PhotoAI ColorBalance doesn't seem to under sunsets

[nicholas.simpson]

I’ve noticed that the ColorBalance function has no clue what to do with sunset/sunrise images as it assumes the sky should be blue. Perhaps looking at the date/time taken EXIF data might help

Happy to provide a sample image to illustrate the problem

Topaz Photo AI [v3.2.2] on [Windows]

[john.topazlabs (John S)]

Would you mind sending in some more information to get a better understanding of the problem you are having with this particular type of image? Please send the following information:

1. The original image file.
2. The processed image.
3. A screenshot or description of the settings panel so I can see what adjustments were turned on.

You can securely submit your image(s) to my Dropbox using the link below.

Dropbox File Request

Please be sure to send me a note to let me know you sent something.

[nicholas.simpson]

John,
I’ve uploaded the original Canon RAW file, a jpg of the processed results with the default settings and a screenshot of the Topaz settings. I’ve seen this with quite a few of my wildlife images and it seems that Topaz is assuming that the sky should be blue or close to blue so that images where the sky is grey or overcast, or sunset/sunrise get the color balance completely messed up. In some cases, I can adjust the color balance slider to get something more natural looking, but overall I think the model either needs tweaking to look at the time of day when the image was taken (the attached CR2 was taken around 5:50am) as a hint as to what the sky would look like, or the ability to give some hints about the scene to the color balance model. For example, being able to tell the color balance model that the image is sunrise/sunset, or cloudy day might be worth looking at.

[john.topazlabs (John S)]

I appreciate you sharing this feedback and images. I replicated the color shift you are reporting and will be sure to share it with the developers. In the meantime, I would recommend using only the Adjust lighting enhancement with this image in the meantime as this shift in color is in directly relation with the Balance Color enhancement.

[nicholas.simpson]

Thanks, just FYI, I see similar (though less extreme) shifts where there’s a lot of sky, but it’s a cloudy/overcast day and the color-balance filter tries to make the sky blue.