Topaz continues to roll out some great new software using AI technology for stunning results. I have already been using both AI Gigapixel to enlarge images, and Denoise AI to reduce noise in images. Both of these programs are excellent, and render stunning results. With that in mind, I thought I might try out Topaz Sharpen AI.
Similar to Denoise, this software is simple to use with minimal slider adjustments needed. Also, you generally get great results with the default setting when you process an image. What makes this software appealing is the three choices of sharpening you can use; sharpen, stabilize and focus.
Sharpen Mode: this is close to what you get when using sharpening sliders in LR and PS. But where it is different is it selects that areas in the image that have detail and sharpens them (like applying the mask in LR/PS . I noticed with my bird images the program did a nice job sharpening the bird, and not the noisy out of focus background with high ISO images.
Stabilize Mode: Ever get a little blur caused by camera shake? Every photographer gets this at some point. Choose this mode when you want to reduce blur caused by camera shake. If your image is only slightly blurry, this works really well (similar to shake reduction in PS).
Focus Mode: The image at top of two green jays had one problem. The bird in back was slightly out of focus since I was focused on the front bird wide open using a telephoto lens. By using Focus Mode I was able to sharpen up the bird in back. This mode is very handy for slightly out of focus images…it can’t salvage major out of focus subjects. But very handy.
Topaz Sharpen AI is very easy to use, and generates great results. I love being able to quickly choose a mode based on how I want to sharpen. If you are only using Lightroom, then this program offers tools you don’t have available. If you use Photoshop, then you have a few more of these sharpening options. But Topaz succeeds once again is creating excellent results, a simple interface and easy to use software program. At $79, you can get excellent sharpening results without having to decide how far to adjust those sliders and auto masking of things you don’t want sharpened.