Topaz DeNoise 5

[Gianna'sPapa]

I downloaded the trial version of the new Topaz DeNoise 5. Since my camera (Pentax K10D) is not real good at images over ISO 800, I thought I would try it. I am very impressed with it. I have processed some of my night race images and Lion King show images and they look spectacular. The application is very easy to use with auto features and as you learn, it has full manual features. Right now through August 31, there is a $30 discount for new users. I would recommend it to anyone who is having noise issues.

Before

I did crop the second one slightly.

 

[RBennett]

I'll "ditto" that one! I have the whole Topaz bundle and so I got the free upgrade from Topaz DeNoise 4 to 5. It's 2x faster than the previous version and WAY better!!

 

[Twigs]

Wow! That looks great!

 

[saturndb]

it did a very nice job on cleaning up the image!

 

[MICKEY88]

I highly recommend buying the bundle instead of just denoise,

I downloaded the update the other day and tried it on a few shots of a band in a dark nightclub, the results are truly amazing..

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

I highly recommend buying the bundle instead of just denoise,

I downloaded the update the other day and tried it on a few shots of a band in a dark nightclub, the results are truly amazing..

Since I'm getting more and more into PP can you answer a few questions? Is the bundle a plug-in to my PSE8? What does it do that PSE8 doesn't? With the DeNoise, I've already noticed that it does a superior job for controlling noise. Are the other modules similar in use? Any other info to sell me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Terry

 

[RBennett]

Since I'm getting more and more into PP can you answer a few questions? Is the bundle a plug-in to my PSE8? What does it do that PSE8 doesn't? With the DeNoise, I've already noticed that it does a superior job for controlling noise. Are the other modules similar in use? Any other info to sell me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Terry

Hey Terry, I can probably help throw my opinion in on this and answer the first question at least and then if anyone else wants to chime in.... FEEL FREE!!

Topaz is a plug-in that works with PSE 8 (or any of the PSE.) It will show up under your "Filters" menu and there will be a Topaz tab at the bottom. As you can see, the DeNoise does an amazing job! The other programs are also a lot of fun and can really help a picture in my opinion. Unfortunately I don't have any before/after pictures using Adjust or any of the others, but hopefully someone else might. To me I like to use slight enhancements with the Adjust more than the others just because it adds some detail to the pictures and can give it the not-so-flat look. You could probably do a search (cross your fingers) on here and see different people's photos that they have touched up with Topaz. I love it! Not to mention, whenever an upgrade comes out you get it for free!! So I just got to upgrade from DeNoise 4.0 to 5.0! You can also do a google search for Topaz Bundle Discount and there are usually places out there giving a 15%-20% discount on it.

 

[MICKEY88]

I'll just add a little to RBennett's answer

first I think you can download the free trial and use it for 30 days, that's what I did, after 2 days I was ready to buy it..LOL

I find it helpful, and also a lot of fun when I'm in the mood to get creative and try something different with my pics.. I've gotten a lot of positive feedback from clients when I've given them a little something extra from a shoot..

here are a few folders with my topaz fun..
all of these were simple one click edits, there is a great deal of manual control if you choose to use it, so far I've only fine tuned a few pics this way.I'm generally quite happy with the presets..

this folder is just a bunch of random photos that I decided to play with, they were all OK shots, but I really liked what Topaz did to them

I think all of these were done the same way, topaz/adjust/spicify

spicify seems to be my favorite action, sometimes it works with people sometimes it makes them look horrible...

http://www.starrrshots.com/p39341649


the next 2 folders were photo shoots I did, and while preparing the files for my clients I decided to play with topaz and liked the results so I threw those in as freebies..


the Pirate pictures I just threw into one big folder, but generaally it's the original photo then the topaz edits following..

http://www.starrrshots.com/p333432631

the band shots are in seperate folders according to action used..

http://www.starrrshots.com/f1054445063

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

Thanks for posting the before and after of the images.

I've been looking at the bundle for a while. Seems like a great discount on the package.

And thanks for the heads up that they work in Photoshop Elements. Been holding off on them because I was trying to save up for Photoshop CS5.

 

[RBennett]

I'll try to remember tonight when I get home to put at least one before and after picture on here for comparison as well. I have seen some that were real light touches that added some detail and I've seen heavier ones that look almost HDR by how much it brings out. The amount is up to the photographer which is what I LOVE about it. I've done it both ways.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Thanks for posting the before and after of the images.

I've been looking at the bundle for a while. Seems like a great discount on the package.

And thanks for the heads up that they work in Photoshop Elements. Been holding off on them because I was trying to save up for Photoshop CS5.

I'd play with the bundle before buying it. I bought it and I barely use anything except DeNoise. It works great.

 

[photo_chick]

Nice results... I need to check it out. I've overcome my fear of noise overall, but sometimes you just need to clean it up.

Edited to add.... Ok.. I've downloaded and played. I like it... when you use it in a multi step process, reducing noise in smaller increments instead of going all out, it works well with faces. So far it seems better than the CS5 noise reduction. I may like it better than Noise Ninja. Time will tell.

 

[VVFF]

I tried Denoise 3 and 4, neither was good enough warrant the extra step of exporting from Lightroom/photoshop. LR3 and CS5's NR is still competitive to Denoise and I think its quicker, easier, and gives more consistent results.

Personally I think the OP's original image looks a bit odd with what denoise did to the racetrack. The car looks ok but that's because it lacks detail in the first place. It has a glossy surface so missing fine details is not a big deal. The road on the otherhand turned into a textureless surface with an odd repetitive colored artifact.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

I tried Denoise 3 and 4, neither was good enough warrant the extra step of exporting from Lightroom/photoshop. LR3 and CS5's NR is still competitive to Denoise and I think its quicker, easier, and gives more consistent results.

Personally I think the OP's original image looks a bit odd with what denoise did to the racetrack. The car looks ok but that's because it lacks detail in the first place. It has a glossy surface so missing fine details is not a big deal. The road on the otherhand turned into a textureless surface with an odd repetitive colored artifact.

Just my 2 cents.

On the second image, I simply applied the max with the banding removal just to see how it would do. I will be going back and working on it as I become more comfortable with the program. I was just playing.

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

Here is different image of the same car with truer colors.

Before:

After:

FYI, this was taken between turns 3 & 4 @ Chicagoland Speedway at 200 mph.

 

[RBennett]

Ok, so I promised. Here is one of my "milder" before and after pictures. Hopefully you can kind of tell a difference. I ran it through DeNoise 4.0 and then Adjust.

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

Very nice.

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

Very nice.

I wonder if DW would understand if I wanted to go down to Disney just to take pictures the whole time! This board has been really inspiring.