo AI has “Upscaling, Remove Noise, Sharpen, Recovering Face, Preserve Text, Adjust Lighting (Beta), Balance Color (Beta)” using only the "AI" mode, plus you have the ability to "tweak" each setting manually. Topaz Photo AI does so much in the default "AI" mode that there is seldom anything, except minor tweaks left for you to do. This is REALLY a Huge Time Saver for me when I can dump a days shooting of 400+ pics in the hopper and still receive Great results using just the default settings. Rarely do I have to second-guess Topaz Photo AI. It just works for me.

As for Topaz Photo AI, under “Help and Tips, located at the bottom right of the open program, four catagories are listed: “Getting Started, User Guides, Features, Plugins”. These are links to detailed questions, examples and tutorials complete with illustrations for each subject.

Best Wishes,
JimmyT Sends

Pokey Loc: Virginia

That's what I was thinking. I guess I didn't phrase my question very well. I'm going to try to download canon's dpp 4 and process there first and then import it to topaz photo AI.

Pokey Loc: Virginia

Thanks for the help tips. I just recently got topaz, my r7 , and plan on getting dpp 4. So, I've got a lot to learn. I guess I need to retire early so I can devote more time to learning everything.

Pokey Loc: Virginia

Thanks, Paul. What do you think of c raw. Any drawbacks vs regular raw?

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

If I'm the Paul being questioned, I don't have any issues with compressed RAW. But, I don't have an EOS body that creates these files. My Sony does, and that's how I shoot and edit that body. I trust what others have analyzed in these formats. The visual differences are trivial and next to impossible to find. There's nothing in my photography that is impacted negatively.

DaveJ Loc: NE Missouri

Hi Pokey!
On your R7, you can write both RAW and jpg to one card, you don't have to use two different cards. Also, I have used C-RAW on my R7 with great results. You will get better results using RAW VS jpg, as Paul stated above.
Good luck on you fun learning journey.
Dave

Pokey Loc: Virginia

Thanks for the info on the c raw.

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

Just the opposite from some of big boys and their editing videos. Do color space first and then AI processing and finally LR or PS post.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Huhh? A RAW doesn't have a colorspace, you know that, right? Therefore, you'd configure Topaz to work / output the result to ProPhotoRGB, bringing that result into any downstream steps as a DNG or 16-bit TIFF.