Topaz studio 2 vs photoshop software#

Somehow, DeNoise detects those areas automatically and eliminates them from the application.īelow is the photo I took in Yosemite, and it had excessive noise. 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.

Topaz studio 2 vs photoshop software#

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. 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.