Topaz Denoise, Sharpen, and Gigapixel
Price: $199 with optional annual upgrades for $99 for Photo AI 4. For Topaz Gigapixel AI stand alone, $99.
Topaz recently changed their business model and rolled them into one program - Photo AI 4. However, it appears you can still buy Topaz Gigapixel AI 8 as a standalone program.
For reviews on Photo AI 4 and each of these three features, the Aiarty has in-depth reviews on each.
- Sharpen: See www.aiarty.com/ai-image-enhancer/topaz-sharpen-ai-review.htm
- Denoise: See www.aiarty.com/ai-image-enhancer/topaz-denoise.htm
- Gigapixel: There are some good reviews for this function under Photo AI 4 and Topaz Gigapixel AI. Search the internet for this comparison.
Website for Topaz: For information on Photo AI, copy and paste into your browser the following: http://www.topazlabs.com/topaz-photo-ai
Gigapixel. Of the three, I have used Gigapixel AI the most by far and so far have not seen the need to update my version. Also, when downloading images from LunaPic, it almost all cases you need Gigapixel (or similar) to increase the file size.
When using Gigapixel AI, it offers five models:
- Standard
- Lines
- Art and CG
- Low Resolution
- Very Compressed
Of these, I have used Very Compressed the most simply because I like the output it provides the most. If I had one nitpick, it is that sometimes it introduces some slight coloring in certain places in the image - most noticeably in the sky. Whether this is the case in Photo AI 4's gigapixel feature, I have no idea.
Denoise. There are five models in Denoise - Standard, Clear, Low Light, Severe Noise, and Raw. I generally have not found the need to use Denoise as a standalone adjustment. Gigapixel includes some level of denoise effect as does Sharpen. Your experience might differ.
Sharpen. There are three models - Motion Blur, Out of Focus, and Too Soft. Each of these have three adjustments - Normal, Very Noisy, and Very Blurry (e.g., Motion Blue - Very Noisy). Recently, I have started using this a bit more as I like the results for Motion Blur even for non-moving subjects (e.g., rocks).
Example of using Topaz Gigapixel AI - Very Compressed
Before After