Tag: plug-ins

Topaz Black Friday Sale: November 27 through December 2nd.

This is a quick reminder to let you know that the Complete Collection sale starts tomorrow and runs through December 2nd. If you have been waiting for the Complete Collection to go on sale this is your chance. The Complete Collection will be on sale for $199.99 (normally it’s $379.99) with this promo code: blackfriday2013

Please use this link to order the Complete Collection:

http://www.topazlabs.com/705.html

THE TOPAZ LABS Image Enhancement Bundle is designed for photographers that want the look and feel of hours of photoshop work in less time and with more ease.

The action packed bundle enables photographers to enhance their photographic visions quickly and easily, with flexible adjustments that are easy to apply and customize. With simple solutions essential to the post processing workflow, Topaz Labs’ software makes it easy to achieve advanced corrective and creative Photoshop techniques – often in just a single click!

INNOVATIVE WORKFLOW INTEGRATION

Enjoy simple integration into your existing workflow. No host? No problem. The all new photoFXlab is your One-Stop Topaz workshop! With access to your Topaz plug-ins and extras like an intuitive layered workflow, built-in masking, advanced edge-aware brushes, unique toning ability, and support of select 3rd party plug-ins, your Topaz photo enhancement workflow is now easier and even more effective!  Learn more at:

http://www.topazlabs.com/705.html

Open Up a World of Unlimited Creative Photo Possibilities

Let’s face it, the image your digial camera captures isn’t always what you envisioned. When this happens we all just want a quick and easy way to bring our original vision to life, and give our photos that WOW factor! Topaz software is the most effective way to supercharge your post-processing workflow and get the looks that you want without spending all day on the computer – or breaking the bank. Whether you’re a photo enthu- siast, hobbyist, an advanced amateur or an experienced pro, you can benefit from the flexibility and convenience offered by this robust image enhancement toolset.

1. Browse & Apply presets for a quick 1-click workflow
2. Preview your original and adjusted image
3. Customize your image with intuitive adjustment sliders

Put the Topaz Labs programs to the test with your photos using a FREE fully- functional 30-day trial. Sign up today at: http://www.topazlabs.com/705.html to get started.

Make photos pop with creative exposure, detail and color tools.

Enhance detail and sharpen with no halos or artifacts.

High-quality noise reduction. Remove noise, preserve detail.

Simulate lenses, filters and specialty camera effects.

Masking is made easy with this fast and easy-to-use tool.

Control over unique smoothing, texturing and edge stylization.

Create traditional and stylized black and white images.

Quickly and effectively sharpen, refine and deblur images.

Instantly transform any photo into an artistic work of art.

Restore optimal JPEG image integrity and remove artifacts.

 

http://www.topazlabs.com/705.html

Spaghetti Junction Sunrise

Spaghetti Junction Sunrise (Topaz Clarity Version)
Spaghetti Junction Sunrise (Topaz Clarity Version)

Click on the image to enlarge it.

Today I’m sharing two versions of the same image to show how Topaz Clarity and Topaz Restyle can be used to create different feeling images from the same exposure. In the each version I worked the underexposed frame from the bracket set I shot for HDR processing. I opted to use this frame because I liked the way it emphasized the sky and obscured the foreground. The Clarity version allowed me to bring out the colors in the sunrise sky and the reflection in the foreground while still keeping the equipment subdued yet readable.

Spaghetti Junction Sunrise (Topaz Restyle Version, Fiery Night Preset Version)

Spaghetti Junction Sunrise (Topaz Restyle Version, Fiery Night Preset Version)

Click on the image to enlarge it.

In this second version I used Topaz ReStyle and selected the Fiery Night Preset to really change the sky colors.As you can see it has an entirely different feel from the first image The only difference was the Topaz program I chose to use on the original image.

I intentionally allowed the exposure to be dark in the foreground to lend an air of mystery to the final image. One of the things I like about how ReStyle worked was the way it didn’t create or amplify any noise in the dark areas of the image.

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I have an affiliate relationship with Topaz Labs, and earn a small commission on any sales that are made by using the Topaz Labs link below, which helps support this site. Even if you aren’t ready to make a purchase you can use the link to access a Free 30 day Trial of Topaz Labs products to determine whether or not they will fit your own digital workflow.

http://www.topazlabs.com/705.html

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Exploring Topaz and NIK Plugins

Crane Operator Silhouette (Topaz Adjust Version)
Crane Operator Silhouette (Topaz Adjust Version)

Click on the image to enlarge it in another window.

Last week I was shooting in the eastern approach section of Spaghetti Junction to create a record of the work going being done by Walsh Construction as the Ohio River Bridges Project progresses. Currently there is  a lot of preparation going that is primarily focused on the foundation work for the overpasses and ramps that will make up the revamped Spaghetti Junction portion of the project. There are several cranes in this section that are driving piles to anchor the new Spaghetti Junction overpasses and ramps.

On this particular morning the sky was very dramatic and I wanted to capture the sunrise and the clouds. As I walked through the area I came upon this crane operator who was clearing the windows on his crane of the morning dew. I thought he would make a good silhouette against the sky so I shot my customary three shot bracket set of +2, 0 and -2 EV in anticipation of creating an HDR image of the scene. As I was preparing to edit the bracket set I decided instead to use only the 2 stop underexposed frame and experiment more with some of the Topaz Adjust, Topaz Clarity and Topaz ReStyle plugins.

For this first image I decided to use Topaz Adjust to see what I might discover. I like the Spicify preset so I used that as my basis for this image. As with most of my plugin use I began with the preset and then started adjusting the sliders to get just the right combination for my concept of the image. I seldom simply apply a preset and move on since I consider the presets to be starting points not end results. After using  Topaz Adjust to get the shadows and highlights where I wanted them I returned the image to Aperture 3 for final adjustment and finishing.

Crane Operator Silhouette  (Topaz Clarity Version)
Crane Operator Silhouette (Topaz Clarity Version)

Click on the image to enlarge it in another window.

For this second image I decided to use Topaz Clarity to see what result it would give me. I used the Color and Contrast 1 preset as my starting point and then went into the color channels adjustments to bring out the sky and the faint glow of the crane’s windows. I made some small adjustments to the contrast to reveal a small amount of detail in the silhouette of the crane and the operator. I didn’t take the image back into Aperture 3 for any additional adjustments, like I usually do after applying a plugin, since it looked like it was as saturated and defined as I wanted it.

Crane Operator Silhouette (NIK Viveza Version)
Crane Operator Silhouette (NIK Viveza Version)

Click on the image to enlarge it in another window.

Finally I decided to try out the NIK Viveza plugin to see what results it would produce. As you can see it produced an entirely different coloration of the clouds and sky and left the crane operator rendered as a full silhouette without any indication of detail in the shadows. I also used a slightly different crop on this image because of the lack of recognizable detail in the shadows which threw the larger composition out of balance with too much black space in the lower right hand side.

I like all three versions for different reasons but my main takeaway is that through the use of different plugins it is possible to take an underexposed image and still create something that is pleasing and acceptable. In the future I will probably continue with merged bracket sets and HDR processing for most of my work but on occasion I can always apply Topaz and NIK plugins to create powerful images from a single frame.

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I have an affiliate relationship with Topaz Labs and earn a small commission, which helps support this site, on any sales that are made by using the Topaz Labs link below. Even if you aren’t ready to make a purchase you can use the link to access a Free 30 day Trial of Topaz Labs products to determine whether or not they will fit your own digital workflow.

http://www.topazlabs.com/705.html

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Cedric’s Shadow #3

Cedric #3
Cedric’s Shadow #3

Click on the image to enlarge it in another window.

The position of the hook and the man’s shadow on the rust colored sheet pilings really drew my attention. I processed this image with Topaz Clarity and Aperture 3 to enhance the texture and colors while maintaining the warmth of the early morning sunlight on the scene.

Foggy Morning on the River Crossing Project

Ironworker #2
Loading Steel Onto The Construction Barge.

Click on the image to enlarge it in another window.

Yesterday morning the Ironworkers were loading more steel onto the barge they are building the caisson on. The caisson is the internal reinforcement for the bridge pier which will be lowered into the steel casing before the concrete is poured. The size and amount of steel that goes into one of these caissons is incredible. The horizontal elements in this caisson are at least two inches in diameter while the rings around it are close to one inch in diameter. Loading the steel onto the barge is a very controlled process that requires coordination among the ironworkers on the barge and the crane operator to accomplish safely and efficiently. The man in the photo is communicating with hand signals to the crane operator to lower the load onto the steel beams that will support it while it is on the barge deck.

I processed this image from a single frame using Topaz Clarity to reveal the colors in the scene and to show the river fog engulfing the Kennedy Bridge in the background. I find Topaz Clarity to be very good at allowing me to control the contrast and colors in an image while avoiding halos and artifacts that sometimes occur within these types of images. After applying the Topaz Clarity adjustment I returned the image to Aperture 3 where I adjusted the sharpening and applied a small vignette.

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Download a free trial of Topaz Clarity at the link below and give it a try; I think you will agree it is a great addition to any photographer’s workflow. Plug-ins like Clarity really speed and simplify my post processing and allow me to experiment with different approaches to my images in a timely way without spending hours looking for just the right combination of adjustments and enhancements in Photoshop CS5. With a project as large as this one where I’m shooting nearly every day Topaz plug-ins allow me to maintain a relatively fast paced post processing workflow while still creating photos that reflect my feelings for the subject matter.

http://www.topazlabs.com/705.html

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