To Topaz Adjust, or not to Topaz Adjust ... that is the question

kgiller

Hey lads, Was down in Sneem on the ring of kerry last weekend. Took a good few snaps from around the place. Still going through them, should have them done soon and will throw them up for C&C maybe.

Heres a panorama which i took and was wondering what people think about which one is better? Topaz or no topaz? Its my first real attempt at topaz so im not entirely sure myself.

No Topaz


Topaz


Thanks
Kieran

challengemaster

Yes.

Borderfox

Yes, not too much difference.

kgiller

Borderfox wrote: »

Yes, not too much difference.

Did i do it correctly? Im not entirely sure of how to use Topaz. I just messed around with the settings.

Balfey1972

Borderfox wrote: »

Yes, not too much difference.

Agree but would go with no.1 without topaz.. but that's going by my monitor it's not callabrated..

Borderfox

Try the dramatic preset and then back off some of the settings

Morrisseeee

I'd say NO, I don't like Topazed skies, it works better on buildings etc. Having said that, your pic only shows mild differences. Maybe a HDR effect would suit it better. Its a nice pic BTW, I've just noticed a tractor in it !!

quilmore

spare my ignorance
what is topaz?

PCPhoto

I would say topaz it ...(dont know what topaz is but a quick google sorted that) ..... but I would crop most of the sky out and make it more dramatic - maybe add some saturation and contrast.....just my two cents.

Max001

Mind me asking, what kit you used?

kgiller

Max001 wrote: »

Mind me asking, what kit you used?

Equipment: Canon 400D, 50mm f/1.8
Settings: ISO 100, f/8, 1/500sec
Flash: None

8 portrait shots merged together in photoshop.
Cropped.
Messed around in lightroom:
- used WOW presets to alter tone and curves
- used gradient filter to underexpose the sky and increase the clarity to make it more dramatic.
- used gradient filter to increase exposure of foreground
- used adjustment brush also too change exposures in diffferent areas

Thought it needed more of a punch so put it back into photoshop to use topaz adjust filter. Havnt used it before so i didnt really know what i was doing. Just messed around with it, pick dramatic exposure (first preset on the list) and then altered various aspects of it. I didnt want to go too far with it really.

Original


After Lightroom


After Topaz


If you look at them in large (click on photos) you can see the difference between them better.

I dont know if i should make them more dramatic or not? But i quite like the shot.

Thanks for the comments

Morrisseeee

Good improvement TBH. Did you have a polarizer ?, I wonder if the sky would have come out better. I would re-visit on a more sky-friendly day !

*Dallas

definitley with topaz. the foreground looks much better

LeoB

quilmore wrote: »

spare my ignorance
what is topaz?

Fella beside me just asked the same question!:o Is it something to do with Oil:P

oshead

Using Topaz is definitely better IMO.

Dave OS

Borderfox

LeoB wrote: »

Fella beside me just asked the same question!:o Is it something to do with Oil:P

Its a plugin for Photoshop

ThOnda

Is that the one that has to be paid?

Borderfox

Yeah $50

ThOnda

:eek:
I'd rather start googling for free LR preset...

kgiller

ThOnda wrote: »

:eek:
I'd rather start googling for free LR preset...

I dont know about ye, but i didnt pay for photoshop or topaz adjust :P

challengemaster

kgiller wrote: »

I dont know about ye, but i didnt pay for photoshop or topaz adjust :P

Trials are great things, eh?

ThOnda

Mentioning things like that would be breaching of Boards.ie rules, unless you got it at school for studying purposes.

kgiller

ThOnda wrote: »

Mentioning things like that would be breaching of Boards.ie rules, unless you got it at school for studying purposes.

I didnt mention anything, so im not breaking any rules.