Topaz Labs introduces Adjust 4
Topaz Labs has just released Topaz Adjust 4, the easiest way to make your photos pop. I've been using the product for several days now and can attest to its ease of use and great results. I use it for intensifying skies in digital pictures.
In this image, I created a layer in Photoshop, ran Topaz Labs Adjust 4
using the Exposure Color Stretch preset, then added a layer mask, and
painted in the sky and clouds at about 40% opacity to bring out the
original drama that I found when I took the photo. The entire process
took me about three minutes. Like most Topaz Labs products, presets give
you a starting point from which to work and help create the myriad
effects.
Adjust 4 also allows you to use the great Topaz deNoise
plug-in. This is useful for all digital images, but I use it for a very
special application. The photo to the right is a scan taken in 1993 on a
Kodak Gold 400-3 negative 35 mm exposure. Not only did it have a lot of
grain to begin with, but it was unevenly lit, and I had to use a
burn-dodge layer to balance the exposure on my older daughter on the left.
From a noise standpoint, that's bad on a digital image, but it's death on a film
scan.
After
using the burn-dodge layer, I duplicated the combined image, went into
Topaz Adjust 4, applied the Portrait Smooth present, and clicked the
Topaz deNoise option. In one pass, noise was reduced and a very pleasant
portrait effect applied to hide problems introduced to the images of
these four perfect women in my life by inadequate cameras and lenses.
The effect was a bit strong, so I reduced opacity on the layer.
Topaz Adjust 4 is great for "popping" images, and you can find examples aplenty on the Flickr group site. I tend to be a more conservative photographer, so I want to show you how I use Topaz Adjust 4 as part of a routine workflow.