I am a bit confused about what the Topaz intent and difference is for Super Focus and the Sharpen models Refocus, Lens Blur, and Lens Blur 2. On the surface, the names all seem to indicate they are meant for the same thing: focus/sharpen an out of focus photo.
Of course, when I have a photo that I want to process I will try all of them along with other Sharpen models to find which is working best for that photo, but I would like to know what Topaz has in mind for all these considering the names sort of imply they are meant for the same problem. Thanks.
A good rule of thumb is to start with the Sharpen models first. They’re designed to improve images that are generally in focus but need correction for specific types of softness or blur.
Here’s a general guide:
Refocus: Best for images that are slightly out of focus due to a minor focus miss.
Lens Blur and Lens Blur v2: Designed to reduce blur caused by the camera lens or shallow depth of field. Lens Blur v2 is the newer version of the model and generally produces better results.
If the Sharpen models don’t recover enough detail, the next step is to remove the Sharpen enhancement and try Super Focus instead.
Super Focus is intended for more challenging cases where the subject is significantly out of focus or the camera missed focus entirely. It uses a more advanced restoration model than the Sharpen enhancements, but because it’s making a larger correction, it can also introduce artifacts if pushed too far.
So, the workflow we generally recommend is:
Try the appropriate Sharpen model first.
If the result isn’t sufficient, remove the Sharpen enhancement.
Test Super Focus on the original image instead.
As you’ve already discovered, there isn’t a single model that’s best for every image. The amount and type of blur varies from photo to photo, so it’s often worth comparing the results from several models to see which one produces the most natural-looking restoration.
Thank you John for taking the time. I’ve seen the literature and have a basic idea of how to work. What I was trying to convey is that as a teacher myself, I am acutely aware that people have different learning styles. I happen to be one who learns best by watching and then doing. With technically advanced topics, reading is an arduous way for me to learn. Most post-processing software seems to have an extensive on-line learning library (granted…a lot of content is from actual users rather than the developers). Topaz just seems like such a powerful and helpful product; it’s hard to understand why there isn’t more out there. Anything current seems to be complaining about the subscription model rather than tutorial. I find that limiting. Again…I realize it’s a “me problem,” and I do appreciate your time for sure!
Since Topaz Photo is a powerful application, and there are so many different file types, camera systems, editing goals, and workflows, it can be difficult to create tutorial videos that cover every scenario. That said, our team knows many users have expressed a desire for more official video tutorials, and I’ve shared similar feedback internally. While it’s ultimately up to our Marketing and Web teams, they’re aware that customers would like to see more of this.
In the meantime, we do have a YouTube channel with a playlist of tutorials that you may find helpful, and there are also a number of knowledgeable creators in the community who have published excellent workflow videos.
I’d also be curious to know what specific workflow or topic you’d like to see covered. For example, are you looking for guidance on sharpening, Super Focus, masking, wildlife photography, portraits, or another type of editing? If you let me know, I’d be happy to point you toward the most relevant resources or offer some guidance myself.
If you’d like to see an official tutorial on a particular topic, I’d also encourage you to post it in our Ideas forum. Those requests are reviewed by our team, which helps us understand which educational content users would find most valuable.
Thank you! I agree…photography in general is a huge domain. For me, a tutorial covering the application of Topaz Photo to a variety of nature images (wildlife, birds, landscapes, macro) would be my preference.
