tommymac Loc: Green Bay, Wisconsin

Is it advisable to uninstall Sharpen and Denoise if you have Photo AI? I am trying to free up memory on my computer and removing some unneeded plug-ins will help. I haven’t added Photo AI yet and hoping you can give me some guidance on this. Thanks.

Gitchigumi Loc: Wake Forest, NC

If those programs are the old standards, not the AI versions, you can delete them.

If they are the AI versions, then I would leave those stand-alone programs on your system. Topaz Photo AI does a wonderful job, but those specialized Topaz AI programs do their specific task a bit better. I have all the Topaz photo programs, including Photo AI, and use them all, depending on my needs at the time.

rcorne001 Loc: Cary, NC

I do the same and have had similar experience.

tommymac Loc: Green Bay, Wisconsin

Thanks. I may forgo buying photo AI after all. seems like a duplication of services

fredpnm Loc: Corrales, NM

Like any photo processing software, they work well on most images, but not always all.

I have Topaz Sharpen AI, DeNoise AI and Gigapixel AI installed and use them on some images. I also have Photo AI installed and use it on most images. In general terms, I think it does a better job - or perhaps an easier job since it is doing the work of all three aforementioned Topaz programs. Is Photo AI an improvement on the earlier AI programs? I think the answer, in my experience, is yes.

Having said that, there are times on some images where I think the individual software application does a better job than the Photo AI

You do not need, nor likely want to, uninstalled any of the earlier Topaz AI programs when you have Photo AI. Doing so is purely a personal preference.

RustyM

I agree and would add that a key feature of Photo AI is Autopilot, which analyzes the photo and applies Denoise, Sharpen, and/or Gigapixel as needed. The results are adjustable, but I find that I make little or no adjustment most of the time.

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

I concur and well said.
As well as the Photo AI functions in full auto mode each function can be adjusted as needed.
Each update to Photo AI brings it closer to making the stand-alone Topaz AI programs less important to retain and fund.
Best Wishes,
JimmyT Sends

Ron 717 Loc: Pennsylvania

I would give Topaz AI a try, ( free trial) and then decide. I have all of the Topaz plug-ins on my computer. I believe that the Photo AI is fantastic, but am glad I have the others for tweaking if needed but so far haven’t needed to do so.
I would recommend purchasing an external HD and moving some of your files off of the main computer and onto the external drive. I have all of my photos located on an external HD and that keeps my internal open for basically just programs. You can buy a 3 to 10 tb HDD pretty cheap.

maxlieberman Loc: 19027

I agree. There are times when using Denoise AI and Sharpen AI separately does a better job than just relying on Photo AI. There are times I run Sharpen AI after I have run Photo AI.

NCMtnMan Loc: N. Fork New River, Ashe Co., NC

If you photograph people, then you might want to try Photo AI because it has a face recognition module in it that isn't in the others to my knowledge. I don't do people so I've never looked for it in their other apps.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

I have these programs and find that Photo AI does everything I want. Don't use Topaz S,D,or G anymore, but they are still available on my computer, space not an issue.
Suggest you down load Photo AI for a trial and then decide.

nikonbrain Loc: Crystal River Florida

Here is the strange thing when i went to see my status with Topaz with respect to upgrades , there was a message of my licence on Denoise AI , And Sharpen AI are good till July the message went on to say because I have Denoise AI and Sharpen AI they were giving Me Photo AI .....So I accepted it it did not cost Me anything . SO don't buy it go to Topaz and look at your dashboard they might just give it to you . Photo AI is more for thoose who do not want to do the processing just hand off to the AI no thinking as far I can tell with just a quick look . As others have said it appears to not be as precise as the seperate plugins . Topaz said eventually it "Photo AI will be the main plugin"it will be the final version more complete .

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

All the Topaz products have their strengths and weaknesses depending upon your needs. Leave them all installed and updated.

bwa

Rob Simpson

Agreed.
Simpson Discount Codes

Below are the four companies which offer special educational discounts to our students, workshop/travel participants etc. Each has a different type of product.


> 1. Bedford Camera and Video
For all types of camera equipment and accessories, binoculars, Audio/Video including stuff that has just come out and is hard to get, go to the Bedford Camera and Video website. They are a large company that can get you better prices than the local stores and at checkout where it says coupon you type in SIMPSON for an additional 3% on anything in their store which includes the hard-to-get new items like the Canon R5, R7 and RF 100-500 mm IS L lens, plus free shipping on orders over $99. https://www.bedfords.com
The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase but will not show up until after the purchase. Make sure, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex.
If you have any questions our contact is Steve Elkins and he can be reached directly at (479) 381-2592. Steve and his associates are very customer friendly and take great pride in helping their customers.
>
> 2. ThinkTank and MindSet
For Camera Cases you can get a 30% discount through ThinkTank and MindSet by using this URL to order. Even if ThinkTank has a sale normally your code can be used and get the sale price plus 30%. The 30% automatically comes out at checkout if you use this URL. Think Tank makes extremely good rolling cases, photo back packs etc – top of the line. They have a lot of products. The travel rolling cases for our 600mm and 500mm lenses both allow the lens hood to be reversed and fits in the case – we have not found another case that will do that and still go in the overhead bins of any of the larger airplanes. Use the link below to get your 30% off – once you put the order in it will give you your price reduction.
> https://www.thinktankphoto.com/pages/education?rfsn=532833.2d855
>
> 3. Wimberley Professional Photo Gear
You can also get a SIMPSON discount of various amounts from Wimberley Professional Photo Gear depending on what you are ordering - Home Page (tripodhead.com).
> You would need to order on the phone and just let them know you are one of our students, or one of our workshop participants / Nature Photography Trips (if you got this email you are on our email list). The Wimberley Head was conceived in our living room. They have very specialized professional gear. They occasionally will have discounted used or demonstrator products that will be top quality.
> Wimberley, Inc.
> 1750 Broadway Street
> Charlottesville, VA 22902
> USA
> 1 434 529 8385 or 1 888 665 2746 (toll free)
Wimberley Professional Photo Gear - Home Page (tripodhead.com).


4. Topaz Products Discount Code
They just changed how the 15% showed up to satisfy their vendors – not sure why they did not want it on the invoice but that is the new procedure. Let me know if you have questions. - Rob
15 Percent Discount Code for Topaz Products
To purchase Topaz Sharpen AI, DeNoise AI, Photo Ai or the Utility Bundle (or any other Topaz plug-ins), and receive a 15% discount you must use the following SIMPSON Topaz link:
https://topazlabs.com/ref/1264/?campaign=Simpson
Then at checkout enter this code: FRIEND15
Note the 15% will not show up on your invoice but will be taken off the credit card.
!!!!! Even if the stuff is on sale, you will still receive 15% off the sale price.!!!!!
Remember to get the discount you must use my link:
(Ctrl + https://topazlabs.com/ref/1264/?campaign=Simpson)
and at checkout you must enter the discount code. FRIEND15
Note: We use Topaz (especially Topaz DeNoise Ai, Topaz Sharpen Ai, Topaz Adjust Ai and recently Topaz Photo Ai) on every image we send to our editors. They make an amazing difference on any image. ISO at 12800 images are transferred into grain less and beautiful sharp images. Even at 20000 ISO it does a remarkable job, so you can imagine what it does at ISO 400! Other very useful products we frequently use are Topaz Gigapixel Ai, Topaz Studio 2, Topaz JPEG to RAW Ai, and if you do Video Topaz Video Enhance Ai). We often use Photoshop to tweak the images. If anyone buys the Topaz products through our (Ctrl + https://topazlabs.com/ref/1264/?campaign=Simpson) FRIENDS15 code we will send you our system for producing our enhanced image workflow (just send proof of purchase for our Free Workflow).

Best to Everyone and Stay SAFE; Get FULLY Vaccinated to help protect us and your acquaintances
– Ann and Rob
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For those who are interested in getting out of the house, after the long C-19 hiatus¸ we are offering a safari adventure to the amazing region of South Africa. It can be an independent trip or a pre-trip to our Madagascar trip. The area has very large variety of animals and is one of the most biologically rich plant areas on earth. We will also visit one of the most important sites for human evolution. An amazing museum combined with onsite digs to unravel the long history of human settlement. It is afforded World Heritage Site status and has the richest source of pre-hominid fossils on the planet. It also includes many species of animals associated with the great variety of hominids extending over a 7 million year (Chad Toumai fossil) expanse. There are hundreds of thousands of fossils with many new ones being discovered all the time. Even a new species of hominid has recently been discovered – Homo naledi.
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South Africa | Optional Pre-trip Extension: The Big Five and the Cradle of Humankind (holbrooktravel.com)
If you can afford the time, energy, and money the combo trips of South Africa and Madagascar will be truly a remarkable combination. You have probably heard about the crowd problems of Kruger National Park. We will be staying at private game lodges with all the species’ diversity of Kruger but without the mobs of safari vehicles and people. Our guides know the area intimately and where to find the animals. Last time we saw the big 5 in the first two days with some very spectacular interactions. On the Holbrook website see the images of mama leopard with two large young at their impala feast. We were able to sit and photograph them unimpeded from 40 feet away with no other vehicles present. At all times the leopards carried on their business as if we were not there.
Also, we will have a special deal on the new Topaz programs. The new Topaz Photo Ai is amazing.
If you are signed up for more than one of our tours, you will receive as many South African notifications – our apologies.
Hope everyone is faring well – Ann and Rob

Here are other trips which are available. If they are filled, please get on the waiting list as spots may become available.
Costa Rica | Birds, Nature and Photography in the Tropics (holbrooktravel.com)
Brazil | Jaguars of the Pantanal, Photography with Ann and Rob Simpson (holbrooktravel.com)
Brazil | Wolf Valley Camps Post Extension with Ann and Rob Simpson (holbrooktravel.com)
The Wildlife of Madagascar (holbrooktravel.com)
Madagascar | Optional Post-trip Extension to Ankarafantsika National Park (holbrooktravel.com)

tommymac Loc: Green Bay, Wisconsin

Thanks for all of your input and suggestions. I decided to keep the plug-ins and add Photo AI. Thanks again.