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Topaz Sharpen AI updated

  |   Articles and reviews, Image Editing, Software update, Tilt / Shift, Topaz   |   No comment

Topaz Sharpen AI update

V2.1 improves masking and settings



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Topaz Sharpen AI uses machine learning (AI) techniques to remove blur and shake from images.

For many types of blur/shake it’s become one of Keith’s go-to tools for image processing. In particular, its localised fixing of blur has been very useful for fixing the complex aberrations of shifted lenses, where problems only tend to show in strongly shifted parts of images.

See all of Keith’s Topaz reviews and articles for more

Topaz Sharpen AI

Check the free trial versions of Topaz Software
Use our discount code ‘Northlight’ for an additional discount on some promotions.

Sharpen AI V2.1

Sharpen AI has been a tool that fits in well with my penchant for hand-held photography. I accept that every so often I’ll get a bit of shake I don’t want. Even for my architectural photography, a tripod can’t stop some of the distortions I get with strongly shifted lenses. Topaz AI has meant that my old Mamiya M645 lenses are something to include in my camera bag.

For more about how and why such processing/sharpening is important see the reviews at:

See also these two articles about the importance of sharpening in any workflow

Sharpen AI update

The most useful feature for myself is that there are auto settings buttons that give you suggested starting points for settings.

auto-settings

The masking is improved, but since I tend to call Sharpen AI from inside Photoshop, I do any masking there.

However, there are a lot more items listed in the changelog

Changelog:

  • Various fixes and improvements taken from the latest DeNoise AI release
    – Includes fixes to save dialog
  • Various UI design changes
    – Masking button moved to file list when not in Photoshop plugin mode
    – Masking button in Photoshop mode changed slightly to differentiate it from other buttons
    – Zoom options have been made smaller to accommodate the new slider
    – Right panel controls have been redesigned slightly
    – Add grain moved to new post processing section
    – Slight color changes throughout the application
  • Improved response time while drawing a mask

Additions:

  • Added new auto-detect mask functionality for generating base masks
    – Can detect 20 different types of subjects including people, cars, planes, and various animals.
  • Added new auto detection for which mode to use
    – Works like auto-detect settings, but for which mode to use on an image
  • Added tutorial for basic workflow introduction
  • Added fit view mode and arbitrary zoom levels
    – Keep in mind this will degrade performance if zooming out on large images. More to see is more to process.
    – Minimum zoom level is the minimum of either the fit zoom level or 50%. For example, if your fit zoom level is 75% the minimum is 50%. If your fit zoom level is 20%, then that is the minimum.
  • Added cancel button when coming in from Photoshop
  • Added status differentiation between the initialization and generating preview phases of processing
    – This should more accurately reflect the actual time to process in general, as the initialization phase can take quite a while on some systems
  • Added proper mouse over cursors for various components
    – Yes/No toggles, Mode selection, Original button

Changes:

  • Changed batch processing so it now only saves images that are currently selected in the file list
    – In order to get the old functionality, you must select all before saving
  • Changed the default selection when importing multiple files to just the first image
  • Changed the default model to Stabilize
  • Changed how auto is shown in the file list
  • Changed product tour
    – Now shows cards overviewing various features
  • Changed right panel to disable itself when no files are selected
  • Changed save button to switch between “Save Image” and “Start Batch Processing” based on how many images are selected rather than how many images are loaded
  • Changed close image warning check so that it will only as if an image hasn’t been saved yet
  • Changed how images are removed from list when saved coming from Lightroom
    – All images that are completed are now removed from the list. This is due to a LR limitation where we are only able to load and save from the image they provide. Removing the image prevents sharpening the same image twice when processing in batch mode.
  • Changed wording on masking buttons depending on if this is the first or second time entering the masking interface for an image
    – Should be “Apply Mask” and “Delete Mask” if the image has no mask, and “Update Mask” and “Undo Changes” if there is a mask already
  • Changed the file list to just list the initials of the controls in order to save space
  • Changed wording of the Suppress Noise slider to Noise Suppression to make “N” more intuitive in file list
  • Changed default suffix to “-SAI” instead of “-sharpen” due to confusion with the Sharpen model

Fixes:

  • Fixed models sometimes not loading correctly
  • Fixed save dialog getting frozen
  • Fixed some instances where the initial mask would invert incorrectly
  • Fixed mask not deleting properly if initial mask entry is cancelled
  • Fixed navigation panel box going out of bounds on certain size changes
  • Fixed completed flag sticking even after changes are made
  • Fixed closing images not bringing up a warning prompt in some instances
  • Fixed bug in Intel CPU detection
  • Fixed navigation panel keeping the previous image loaded when no image is selected
  • Fixed grain not showing up in the file list when auto settings was on
    – Grain should now save correctly in batch mode with auto

Any questions? – please email or use the comments below…

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