One problem with the default zoom scaling down is the scaling method used. So, with line-based artwork (anime, manga, cartoon, sketches, pencil/ink), all the lines are a jagged mess at 50% even if the upscale is clean at 100%.
I quite like the idea of keeping the image stable, provided I can change it and have 100% stick from that point onwards, but the quality at 50% is not actually a preview of the final result.
Update on my previous post: the problem is caused by first using Photoshop Generative Fill. Even when placing a stamp layer on top of the original, it will still smudge all over the photo as soon as Topaz is opened. Hope this helps someone.
I generally like the ideas behind the new interface - particularly being able to stack multiple enhancements in any order.
Sharpen works for me on the Standard and Strong models. For Lens Blur and Motion Blur, I originally thought it didnāt work at all. But I realised it was working, but only on a very small part of the masked area.
It would be better if you could change the order, or at least insert an enhancement anywhere in the list. Currently if Autopilot selects just Sharpen, I canāt add Denoise at the start. I have to remove Sharpen, add Denoise, and then add Sharpen.
I donāt like the flyouts. Generally I would rather have the old method of expanding/contracting the enhancement. Or at the very least allow multiple flyouts to be visible at once. I now have a lot of wasted space in the Enhancement list.
Like several other users, I miss seeing the mask when moving the mouse over the button.
It took me a while to see how to edit the mask. When a flyout first appears, you get big buttons with text labels at the top for Controls and Selection. But as soon as you move the flyout, they change into small buttons with tiny icons that arenāt obvious.
If you add multiple enhancements of the same type, it would be good to number them (eg āSharpen 1ā, āSharpen 2ā) so that you can see what the flyout refers to. And have this name in the flyout. No point being able to move a flyout anywhere on the screen if you have to look back at the list to see what enhancement it refers to.
I prefer to see upscaling at 100% first. I want to be able to see that thereās no artifacts or other wierdness before I consider further changes.
By defaulting to 50% after upscailing, itās as if the software is saying āTrust me bro. No need to scrutinize my upscaling. Just move on to the next step.ā
Upscailing is impressive with this software, but we have not reached the point where we can assume every upscale is good and skip to the next step.
I have just tried V2.4.0 and to be honest not impressed with the Sharpening (Practically non existent)
and it also produced some strange patterns on an image which in my previous version was fine.
I have now reverted back to V 2.3.0 which works perfectly for me and I can put up with the older interface if I am going to be able to produce the images that I am happy with.
My images are CR.3 files from a Canon R6 MKII
Running an iMac M1 Sonoma 14.3.1
I too agree.
It was much better before. Itās annoying how you now never get to see the final result in the preview when you make changes to a filter (the upscale turns itself off).
When I used āPreserve textā in the old version I could mask the whole image with single click. Has this been removed in the new one? How can I mask the whole image with a single click instead of painting it manually?
It would be nice to be able to turn enhancements on and off
it would be nice to be able to keep enhancements āunfoldedā if I want. Constantly clicking on them to reveal their settings gets tiresome quickly.
I really enjoy Topazās products, but I donāt understand how Photo AI messed up some basic functionalities with this release.
I personally like the new interface, but:
When there is no upscale (at 1x), we canāt have the image be seen at 100%. Iām a bit tired of this
āzoom to fitā by default anyway. And ctrl+1 (zoom to 100%) doesnāt work.
We should be able to be use Sharpening after the upscale too. I donāt see how it is useful to sharpen 300x300 images before an upscale. I used that all the time before: upscale > debluring/sharpening. Let people choose if the upscale happens at the beginning or then ends.
Recovery faces + Remove, will show cutout faces: face_with_diagonal_mouth:
Where is the on/off toggle for the enhancements?!
Itās cool to be able to add just the enhancements we need, but why not take the extra step, like making them drag and drop, so we can reorganize them instead of having to delete and add them again in the correct order?
If Iām missing something, let me know.
Honestly, this update broke my workflow. I never reverted to a previous update with any of Topazās products because it was always good enough for my work, even with new bugs. But this is maybe the first time Iāll have to revert to the previous version. I donāt like that. I donāt get how these basic things got messed up like this.
Itās like the program is not used by regular users before being released.
Please donāt mess up with Gigapixel AI because now itās my fallback for my work, and itās way faster with 3++ images. But itās missing what I like in Photo AI, the remove tool, and the sharpening.
2.4 is a semi - major - update, but we regressed in the basic functionalities. Not cool.
Edit: Oh, and there is this constant problem when we grab the top-left corner of the window to resize it (on Windows), it moves the whole Window. Itās like that since forever now. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnāt. The - hitbox - is very narrow, and we canāt trust the mouse icon change indicating that weāre in the - resizing window - mode
Edit 2:
I think 2.4 is handling 2k+ files worse than the previous version. Itās not very stable for me. Anyway Iāll switch to Gigapixel AI for the next 2 weeks even if Iām missing the sharpening after upscale (Iāll use a batch function in an external editor).
To me, the interface is totally fine and pretty cleanā¦
The problem are the regressions of the basic functionalities, and omissions of other logical and basic things like being able to just move the enhancements in the stack.
The LR Plug-in Extra process needs some help with the facesā¦ MyFile.dng.dng (52.9 MB)
The same image with the same settings doesnāt do this with the āEdit Inā process via a TIF fileā¦ I didnāt try the NEF file as a stand alone processā¦
really unfortunate decision to move the tool controls further away from the users. Upscaling is auto applied and controls are difficult to bring on screen. Intent of the decision is clear - but this deep dive that is now required to be able and go through the workflow with manual adjustments to the individual tools (denoise, sharpen, upscale) has made it in my humble opinion almost āpainfulā to use.
Quick report while reading through the comments hereā¦
2023 M2 Mac Mini/Ventura, no problem installing or activating.
Preview defaults to upper left instead of center:
After trying some Enhancements (adding and subtracting at 100%), the view jumped to lower right:
Crop tool works well, but for rotation I prefer a curved double arrow cursor icon instead of a straight one (which implies scaling instead). I also canāt seem to zoom into the view to see small vertical details to aid with straightening. Also needed: A more detailed grid to aid with alignment.
Does rotating the image in Crop result in jaggies on vertical lines later? This is the Upscaled preview before final processing:
Turns out the final processed PAI image is smooth. Photoshop behaves the same way.
I do love Topaz upscaling! iPhone 12 photo captured this morning at the car repair shop, while California awaits another winter pounding (different sections shown at 100%):
Yes. Completely agree! Want the āclassicā UI layout and easy, fast, convenient access to settings (none of which are overlaid on my images - ever). Including for my PAI Ps plugin.
Iām going to be honest, the ability to choose enhancements for background and subject was something i asked for a while back. I havenāt tested and used it fully yet, but thank you for moving this way. How you implement it is obviously up for discussion, but I welcome the attempt and hopefully once youāve had a few refinements to take in everybodyās suggestions i am sure it will be a game changer.
Have you yet fixed the problem with the program getting stuck on face recovery?
Iām not even going to bother downloading or installing any new versions until you say that that problem has been fixed. Itās now been a month since that problem first came up, and I cannot think of any excuse at all for not having fixed it, by now.
Yes Face Detection freezing is fixed in v2.4.0. I just added an update to the release post about this issue and will update bugs and issues as well so this is clear.