One shot and an hour of fun! This week a yellow milkweed that had grown from seed decided to bless me with blossoms. This plant is in my front flower bed just outside the front door.

Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida

This week a yellow milkweed that had grown from seed decided to bless me with blossoms. This plant is in my front flower bed just outside the front door. Initially, I processed the raw file in Affinity just using the usual tweaks to contrast and then sharpening using Topaz Sharpen ai and Affinity's High Pass Filter.

Since it was rainy, hot and steamy outside, I decided to play for a bit. My next version is a simple B&W using Topaz Studio 2 for the conversion. For number 3 I decided to get a bit more off the wall. In this instance the same photo was run through Topaz Studio 2 using the Yellow Intensity Filter. Finally, for number 4, another B&W but this time converted using NIK Silver Efex Pro 3.

This is just a way to get a lot of practice and fun out of one shot.

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1. processed from raw using Affinity and Topaz Sharpen ai

(Download)

2. B&W conversion using Topaz Studio 2

(Download)

3. Processed in Topaz Studio 2 using the Yellow Intensity Filter.

(Download)

4. Converted to B&W using NIK Silver Efex Pro 3

(Download)

tcthome Loc: NJ

Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida

tcthome wrote:

Thank you! It keeps me out of trouble!

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

How neat that you're exploring comparisons of the same apps that I am, Carol. I will be picking your brain shortly

Your Studio 2 b&w looks a lot better than the one of Mt Adams I tried (it's not the one posted). In yours the softness works very well on your subject. Now I must try the Intensity filter. So much to learn, so little time.

jederick Loc: Northern Utah

You sure were the system well, Carol!!

Question...do you use the auto function of Topaz AI Sharpen or do manual adjustments?

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

It's hard without actually seeing them side by side, but here are my impressions. I like the first colour one better than the second. There's something about the second one that sort of assaults my eyes. And I like the NIK B&W conversion better, as it adds another layer of density into the flowers.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

I don't have a favorite. I like them all.

Umnak Loc: Mount Vernon, Wa.

These are all wonderful renditions of your serendipitous milkweed arrival!
Well done Carol!
Rob

John Lawrence

Hi Carol.

Linda from Maine became my first photo buddy when I joined UHH and we’ve remained good friends since then. She already invited me to join your forum and I gladly did so. Now I have two photo bodies here, you and Linda. I shoot in jpeg and do very little processing so I probably won’t post but I’ll be here enjoying the work of others.

I enjoyed this flower when you posted it in the gallery and like what you’ve done with it very much. I like flowers and consider you my gold standard for flower photography.

John

Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida

Linda From Maine wrote:

How neat that you're exploring comparisons of the same apps that I am, Carol. I will be picking your brain shortly

Your Studio 2 b&w looks a lot better than the one of Mt Adams I tried (it's not the one posted). In yours the softness works very well on your subject. Now I must try the Intensity filter. So much to learn, so little time.

Thank you, Linda. You can pick my brain but there isn't a lot there to get. I've not spent a lot of time with the more creative software but I'm working on it.

Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida

jederick wrote:

You sure were the system well, Carol!!

Question...do you use the auto function of Topaz AI Sharpen or do manual adjustments?

Thank you! I normally let it run in auto and that usually works out. If I'm not satisfied I will run the comparison mode and also tweak the settings. Usually, the auto is fine. I do up the noise setting a bit frequently so I don't have to run DeNoise but let Sharpen do it all. I also add the Affinity High Pass filter as a final touch even if I have used Sharpen ai.

Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida

AzPicLady wrote:

It's hard without actually seeing them side by side, but here are my impressions. I like the first colour one better than the second. There's something about the second one that sort of assaults my eyes. And I like the NIK B&W conversion better, as it adds another layer of density into the flowers.

I tend to agree with your observations. Both NIK and Topaz are capable of so much! The end result depends a lot on the adjustment you make. As for the color, I agree that the original is overall easier on the eye. I liked the impact of how Topaz handled the background. It made it sort of abstract.

Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida

kpmac wrote:

I don't have a favorite. I like them all.

Thank you. You're must be easy to please but I appreciate that you like them.

Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida

Umnak wrote:

These are all wonderful renditions of your serendipitous milkweed arrival!
Well done Carol!
Rob

Thank you very much, Rob!

Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida

John Lawrence wrote:

Hi Carol. br br Linda from Maine became my firs... (show quote)

John, thank you for the generous compliment. I am honored to be your buddy. I, too, count Linda as a valued friend. As for participation in the section, we need connoisseurs as well as posters. If you feel like posting, great. If not, we're just glad you're here.