Before I started using DeNoise, I had to apply noise reduction to the entire image and later use Photoshop to mask areas I wanted to keep sharp. In a majority of my photos, I only need to reduce noise in the “flat” areas (sky, water, skin) because, at the same time, I also want to preserve as many details as possible in the “pattern” areas (architectural elements, grass, trees, mountains). My favorite aspect of using DeNoise is that I do not have to use masking in Photoshop after I apply the noise reduction. It means that the latest version of Topaz DeNoise AI replaces 3 original plugins Topaz DeNoise, Topaz Clarity, and Topaz Detail. Now, you have the option not only to reduce noise but to apply sharpening as well. The significant addition to the AI version of the Topaz DeNoise plugin is the sharpening functionality. Even though both applications have noise reduction tools, nothing comes even close to mirroring the effect of DeNoise. Typically, it is possible to achieve the same effect of pretty much any plugin using Photoshop however, DeNoise is one of those plugins whose effect I cannot completely replicate using either Photoshop or Lightroom. This is the only plugin I use with every single image I post on my blog.Īny Photoshop or Lightroom plugin is a simple “shortcut” or time saver. If I had to choose only one Topaz plugin, it would definitely be Topaz DeNoise. In order to help photographers who are just starting to use Topaz software, I have listed the plugins I use in the order of importance for my photography. And of course, they slapped AI (Artificial Intelligence) suffix to all the products. Needless to say, it took me a long time to figure out what product to use and when.īut over the last few years, Topaz Labs completely restructured its products by depreciating many original plugins and introducing new ones. At one point, they had 16 different plugins, and, in most cases, their functions overlap with each other. I have to admit that Topaz Labs had one of the most confusing structures of its products. Not surprisingly, two of the most common questions my readers ask me about the Topaz products are: “What plugin should I incorporate in my editing workflow, and when do I use it?” Topaz Labs Software Review or Cheat Sheet for Choosing the Right Topaz Plugins You also probably noticed that every photo posted on this blog was edited, at some point, with at least one or two Topaz Software Labs plugins. I set my camera’s ISO to 1600 because I didn’t have a tripod with me and I needed to reduce my shutter speed enough that I wouldn’t introduce camera shake by handholding it.As a reader of my blog, you know that I am pretty open about my editing as I reveal the processing steps for almost every photo I publish. Here’s an example of a photo I took while roaming around Tokyo shortly after midnight. Fortunately, DeNoise AI does a masterful job in removing distracting noise while retaining important details throughout the photo. Rather than focusing on the subject matter, viewers often get waylaid by the grain-like presence of noise, which detracts from the overall experience. The biggest problem with noise is that it often ends up distracting the viewer from appreciating the photo itself. The primary byproduct to using a high ISO setting is the introduction of both luminance noise and color noise. The higher you set your camera’s ISO, the more sensitive the sensor will be to light and the faster you can set your shutter speed. In those situations, the best thing you can do to get a properly exposed photo while minimizing camera shake is to increase your camera’s ISO setting. It’s also understandable that you may not always have access to a tripod or it isn’t feasible to use one.
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