Topaz Photo AI 3 Review - Is it Worth it?

Introduction

With the arrival of Topaz Photo AI 3, there are some significant updates to explore. I'm Austin James Jackson, and today I'm excited to take you through these new features and provide an honest review of this latest version. Whether you’re considering upgrading from a previous Topaz subscription or checking out Topaz for the first time, this article aims to help you decide if it's worth the investment.

New Interface

First, let's discuss the updated interface. Topaz has further simplified the already user-friendly layout. Below your image preview, options to switch between view modes are easily accessible. I recommend using the left-before/right-after slider. You also have the cropping tool and automatic enhancement recommendations from the software. For example, in one highly noisy image shot at ISO 12,800, Topaz effectively diminished the noise.

Denoising Feature

Zooming into the image, the difference is evident—before on the left and after on the right. If you need further adjustments, you can tweak the denoise settings, select specific areas (subject or background), or use a masking tool. While the internal masking tools are handy, I prefer using Photoshop for more precise masking.

Topaz offers three AI models for Denoising: Normal, Strong, and Extreme. For most high-ISO situations, these settings greatly improve image quality.

RAW Files vs TIFF Files

Topaz technically advises using RAW files for better results. For instance, an unedited ARW file from a Sony camera showed substantial improvements with Topaz sharpening. The automatic selection (showing it needed sharpening) was sometimes insufficient, so adjustments were necessary. The software supports enhancing multiple areas with various adjustments.

Sharpening Feature

The sharpening feature is more relevant for landscape photos with indistinct subjects. Simply change the selection to apply sharpening to the entire image. The AI models—like Standard or Lens Blur—allow you to fine-tune results to your liking. You can also add denoising or upscaling where needed.

Portrait and Upscale

For portrait recovery, such as enhancing old or low-resolution photos, the face recovery feature works impressively despite some minor AI artifacts. Even with a downsized JPEG, Topaz managed to upscale and enhance facial details considerably.

Preserved Faces and Upscaling

Topaz is adept at face recovery, especially on children. This is particularly beneficial for restoring old family photos. Upscaling is another powerful feature, enabling you to increase image size beyond native camera capabilities without losing quality.

Additional Features

Balance Color

The Balance Color tool supposedly corrects white balance, but it’s an easily achievable task in most editing software. However, it may be helpful for those struggling with white balance adjustments.

Adjust Lighting

Adjust Lighting claims to improve image lighting, but in practice, it appears to merely increase exposure. It's not a feature I'd find genuinely useful compared to other editing tools.

Generative Remove

Generative Remove is akin to a spot healing brush but operates extremely slowly. Given my high-performance MacBook Pro, the sluggishness makes it impractical.

Conclusion

Is Topaz Photo AI 3 worth it? It provides remarkable denoising, sharpening, and upscaling features that stand out. Additional tools like Balance Color and Adjust Lighting may not be essential, but they add to the suite's comprehensiveness. At $ 200, it’s a significant investment, but Topaz arguably offers the best denoising and sharpening solutions available.

Should you already own the software and are deciding on renewal, the choice rests on whether these new features align with your needs. For non-renewal scenarios, consider how much the improvements in image quality justify the costs.

Keywords:

• Topaz Photo AI 3
• Noise reduction
• Image sharpening
• Interface
• RAW files
• Denoise
• Face recovery
• Upscaling
• Balance color
• Adjust lighting
• Generative remove

FAQ:

1. Is Topaz Photo AI 3 suitable for RAW files?

   • Yes, Topaz Photo AI 3 provides better results with RAW files compared to TIFF or JPEG.

2. How effective is the denoising feature?

   • The denoising feature is highly effective, particularly with high-ISO images, and includes Normal, Strong, and Extreme AI models to suit different needs.

3. Can Topaz Photo AI 3 improve blurred images?

   • Yes, the sharpening tools, especially the Lens Blur model, are excellent for enhancing slightly out-of-focus images.

4. What are the limitations of the Generative Remove feature?

   • Generative Remove is slow and less practical compared to traditional spot-healing brushes in other software.

5. Does Topaz Photo AI 3 justify its cost?

   • If high-quality denoising, sharpening, and upscaling are essential to you, Topaz Photo AI 3 is worth the investment.