dennisallard Loc: Southern Maine

Yesterday, I went on line and checked out some software I've been interested in for a while. I installed the Nik Collection- it's free and downloading and installing were done in under 15 minutes. Now to start playing with it. Many of you have done some very nice work with Nik.

Then I checked out Topaz - another one that has impressed me. The whole package goes for 500 bucks! Individual parts, like Glow, can be had for 40 to 50 bucks. My question: is it worth it? I'd appreciate your opinions on this or any other packages you might enjoy working with.

My primary processing software is Elements 13.

Thanks for any constructive advice.

Dennis

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Nik is free, but may not remain that way and / or may not be maintained in the future. The direction of this product is unclear.

When Topaz puts their entire collection in a bundled sale, it's a compelling option. They make regular updates and once a module is purchased, the update is available for download and installation to your machine at no new charge. Topaz has modules that overlap among themselves (Clarity and Adjust) as well as overlap with tools in PSE such as B&W conversion.

The question remains for how much you 'work' on your images. Denoise and Remask are two items that exceed PSE. I'm sure there's more, but these are individual modules I own and use to extend PSE when needed. For HDR operating on a single image rather than multiple, I use Adjust more than Clarity. Finally, I use the modules from LR more than PSE and the Topaz tool PhotoFXLab is my preferred method rather than individual modules from the Adobe editor. So, for an image as an HDR candidate, it might go: LR edits, then (via FXLab) Topaz modules: Detail, Adjust, DeNoise and the results back to LR.

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

I agree with experienced UHH member, CHG CANON, but would add that for much less money today, you also have the option of purchasing the On1 RAW OR MacPhun suites.

Haydon

From what I understand Google has abandoned it entirely and made it available for free as a result. There allegedly isn't any plans of putting any further R&D into it.

fuminous Loc: Luling, LA... for now...

I purchased the Topaz bundle six or seven months ago... and have used it not at all. Instead I'm still exploring and finding useful things in Photoshop. I haven't sufficient skill with either Photoshop or Topaz for a useful comparison of the two- but do notice when mediocre image after mediocre image is dipped and battered in Topaz glow and offered up, deep fried, again and again and again. At those times I see novelty software as both a wobbly crutch in a sad claim of uniqueness and, a stupefying handicap to actual growth and competence. I also notice when Glow or other software is used discretely and tastefully as an integral part of creating an exceptional image- something several here do very well. My point is that software is a tool just like the camera and, "... is it worth it?" may not be the right question; instead, "Will it help me make the images I want to make?" is probably the better query.

NikonCharlie Loc: Kansas USA

Agree with Haydon, NIK is free because Google has left it, but it offers a lot of editing for free.
Topaz, I have several of their plugin's, but not the full set. I use Adjust, most the others I own are unused. Get Adjust and start learning it, great product. Once purchased, they issue you a license (which they keep on their site, so you won't lose it) that will allow you to add it to any future and all existing computers. Great product, good people there at Topaz.

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

Correct it should have a RIP on the page.

While NIK is good for what it has and reasonable when it was sold, Topaz does a ton more stuff and why the high price tag.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

I have both Nik and a Topaz bundle plus Topaz Impressions 2. I mainly use Photoshop CS6 or sometimes only Adobe Camera Raw. I'm not too sure you can fully benefit from all the features of Nik and Topaz, and a few other such application when using PSE and not Ps or Lr. For one PSE only offers 8-bit processing. I usually work in 16-bit and occasionally in 32-bit (say for HDR)!

On the positive side, yes Nik is free. Also you may be able to obtain a bundle of Topaz applications at a Photography trade show or expo or the like. Several years ago I obtained an at the time complete bundle of Topaz aps. at a Photo Expo in Pasadena, CA. It was reduced to $199.00 if purchased at the show. So you might look around or check with Topaz on upcoming events. I don't really use most of the many aps. or filters in either Nik or Topaz, but I do use some of them sometimes. If for no other reason to experiment. I've had some fun with Topaz Impressions 2 but that was a separate $99.00 purchase a few months ago. Topaz is not cheap!

If you get serious about processing and results you may want to go for the Adobe $10/mo Ps & Lr CC subscription (first). Have fun.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Think that is "bad", check out HDR with Topaz Adjust "Spicify" filter. I'm sure Salvador Dali would have given up painting for it and gone into digital photography! Totally unreal looking c***.

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

The good thing about Topaz is you can pick and choose which products you want. I have a number of the plugin's and like them very much for what they do. One thing you can do to help you along is sign up on the Topaz site and register for their live podcasts. You'll have to watch the podcast but once you do they will send you a code to get 25% off any of their programs. They also have occasional sales on their products up to 50% off usually around Christmas. If you are signed up on their site they will generally have a 40% off sale on upgraded and new products when they are first released. Good luck and enjoy.

dennisallard Loc: Southern Maine

Thank you all for your responses so far. I did not know that Nik was an "orphan."

Haydon

IMO NIK's two strongest points is it's B&W presets (although it can be accomplished in PS) and it's Denoise with masking. I feel sorry for those who paid $150 a few years back for the suite and now it's free.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

I am a software junkie so will share my thoughts. I would NOT buy the whole Topaz package, much of it is redundant with what NIK does for free. I'd recommend you learn NIK and do trials on various Topaz components to decide which do things NIK doesn't do and you personally will likely use. I ended up adding 3 Topaz plugins but for particular purposes, ultimately spending less than $100 rather than $500. If you use a Mac, the MacPhun plugins are a nice option as well.

As I have learned more about Photoshop, I find that I can create many of the effects of plugins and control those effects better on my own. PS also helps me control and direct the effects of the plugins. The extremely lurid options some plugins produce don't appeal to me, so I usually use my plugins on layers in PS, with masks, to direct how much of an effect goes where.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Dennis,

On1 offers a lot of what the other general plugins offer - masking, filters, presets, Glow, sharpening, etc. It also just added a pretty decent raw conversion module - Develop - that so far seems to offer a bit more than Lightroom or Photoshop on the raw side. It does many adjustments parametrically, like Lightroom and Adobe Camera Raw, and it also lets you do much better local adjustments. And all adjustments are placed on layers, making it easy to rethink and adjust a particular layer's settings. It is certainly worth a look. I've been using On1 for about 4 yrs now, and each time they release a new version it is a worthwhile improvement over the previous, and the Raw module is no exception.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

I have noticed that the Topaz nose reduction SW is more effective with less artifacts than the equivalent NIK de noise plug in, but currently, that's the only Topaz product I can compare.