I posted in the DeNoise thread yesterday, and now I’m experiencing the same exact issue with Sharpen, it makes all of the images pixelated and unusable.
I uninstalled both and did clean installs on Windows 10, and I made sure I had the latest nvidia driver thinking that might help. But it doesn’t.
I have exactly the same problem. Using MacOS 10.14.6 as well. There is no way to play with preferences as the program immediately goes to spinning beach ball.
I had the same problem as jrwygant. I have windows 7.
Two error messages appear when installing:
Topaz Sharpen AI.exe - Entry Point Not Found
The procedure entry point CreateFile2 could not be located in the dynamic link library KERNEL32.dll.
Topaz Sharpen AI.exe - System Error
The program can’t start because hddlapi.dll is missing from your computer. Try reinstalling the program to fix this problem.
I closed the windows and it appeared to run but after I zoomed in it crashed and disappeared from screen. I’ve reinstalled V2.2.2
I am also having the crash issue with MacOS 10.14.6.
Just downloaded new versions of Denoise and Sharpen 3.0.0. Denoise works, Sharpen does not. I’m using MacOS 10.13.6. Sharpen app crashes when try to click on Update Preview. Trying to figure out how to uninstall and revert to Sharpen 2.2.2. My wife has MacOS 11.2.3 and it seems to work on her computer.
OK, so, new problem.
In case anyone still doesn’t know, I’m an OpenVINO user. 
OpenVINO isn’t working. It’s not working in Sharpen AI 3.0.0, and it’s not working in Denoise AI 3.0.2 either.
I’m on Windows 10 Pro x64 2004.
I ran an image on Sharpen AI version 2.2.1 on Windows 7. It took about 5 - 10 seconds or so.
The same image on Sharpen AI version 3.0.2 on Windows 10 took over 40 seconds.
I have the latest beta of Video Enhance AI installed on the same system, and there, OpenVINO works extremely well.
Attached below are the logs from Windows 10.
2021-03-25-01-28-34-Main.tzlog (67.5 KB)
2021-03-25-01-28-34-QML.tzlog (25.8 KB)
2021-03-25-01-28-34-Main.tzlog seems to show it found the system can support OpenVINO. But check lines 391 - 412, it says:
2021-03-25T01:30:05.342 [Info ] Thread: 0x1edb485ff20 < line #: 0> CAN DOWNLOAD MODELS: true
2021-03-25T01:30:05.342 [Info ] Thread: 0x1edb485ff20 < line #: 0> BACKENDS: coreml, onnx16, openvino16, tensorflow
2021-03-25T01:30:05.342 [Debug ] Thread: 0x1edb485ff20 < line #: 0> CHOOSE FROM BACKENDS: 146
2021-03-25T01:30:05.342 [Info ] Thread: 0x1edb485ff20 < line #: 0> Device ID: -1 FOUND OV: false CML: false TF: true ONNX: false ONNX16: true
2021-03-25T01:30:05.342 [Info ] Thread: 0x1edb485ff20 < line #: 0> GPU NAME:
2021-03-25T01:30:05.342 [Debug ] Thread: 0x1edb485ff20 < line #: 0> CPU MODE: 1
2021-03-25T01:30:05.342 [Debug ] Thread: 0x1edb485ff20 < line #: 0> Block: 512 512 12 1.16038 0.560381
2021-03-25T01:30:05.342 [Info ] Thread: 0x1edb485ff20 < line #: 0> BLOCK: 512 512
2021-03-25T01:30:05.342 [Debug ] Thread: 0x1edb485ff20 < line #: 0> [N]-v[V]-fp16-[H]x[W]-ox.tz FILENAME: slb-v1-fp16-512x512-ox.tz
2021-03-25T01:30:05.342 [Info ] Thread: 0x1edb485ff20 < line #: 0> DEVICE: -1
2021-03-25T01:30:05.342 [Debug ] Thread: 0x1edb485ff20 < line #: 0> Loading default model file: C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Topaz Labs\Topaz Sharpen AI\tgrc\/slb-v1-fp16-512x512-ox.tz
2021-03-25T01:30:05.342 [Debug ] Thread: 0x1edb485ff20 < line #: 0> Trying to open file: C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Topaz Labs\Topaz Sharpen AI\tgrc\/slb-v1-fp16-512x512-ox.tz
2021-03-25T01:30:05.342 [Debug ] Thread: 0x1edb485ff20 < line #: 0> Opened archive containing 1 files
2021-03-25T01:30:06.659 [Info ] Thread: 0x1edb485ff20 < line #: 0> OX with device: -1
2021-03-25T01:30:06.659 [Info ] Thread: 0x1edb485ff20 < line #: 0> BUFFER DATA: 75732786
2021-03-25T01:30:06.659 [Info ] Thread: 0x1edb485ff20 < line #: 0> ORT ENV SETUP
2021-03-25T01:30:06.755 [Info ] Thread: 0x1edb485ff20 < line #: 0> Loading time for model file: C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Topaz Labs\Topaz Sharpen AI\tgrc\/slb-v1-fp16-512x512-ox.tz is 1413267
2021-03-25T01:30:06.759 [Info ] Thread: 0x1edb485ff20 < line #: 0> TOTAL INSTANCES: 1
2021-03-25T01:30:06.759 [Info ] Thread: 0x1edb485ff20 < line #: 0> Model : 0x1edc79d37e0
2021-03-25T01:30:06.759 [Info ] Thread: 0x1edb485ff20 < line #: 0> Block Size selected: 512 x 512
2021-03-25T01:30:06.759 [Debug ] Thread: 0x1edb485ff20 < line #: 0> Clamping required false
2021-03-25T01:30:06.759 [Debug ] Thread: 0x1edb485ff20 < line #: 0> MT created
Line 394 says “FOUND OV: false” and you can see it’s not loading the ov.tz files; it’s loading the tensorflow ox.tz files.
The application is set to “CPU” for “AI Processor” in Preferences.
In the registry, under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Topaz Labs LLC\Topaz Sharpen AI\appMain, DWORD cpuPlugin is set to 1. I believe it should be 0 for OpenVINO. If I change it to 0 it will just get changed back to 1. However, String ifOpenVinoCanWork is set to true.
For comparison, here are logs for Sharpen AI 2.2.1 on Windows Server 2008 R2 (effectively Windows 7), where OpenVINO is working:
2021-03-25-01-55-47-Main.tzlog (44.2 KB)
2021-03-25-01-55-47-QML.tzlog (24.6 KB)
Video Enhance AI version 1.5.2 had a similar problem, where it used Tensorflow instead of OpenVINO, even though the system could support OpenVINO. This was fixed in Video Enhance AI version 1.6.0. I had a support ticket for this, it’s ticket # 250486. However, I don’t think this will help much, as Matt Lathrop, the developer who fixed it, is no longer with Topaz Labs. And it may not have the same cause, even though the issue seems similar. But I thought I’d mention it.
TERRIBLE! Crashes. Using Mac OSX 13.6.
1 Like
Hmmm, did you put on “image sharpen” in the driver?
I know that while not gaming this feature does disturb normal usage, but does wonders while gaming.
Its under “3D” settings.
I agree about the halos. Terrible.
Does anyone know how to revert to the earlier version on Windows 10? Version 3 has overwritten V2. Is it simply to uninstall V3 and reinstall V2?
2 Likes
Exact same issue, same operating system too.
Its named like the problem, not of what to do.
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I know the software requires a lot of power but you’ve actually managed to make it even slower with this update.
Took 10 minutes to just update previews on a 2020 MacBook Pro with no other software running!
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Same thing happens to me.
How did you revert to the previous version?
Did you choose the GPU as AI processor?
Its actually quite patronizing, and considering that technically its a worse algorithm it is not only aimed at child in naming structure its also a) worse algorithm so it fails to even deliver what it says in all but name, and b) naming the values differently and making sliders act differently with no usual naming structure makes it less usable for users because we are used to using old values and expect certain results, now one has to adopt to completely new names and behavior in an app with no benefit and no valid reason for change expect some person in the developer team had an itch in places where others do not.
I mean never mind the downgrade in the output results of the sharpening with new version, these are the basics of UI design and user experience management. Let me repeat that, these are the basics. As in only an inexperience or arrogant person would not follow the sound fundamentals and instead of realigning the wheel, try to pretend they are smarter than everyone else and reinvent something that is well established.
Bottom line is that this release is a downgrade from previous one, which will shake the trust in the development team and their ability to deliver better products in the future and considering the program this buggy and with this many changes that are clearly not better than last version, it makes one wonder are there any developers in the team that understand its user base. If not, I suggest to Topaz Labs to hire some actual photographer and people who know what sharpening needs people have and also to hire someone with understanding of fundamentals of UI design and user experience.
9 Likes
Not available as an option on my Mac. But the issue is still that it takes 3-4 times as long with 3.0 compared to 2.?? which I used yesterday without any other changes and on the same photos as I wanted to make comparison on 2.?? and 3.0.
And when it comes to comparison. 3.0 is creating sharper images in some areas then 2.?? but it also creates bad looking halos in other. I’d rather stick with a photo that is a little less sharp but without halos than a extremely sharp photo that has halos in some areas.
Found the 2.1.8 installation file on Topaz website so will revert back to that. Unfortunately I can’t seem to fins that latast v.2 update file. Anyone know where to find it?
1 Like
They have created a new engine that allows them to react faster to our wishes.
It is also twice as fast as the old one.
And to not exclude users with old operating systems (7 years old OS that even dont get updates anymore), they have also made a version for these people.
With so much work, you can see not only the negative but also the positive.
Now it just needs some fine tuning.
Until now it has worked after a few updates.
That will be the case again now.
I have complete confidence.
3 Likes
“It is also twice as fast as the old one.”
How can you say that when several people on this board, me included, have experienced a significant slowdown with the new version?
With all do respect you are trying to justify the release as a fanboy not a working professional. If the tool you use does not deliver the results you are using it for, that is unacceptable. If you are trying to sell to users the notion that its easier for developers, that is fine, I’m sympathetic. But users are not developers, they want the tool to do the job they need it to do, and make their life easier not harder, otherwise its counterproductive.
This release has sharpening engine that delivers halos, the ultimate taboo for any self respecting sharpening algorithm. The whole reason why most people used Sharpen tool form Topaz labs vs other products was not because it was easier to code by the developers, but because it sharpened the image without halos.
Do you understand that? Even bugs and inexplicable naming changes to UI can be tolerated, but if the tool for sharpening does not sharpen the image and make it look worse, that my friend is a failure of the product.
Slowdown and crashes can be fixed with point releases and while they are annoying to reinstall and download again, I guess most people are able to tolerate it. Even patronizing and weird childish name changes in UI can be tolerated, but bad sharpening in a product that specializes in sharpening is unacceptable. Period. And since they have new algorithms looks like until possibly Sharpen 4.0 there is no point to use product that fails in one thing it supposed to do. So for the time being its sharpen version 2 for many users I imagine, until Topaz starts to put users ahead of developers, if that is really the reason behind this disappointing release.
9 Likes
Telling from the previews I checked with various images of different quality the results with this version are quite promising. For my taste it seems to work better than the previous version overall. If the halo issue on higher sharpening settings gets ironed out it’ll be even better
1 Like
