Hi all, the grid-like artefacting is still highly visible in Topaz Photo AI 2.3.2.
Steps to reproduce issue:
Topaz Photo AI [v2.3.2] on [Windows]
Iâm having the same problem. I use Adobe Photoshop Elements. Starting with importing a RAW (CR2 or CR3) file, I use the Topaz Photo AI PlugIn. I get a grid of slightly darker squares throughout the output image. Note that I tried importing the RAW file directly using Photo AI, and exporting it from there, to a JPEG, and got the grid artifacts that way also, so itâs not something introduced by Elements.
Unlike the similar problem from Denoise AI a few years ago, this one appears to occur using GPU processing and CPU processing.
Please resolve this problem. It is making an otherwise good product virtually unusable.
Iâve had problems with grid patterns appearing in the shadows when using Photo AI. I talked with support earlier this year and they said to wait til the next update came out. That didnât fix the problem. My update subscription ran out earlier this year. I am not willing to spend the money on another year of upgrades if this issue has not been fixed. A search does not show anything about this during the current year. I shoot a lot of macro with diffused flash, which results in a lot of images with dark backgrounds, so this is an issue for a lot of my images. I am currently using the standalone Sharpen and Denoise, although I would prefer to use Photo AI, if and when they fix this issue.
I am currently running an HP laptop with an I7 processor, 32 GB of RAM, and Iris Xe Graphics. Photo AI version is 2.4.1.
I have used this on a different brand PC with the same results.
If they have fixed this issue, I would be happy to pay for upgrades.
Here is one that shows the pattern in the background. Sometimes itâs very subtle and sometimes it very obvious.
Anyone?
Bueller?
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:
You can securely submit your image(s) to my Dropbox using the link below.
Please be sure to send me a note to let me know you sent something.
Original file and processed file sent.
Settings:
RAW Denoise
AI model - normal
Strength - 7
Deblur - 1
Sharpen - Standard
Strength - 86
Denoise - 6
For this example, I left the sharpen strength as suggested, as well as all other sliders and options. I normally reduce the amount of sharpening, as default is normally too strong.
If you want any other preferences, let me know. The grid pattern in this example is not very pronounced, I have had others that were much more obvious. If you need other examples, let me know.
Thanks,
Doug
Thanks for sending in those files. Iâd like to get some more information about the machine you are using where these grid patterns are occurring. Would you please send me your system profile information so I can check if your computer hardware is up to date.
You can securely submit your files(s) to my Dropbox using the link from this thread post above.
Please be sure to send me a note to let me know you sent something.
DxDiag file sent.
Doug
Thanks for sending in that information.
I want to see if updating your GPU driver will resolve the problem, as there is a more up-to-date driver that has been released.
Please use the following link to update your driver: Intel | Iris Xe Graphics | Driver Update
After the update, let me know if you are still experiencing the problem.
Would you mind sending in a screenshot of the enhancement layers you are using in Topaz Photo AI? I would like to try and replicate this pattern on my machine and would need to know the settings you are using.
Screenshots sent. Let me know if you need something different than what I sent.
Any resolution yet?
Letâs try updating you to the most recent version release to see if this resolves the issue.
Please make sure youâve also turned off any firewall, VPN, or proxy that may be on your computer. These are known to block the installation. Also, make sure there are no settings or configurations in your OS system that could interfere.
Try using the link to update:
Downloaded and installed successfully. Ran the same file through and used all the default settings. Artifacts are still there
I have simply gone back to using the old stand alone programs exclusively. I havenât heard anything back in nearly 2 weeks, so I doubt a solution, or explanation of the source of the problem is forthcoming.
Thanks for the reply. How was your issue resolved? I assume it was resolved by an update. Like I said, Topaz CS allowed me to upload the latest version 3.2.0 and that did not resolve the issue. I have tried converting the RAW file to TIF or JPG and then run it through TPAI, and have gotten the same tiling.
I donât mind others seeing my images. Iâm just not sure how I should do it. My RAW files are rather large, around 50MB. The TIFs are even larger. I donât have a file sharing service.
Here is an unedited file that I converted to JPG 3680 long side using LR.
I ran it through PhotoAI and got these tiling artifacts. Note I edited this file in LR to adjust levels. The lighter background makes the tiling more evident, although it is visible in the unedited version.
Note: I ran the JPG through PhotoAI and still got the artifacts, although they were not nearly as evident.
Thanks for your efforts.
Sorry, my daughter and I have been out shooting today trying out our new flash diffusers. Plus I wanted to edit the cream of todayâs images to see how the new gear worked. I took one of todayâs images and tried running it several different ways to see the difference.
FYI, all three were run through LR using auto to quickly adjust levels, and giving shadows a little boost to make tiling more easily seen, especially in smaller images for export.
First, Denoise strong + Sharpen. It didnât really need sharpening, but I forced it in case Sharpen was causing problems. This one gave the worst tiling.
Second, Denoise normal + Sharpen. This had noticeably less tiling, but itâs still there.
Lastly, Denoise normal + Sharpen with Denoise strength turned down to 1 (the least allowable). This had the least amount of tiling, but it is still there. Itâs more evident bringing it up on my screen in Photo Viewer than posted on the forum.
It looks like the tiling may be a function of RAWDenoise. OK, I tried saving the RAW file as a TIF, then running it through PhotoAI, forcing Denoise and Sharpen. No tiling! I tried this with the older version of PhotoAI a while back, and still got tiling, so perhaps the new version takes care of the issue, as long as you donât go into RAWDenoise.
Thanks for all the help, folks. I will have to try this a few more times to make sure itâs not just an anomaly. I will report back in a day or two. I suppose I may have to change my workflow. Either edit first, then PhotoAI, or convert to TIF and then run through PhotoAI, and then edit. The latter is a little more cumbersome, but doable. Iâm a little burned out on editing right now, and have some other irons in the fire, but I will try this out over the next day or two and report back.
Thanks again
OK, after a shower and some supper I felt sharp enough to edit a handful of images. I converted them to TIF files and ran them through PhotoAI. In several of them, the tiling is still there. It is mostly very subtle to fairly subtle, but it is there. I would imagine there are some images that it will be less than subtle.
It looks like the newest version has helped, but not eliminated the problem, as long as you donât edit RAW files. I may try editing a few more like this, but I think I will just go back to what I know works, and edit in the stand alone programs.
Thatâs a shame. I really like what Topaz can do, and would much prefer to use PhotoAI over the standalone programs, which I use a lot. I donât want to have to keep checking images for tiling artifacts and starting over with the standalones until they get this fixed. The bad news is that I will have no way of knowing if they have actually fixed this as I donât feel like paying for upgrades that wonât do me any good until this is fixed.
