Recently I received a lot of questions about my choice to sharpen photos in Topaz Photo Ai. So I thought I’d share a video on 3 reasons why I choose it for most of my sharpening needs, whether it’s a wildlife photo, or even landscape and travel photos too.Â
Don’t forget my course is on sale until tomorrow night. Enjoy!
(Click Here to Find Out More About Topaz Photo AI Software On their Website)
I love teaching and photography... In that order. I feel that enjoying photography, and photo editing can get WAY too complicated. So my personal mission (and favorite thing to do), is to create education that simplifies the process of taking great photos, and how to edit them to get the results you’ve always wanted.
Hi Matt:
I have discovered a bug in Photo AI which I have reported to support at Topaz. Here’s how I discovered the bug:
Using Topaz Photo Ai with Lightroom Classic 14.1. When I export a photo from LRC to Photo Ai using File: Plug-in Extras: Process with Topaz Photo Ai, do DeNoise and Sharpen in Photo Ai and then save the work back to LRC, the DNG file has an incorrect Capture Date and Capture Time. The Capture Date and Capture Time are put into the future, for example the original Capture Date might be December 9, 2024 and after the original file is exported to Photo Ai and then brought back to LRC the new Capture Date is March 20, 2025. The Capture Time will also be incorrect.
If I try to change the MetaData, the Capture Date cannot be corrected to the same date as the original photo.
This problem occurs on a Mac Studio running macOS 15.2.
I wanted to give you a heads up about the problem and I’ll let you know what I discover when Topaz gets back to me.
Cheers and Happy Holidays!
The DNG files created by Topaz will be significantly larger than the original raw files. Is there any way around it?
Nope.
Matt, I just purchased Topaz AI, plus your course on how to use. I have a question. I have hundreds of existing images that I have already processed in LrC and Photoshop. Does it make any sense to also now run some of these images through Topaz Photo AI? Will these images now be improved.
Hi and thanks. For me, unless I LOVED a photo I would never take the time to re-process it. But… I have a business to run and I’d rather play golf in my spare time 😉
It’s a personal choice. If you’re happy then why bother. If you’re not happy with them, then maybe give it a try. It all depends on what you need from those photos. Hope that helps.
I already own topaz but do you offer a download to help me better understand and master my Topaz ai?
Hi. Please click the link above that references my course. Thanks
Matt, and to all subscribers,
For many years I have used Tp as a plugin for LrC, and as you have also done, I switched from individual Dn, Sh, and Gp to PhAI when released.
I use a 2020 M1 Macbook Pro currently running macOS 15.1.1. On this machine, now and with all operating systems over past few years, Topaz processing of ARW files, from all my Sony cameras, in PhAI and in the older individual programs, introduces a mosaic of rectangular artifacts and a red color shift. All Topaz programs work fine if I first convert the ARW to DNG in LrC, then export to Topaz as TIFF.
On the Topaz Labs website there are two blog threads on this, both from 2023 which is when I first discovered my problems. Others have exactly the same experience. It is reported also with RAW files from Nikon, so it’s probably common to all RAW formats.
Stimulated by Matt’s superb PhAI course, I went back to exporting ARW files to PhAI. The problem is still there. It occurs in the RAW Denoise function and is proportional to the strength of the RAW Denoise slider position, yet is visible in some photos (i.e. bland skies) even at the lowest “1” setting.
Again I’ve been in touch with Topaz. They tell me they are aware of the issue and that it is present in “some Mac machines” but not Windows machines. Review of their blogs and of emails from early 2023 shows they have long been aware, yet it remains.
So I and many others must avoid exporting RAW files to Topaz, and instead continue to send TIFF to PhAI.
Matt, are you using Mac, as I think, or are you using Windows?
I heard back again from Topaz. Alexandre there made a video: https://www.loom.com/share/f7785ab3d56044418690dabb27978c06
The same artifacts occurred for Alexandre in both Mac and Windows, when the RAW file is processed in PhAI. He has bumped this up to supervisors and and wrote that a fix would be made. But this is what we were told in early 2023, that a fix would be released.
Also, the suggestion to use RAW denoise only on bright photos negates the reason for which we use it: deep shadow recovery when high contrast scenes force us to expose for highlights so that they will not be blown out.
Hi Matt, I currently have just Topaz DeNoise AI purchased in 2021and use it as a plug in with my Lightroom Classic desktop program. In going to “Topaz Photo AI 3” which is what they are offering at 50% off on the site you suggest viewing, is this their current version that I would naturally progress to now from my Topaz DeNoise AI (since it’s only offered as a bundled program now)? You just mention “Topaz Photo AI” in your video above, and I want to make sure I am getting the right Topaz program to which you are referring in the above video. Thank you. Skip
Interested in how you specifically use this for sharpening.
Hi Matt
I don’t use Lightroom if II can avoid it, Can I use Topaz photo AI with my ACR to Photoshop workflow or must iI be used it thru Lightroom to maintain the RAW/DNG file format?
Hi Michael. Yes, you can use Topaz as a standalone and open a raw file directly in to it, or you can use it as a plug-in for Photoshop.
I think Topaz Photo AI’s “Super Focus” is one of the best features I have come across in my many years of photography. I was able to enhance a wildflower photo that had a shallow depth of field. The petals of the flower were only partially in focus. Photo AI was able to increase the depth of field to the point that most all of the flower was in focus after processing. The down side is that the processing is extremely slow. I walked away from my computer and let it process the image. It probably took around 90 minutes to complete the processing. My computer is fairly powerful although I do have difficulty processing extremely large images. Perhaps a more powerful computer is in my future. At any rate I really love this feature. So far it has helped me save several images.
Should we turn off sharpening in LR Classic when sending a RAW photo to Photo AI for sharpening?
You could. Sometimes I remember and sometimes I forget. The sharpening is so minor that only pixel peeping would ever reveal it.
I’m in full agreement with you on your assessment and comparison between Topaz Photo AI and what Adobe offers in the sharpening department. And I just finished lesson 8 in “Topaz & Adobe Workflow.” I have no problems readjusting my workflow Matt, but I must admit that the realignment wouldn’t go near as smooth without your help. Thanks!
Glad to help!
Am I stuck buying video AI even though I won’t use it? I just want sharpen and Gigapixel?
Hi. I don’t believe Topaz forces you to buy anything. If you’re having trouble though, you should definitely contact them. Thanks!
Hi Matt, I bought Topaz back in ‘22 and unfortunately have been unable to use it because of various medical problems, etc. I am starting anew now and hope to apply myself and really catch up so I just purchased the Topaz AI through you. I am a Mac user and am wondering if the Topaz AI is available for my iPad or only for my Mac computer. I have 2 seats? Does that mean two computers? Thanks for your assistance.
Hi Camille. I believe it’s only for a PC or Mac, but you can check their website to be sure.
I have Topaz Sharpen AI I have been using for blur, focusing issues. Perhaps, that’s its domain?
Is Photo AI a new product with more functionality than Sharpen AI, or an addition to Sharpen AI?
A bit confused here with Topaz’ offerings. Do I/would I need both? Understand they may perform different functions.
Would appreciate some differentiation, Matt, and a way forward through the jungle.
Thanks.
Jeff MorgaN
Check out mattk.com/topaz
There are some faqs
Difference between Topaz Sharpen AI (which I have), and Photo AI?
Upgrade to Sharpen AI or new product with more functionality?
Thanks, Matt.
Jeff Morgan
Now I am sharpening almost all my raw files. There’s always an improvement
How does DxO PureRAW compare to Topaz in your opinion?
Hi. I’ve used it and it’s good I just prefer Topaz. Thanks.
Thanks
I know Topaz does an excellent job sharpening. IMO so does On1 Raw 2025 Tack Sharp. You have promoted both so have you compared On1 Raw 2025 with Topaz AI and LR/PS?
Hi Philip. I have never promoted ON1’s Tack Sharp or Noise reduction software. I stopped using ON1 back in 2020 and don’t plan on using it again, so there’s not much I can say. They make decent software, and some people seem to get great results from it. There are just things I don’t like about it which is why I don’t talk about it. Thanks!
Hi Matt,
I’ve been using Topaz Sharpening for years and agree that the new AI edition is great.
Is there any chance I could get the workflow document you’ve created without purchasing a second copy of Topaz?
Hi Tom. Please email me through the contact option on the site.
On1 is pretty damn good!
Hi. ON1 makes some good software. But in my opinion, their sharpening doesn’t come close to this.