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Topaz Studio 2

Some exciting news to share: Topaz Studio 2 will launch next week! (7/25 update: it’s available now.) It will look quite different than the current version of Studio, so I wanted to give some context on why.
 
We’ve rebuilt Studio from the ground up to be much simpler and faster to use. Our main design intention is to offer an image editor that excels at supporting creative post-processing workflows (like retouching or digital art) beyond simple image corrections. To make this happen, the new Studio provides a fully non-destructive layer workflow, an improved masking experience, and a robust Looks library.
 
With that in mind, there are some major differences between Studio 1 vs 2:
 
1. Pricing change. Instead of paying for each add-on you want to use, Topaz Studio 2 will now be available for a single flat fee of $99.99 that includes all adjustments by default. There will be no free version. If you’ve previously bought Studio adjustments, read the free upgrade path at the end of this post.
 
2. Full non-destructive layer support. As mentioned before, Topaz Studio 2 now has full layer support – and everything you do is non-destructive. Looks (formerly presets) go on their own layers so you can now mix, match, and stack them. (Apply and Duplicate no longer necessary!)
 

3. Major UI refresh. Topaz Studio 2 received a major user interface change focused around layers. You can easily drag and drop to rearrange layers, access layer masks, and control blending/opacity. It does look quite different than the current Studio, but we’re confident this new workflow will enable you to work more quickly and easily than before.

A couple things to keep in mind with Studio 2:
 
  • You will be able to use Studio 1 alongside Studio 2, but you will not be able to buy any additional paid adjustments
  • The old Studio 1 .tsp format will no longer be compatible
  • Studio 1 presets will not be compatible at launch, but we will offer a utility to help migrate custom Studio 1 presets into Studio 2
  • Studio 2 will not support plug-ins upon release, but this will be added soon
Upgrading from the current Topaz Studio
 
  • If you own Studio adjustments with total list price >$99.99, you’ll receive Studio 2 for free.
  • If you own Studio adjustments with total list price <$99.99, you’ll receive store credit for the adjustments you do own.
Note that we’re calculating this based on full price (not paid price), so if you’ve received products as free upgrades or bought any on sale then you’re getting an even better deal. We’ll have a webpage to check your upgrade availability by the time of the release.
 
We know this change represents a major impact to your workflow if you rely on Studio, but we think you’ll find that it’s worth it. In addition to what it will be capable of upon next week’s launch, we’re committed to delivering rapid improvements to Studio in the coming few months. 
 
We can’t wait to see what you create with Studio 2. Let us know what you think in the comments!
 
7/24/19 update: The free upgrade eligibility page is now available after you log in.
 
7/25/19 update: Topaz Studio 2 has been officially released!
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Getting Started with Adjust AI

This article is to introduce you to and provide you with some helpful resources to using Topaz Adjust AI to create more vivid photos that pop!

Why You’d Want to Use Topaz Adjust AI​

Jaded by “auto-correct” technologies in the past, Adjust AI makes skeptics into believers. Artificial intelligence is allowing us to make the solutions we always wished existed but never knew were possible until now. 

Rather than trying to interpret all the changes that need to happen in manual sliders, you can use our AI-powered modes to bring out the colors, shadows, details, and more to make your photos as vivid as intended—all in one step.

Adjust AI was created for everyone. If you’re a busy pro-photographer, you’ll speed up your workflow while maintaining high-quality results. Or if you’re just a beginner, you’ll get professional-quality adjustments in our user-friendly software without spending hours learning how.

When to Use Topaz Adjust AI in Your Workflow

To achieve the best results with Adjust AI, we recommend the following workflow:

  1. Import photo. Use JPEG to RAW AI to restore RAW editing capabilities if needed.

  2. Apply noise reduction with DeNoise AI.

  3. Make any composition, cropping, or straightening adjustments desired in Topaz Studio.

  4. Apply Adjust AI and make any further tweaks.

Adjust AI can be used as a standalone, or as a plugin for Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, or Topaz Studio. You can find some more information on how to invoke Adjust AI as a plugin here. 

Installation Tips​

Here’s a quick rundown to get you up and running with Topaz Adjust AI!

BEFORE YOU DOWNLOAD, please check out the requirements below and see what kind of performance to expect:

After meeting the requirements, simply follow the directions below:

  • Download Adjust AI from the Topaz Labs Downloads Page.
  • Log in with your Topaz Labs account or the email address that you used to purchase.

To start a free, 30-day trial, please follow the directions below:

Extra Tip: Started a trial, bought the product, and still seeing “trial” on the application? No worries. Simply click “Help” in the top toolbar and then click “Update Product Ownership.” And with just those few clicks, your product will be updated.

If you experience issues with installation, you can find a troubleshooting article here or submit a support ticket for our team of support specialists!

Additional Resources

Have some questions about Adjust AI? We have some frequently asked questions gathered here! 

You can find some stunning before and after images created with Adjust AI here. 

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5 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started HDR By Jim Nix

1. It’s about light, not color.

When you start with HDR, one of the first things you notice is that all of a sudden, you are getting some incredible colors and high saturation levels. It can be inspiring and interesting, and in a lot of cases, I’ve seen folks getting carried away with it (myself included!). I’m a big color guy at heart, so this one I struggled with. It’s easy to push those sliders, but be careful because otherwise, you may end up with what I have seen referred to as “clown vomit.” Very descriptive.

I believe it was Trey Ratcliff that once said, “HDR is about light, not color,” and his words are so true. The real reason people normally shoot HDR is to balance out light in a scene where it isn’t balanced. So keep that in mind and watch your saturation levels. Nothing wrong with big bright, saturated colors – and it depends on what you are trying to achieve with the shot because this is art after all – but just remember to keep those saturation levels in check if you are trying to appeal to a wider audience.

2. Step outside of your comfort zone.

If you are a landscape person, try some architectural shots.  If you prefer cityscapes, take a drive in the country or head out to the beach.  If you always shoot wide angle, put on a zoom.  Stretch your creativity by forcing yourself to do something you aren’t comfortable with.  This has the added benefit of being fun too! If you are a sunrise person then try shooting at night. It’s good practice to get accustomed to various light situations, because at some point you will likely have to shoot at the one you are least comfortable with.  Practice ahead of time so you are ready when the moment presents itself.

3. Take more shots per HDR.

This is another one of those situations where you will get different responses to the question of how many shots are in each bracket.  Shooting 7 exposures per bracket (all 1 stop apart), is a good idea for cathedrals, or anything highly architectural, unless the light dictates that I don’t need that much (or need more) or if I am shooting handheld for some reason (my arms are not exactly capable of being still for 7 exposures). With the recent advancements in camera technology, however, just 3 exposures per bracket can give you some fabulous HDR photos.

When I first began, I normally shot 3 exposures, 2 stops apart (so it was -2, 0 +2 normally).  It worked fine for me for a while, but the more I experimented, the more I realized that I could get better results if I shot 1 stop apart and more frames per bracket.  Making the jump to 1 stop apart made a big difference in my opinion, and having more exposures to work with just gave me a greater range of light to work with.  So nowadays, it’s usually -3 to +3, but not always… which leads us to the next point.

4. You shouldn't always center your brackets.

The traditional approach is to shoot 3 or 5 frames per bracket, which means either -2, -1, 0, +1, +2 if shooting 5 frames or just -2, 0, +2 if shooting three.

But sometimes a scene is fairly bright and you don’t want that long, bright exposure just being a big white mess.  So, often times I dial down the brackets and start with -4, which after 7 exposures ends my set at +2.  This way, my darkest exposure gives me a somewhat darker sky too (which seems to balance out the light in the sky well against really bright exposures) and the brightest one is only -2, so it’s not a total waste.  I have even shot brackets starting at -5 if the scene is really bright.  Experiment and see what works for you — and have some fun doing it!

5. You can achieve an HDR look in post-processing.

Even if you’ve not mastered true HDR photography just yet, there are ways to achieve the HDR look. The first plugin I ever bought was Topaz Adjust, nearly 10 years ago now. I was blown away with how much it could do with a photo and achieve an HDR look on a single exposure. In years since I’ve used a lot of other products as well, but I’ve always had a fondness for Topaz Adjust, because it was my “first love,” if you will, in terms of post-processing, and now it’s gotten even better with the new Topaz Adjust AI.

Topaz Adjust AI functions as a standalone, or as a Photoshop or Lightroom plugin, so it is simple to incorporate into your workflow. There are two auto-adjust modes that are AI-powered: Standard and HDR Style. The HDR Style mode obviously is geared toward achieving an HDR look, so this particular mode can give your photos a nice, natural enhancement without putting a lot of backbone into manual adjustments.

Adjust AI includes two other Topaz technologies, Topaz Clarity and Topaz Detail.  

Topaz Clarity intelligently enhances contrast and dynamic range without creating a lot of halos or artifacts. By bumping up the contrast, it does a wonderful job making the photo pop and you’ll also be able to isolate contrast in different regions of the photo with the micro, low, medium, and high sliders. So, you get an unprecedented amount of control compared to the global contrast slider.

Getting into Topaz Detail, it basically figures out what is detail and what is not, so you can selectively crisp up certain parts of the content of your photo. Topaz Detail goes beyond edge sharpening — it intelligently divides the small, medium, and large-sized details in the photo, so you can selectively enhance what you want very quickly.

When I started with HDR photography, I tried to follow along with everyone’s ideas, but it got to where I felt like I was doing “their version” of my photos and not my own. These finishing touches of technology make Adjust AI a great fit for achieving an HDR style on any photo, polishing your images to bring out those fine details, and making them unique to your style as a photographer.

From more HDR tips to just about any aspect of photography, I’ve worked hard to build up a wide range of trainings and tutorials on my YouTube channel, so you can learn from anywhere you are, in any stage of your photography journey! Browse my channel, and please feel free to ask me questions on any of my videos. I’d love to hear from you.

About Jim Nix

Hi there, brave reader. I’m Jim – traveler, photographer, wanderlust sufferer.  

My hope is to motivate people to travel and take photographs; to inspire creativity in others by sharing what I create, how I create it, and even what I use to create it with.  I hope to inspire people to go explore someplace new, to just get up and give it all a try.  

So go see something new.  Try something different.  Travel.  Take a photo.  It doesn’t even have to be a good photo.  Just take it.  Create something.  There’s a kind of magic that happens when you do.  

Learn something new on my YouTube channel!