Topaz Labs Photo A.I. 3 - InDepth Review
News & Politics
Introduction
Topaz Labs has long been a pioneer in AI software for photography, and as an early adopter of their trio of apps—Sharpen, Denoise, and Gigapixel—I was thrilled when they announced the all-in-one app, Photo A.I., in 2020. Unfortunately, my excitement was short-lived as it became clear that they were phasing out the standalone Denoise and Sharpen applications to focus on Photo A.I., which at the time fell short of expectations.
As we approach the latest version—Photo A.I. 3—I decided to revisit the app to see if Topaz Labs had finally ironed out the kinks.
Interface and Features
The first thing that stands out in Photo A.I. 3 is its revised interface featuring the updated Topaz Labs branding. Upon launching the app, users are greeted with a welcome bar that provides a helpful getting started guide, a comprehensive manual for the main features, and tips on integrating Photo A.I. with other editing software.
It's essential to prepare for sizable downloads on first launch, as Photo A.I. needs to install the latest models for processing images. Before installing or purchasing, I recommend checking Topaz's website for a list of supported cameras. As a Fujifilm user, I found it concerning that Fujifilm X-Trans cameras cannot utilize the Raw noise removal models, getting relegated to the linear model instead.
Photo A.I. aims to combine various functionalities under one roof. The core features include Denoise, Sharpen, Upscale, Lighting, Color, Face Recovery, and a Generative Remove tool. When opening an image, the Co-Pilot tool analyzes it and populates the feature bar with recommended tweaks that users can either accept or modify.
Performance Evaluation
In my testing, I used a raw file from my Fujifilm X-T4, which features a complex scene with significant noise. The Denoise function did a commendable job of recovering faces, smoothing out blotchiness, and reducing high ISO noise. However, my experience was not universally positive.
I encountered several issues, particularly with Denoising, where the app occasionally produced a confusing grid-like pattern on images—most notably noticeable in high ISO shots. While I had variations in results across different camera brands, this grid phenomenon persisted across multiple images, indicating an ongoing instability with this feature.
I compared Photo A.I. with DxO's Deep Prime algorithms and found that while Photo A.I. performed reasonably well in Denoising, particularly with landscapes, it didn't match the quality of DxO, often suffering from a lack of detail.
Further tests revealed other inconsistencies, such as odd color artifacts—particularly in sandy areas—resulting in unnatural shades that detracted from the overall image quality.
Shortcomings and Areas for Improvement
Photo A.I. markets itself as a comprehensive pre-processing tool; however, various features still fall short. The Lighting tool struggles with highlight and shadow recovery, often performing one function effectively but not the other. Masks generated by the AI lacked refinement and accuracy, rendering them nearly unusable.
The generative removal tool was excessively slow, making it impractical for quick edits, while the global adjustment function offered limited usefulness. The only consistent strengths I found in Photo A.I. were the Sharpen and Upscale functions, which performed well compared to other features.
Overall, while Photo A.I. 3 shows some improvements in the interface and the ability to create presets, its slow performance and flawed core functionalities remain a significant deterrent.
Conclusion
Topaz Labs is attempting to solidify Photo A.I. as the go-to preprocessing application for photographers. Although the latest version presents some enhancements, the presence of bugs, especially in Denoise, alongside other unreliable features, suggests that the app isn't quite ready for real-world photography needs yet.
Keywords
- Topaz Labs
- Photo A.I. 3
- Denoise
- Sharpen
- Upscale
- Fujifilm
- Interface Update
- AI Processing
- Performance Issues
- Generative Remove Tool
FAQ
1. What are the main features of Topaz Labs Photo A.I. 3?
Photo A.I. 3 includes core features such as Denoise, Sharpen, Upscale, Lighting, Color adjustments, Face Recovery, and a Generative Remove tool.
2. Does Photo A.I. 3 support Fujifilm cameras?
Yes, however, Fujifilm X-Trans cameras cannot utilize Raw noise removal models and will use the linear model instead.
3. Are there any notable performance issues with Photo A.I. 3?
Yes, many users have reported bugs, particularly with the Denoise function creating a grid-like pattern in images and inconsistencies with color artifacts.
4. How does Photo A.I. 3 compare to other Denoising software?
While Photo A.I. 3 performs reasonably well, particularly in face recovery, it often falls short in detail retention compared to other software such as DxO's Deep Prime algorithms.
5. Is the generative removal tool in Photo A.I. 3 effective?
The generative removal tool is considered slow and impractical for typical use, requiring several minutes for changes to take effect.