Why are the numbers on the vertical ruler only sharp on the ‘bad’ image?
Did you export the middle-image with some kind of jpg smoothing or chroma-subsampling on? That can soften an image and perhaps make it look less noisy.
Maybe I misunderstand what you did, but I would expect the vertical ruler numbers to be identical when you are comparing. They should not be part of the image-processing (unless of course they are part of the original image, but then I would expect them to also be visible on the left image)
I understand that you want all errors on my side excluded, but, be assured, I did everything to make the results comparable. All is 100%, not compressed in any way, fully comparable. The screenshot is done within PS CC, the middle picture of course is just a screenshot of the TS window, hence the different scaling, but it’s not blurred or something, it’s just grey characters, the right one has white characters since this tab is the active one in PS.
I use Photoshop and lots of addins, here are some of my images. I rely on working tools and like AI Clear a lot, it provides stunning results, but in some cases I got these strange results that give me different results (and these are not subtle, these are absolutely obvious, so jpeg resampling can wipe this away).
This is the result in artifacts that are being saved with the image, and is a very specific issue that I’ll be raising to the development team later today. The problem most likely relates to performance-specific downsampling in the save process, which actually impacts other Adjustments. These adjustments have shown some of this behavior:
Smudge
Impression
A.I. Clear
Digital Frame
We have managed to correct the issue with Digital Frame, and I am personally looking forward to seeing it resolved in the other Adjustments impacted, as I see the artifacts from A.I. Clear in some of my own images, now that it’s been pointed out to me. It tends to happen with larger input images, as downsampling increases as your image size increases, making the artifacts more noticeable. My early investigations point to downsampling as being involved in the process, though not necessarily being responsible for, the introduction of these artifacts.
Update: Now that I watch this problem more closely, I can recognize the problem even in much busier images like e.g. in the woods… There you can especially experience that the detail recovering is working much weaker in the final image than it was in preview.
Thank you for your prompt response! I shall patiently await the Topaz team to look into these issues. My hope is that these two new A.I. products would mature into wonderful tools that we professionals can trust to incorporate into their workflows. Happy Holidays to all at Topaz!
Okay. But why does it take so long to fix? Is it that complicated? It works
in preview but not in final result, so I would guess, just apply the same
procedure to final result calculation. Maybe I miss something.
There are many reasons for this. We’re a small team, have many products, and many projects in the works. I cannot set priority on fixes, I can only report them to the developers. Thanks for your understanding!
It’s now more than 7 weeks since this was reported. I’m a happy customer of
topaz labs. This product was quite expensive, and then it should work as
expected. This is not a minor glitch, its preventing me to use the product
since it applies to almost all the pictures I process.
I would ask you or someone from topaz to set the priority accordingly.
Don’t rush out products that are not mature.
The best we can do as a support team in situations like this is refund the purchase price and let you keep the license. So, that’s what I just did. You should get an email concerning the refund soon.
I cannot set priority, nor do I have much influence on the schedule. All we do here is observe and report. Occasionally, there’s a configuration or usage issue we can address, but by and large, the people that respond to you directly are not in charge of the development schedule or product quality. We’re simply trying to react to our customers and support the product that was deemed ready for release by the company. Thanks!
JoeFredric, I’m patient, but this is a major flaw, and should be simple to fix. It it not as if AI clear doesn’t work, the on screen prewiew images are perfect. It is a SAVING problem. How do we put more pressure on the developers to fix it? I will take this conversation over to DPReview and make it clear that Topaz is dragging its feet on this one.
It would be too easy for a small team to be described as “dragging its feet!” Topazlabs and their products are enormously powerful, and many in the community understand how the team “bends over backwards” to develop their new products and iron-out the flaws. And this is such a case in point - Joe has very generously recognized that Topazlabs are at fault, and has given you a free licence. It seems unfair for you to go to other sites and stir negative feelings for them. But that’s just me…
Jack, I haven’t asked for or received a refund… I think the price is reasonable for what you get. I just want to get it fixed. I am reacting to JoeFrederic saying that he’s just the messenger and has no influence. So I’m trying to have some influence.
BTW I’ve been a Topaz user for 10 years, I’m not a newbee with too high expectations.
Hi Torcello, I’m the one that received a refund, and that was really generous of TopazLabs, thanks again for that! Although I would prefer to get this issue solved. I’m sure they get it solved, it’s hopefully just a matter of time.
BTW I’m a big fan of TopazLabs and own almost all of their product line, and love it.
You’ve been refunded, and can keep the license for A.I. Clear.
I’d like to point out that refunds due to a non-working product is influence. So, I’m taking the steps I have available to me in order to get this problem addressed on behalf of our users.
Remember, a problem not getting fixed as quickly as you’d like doesn’t mean we’re not working on it. If you can’t use your product, just send us a message and we’ll refund you. We understand we aren’t going to satisfy everyone, but at the very least we won’t leave you with a product you can’t use and a dent in your wallet because of it. Thanks!
Joe, I was not asking for a refund. I think AI applications are the future of photographic processing and I really like the direction Topaz is going in. I just want this product to work properly. What I want is that you light a fire under the development team and get it fixed.
Thank you for the refund, but you deserve the support of users like me in real dollars. Either reverse it, or let me pay again when the product is fixed…
BB
Bob Bernstein,
“There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.” Isaac Asimov
