Hello everyone!
We’re trying a new format for beta testing with this release. Instead of a limited group, this will be an open beta that anyone who owns Topaz Photo can install and test. If you have a Topaz Photo license, you can participate—no special signup required. This open beta will run for approximately one month, giving you time to try new models and improvements in your real workflows.
For this beta, we have 3 new models that we hope you will try! These models are set as the default so that you can easily test them.
- Portrait Sharpen — High Resolution Detail for Faces and People
- Adjust Lighting v3 — Better Results in Difficult Lighting
- Dust & Scratch v2 — Cleaner Restorations, Better Detail Preservation
Please remember to fill out the survey and comment below with your feedback.
Use this link to access the survey for this Beta:
Topaz Photo Beta feedback survey
v1.1.0.2b
Released December 16th, 2025
Windows: Download
Windows ARM : Download
Mac: Download
Portrait Sharpen — High Resolution Detail for Faces and People
We’re introducing Portrait Sharpen, a new model trained specifically for portraits and people photography. Portraits make up a large percentage of the images processed in Topaz Photo, yet none of the previous Sharpen models were designed for this image type. Existing models often produce results that look smooth, artificial, or simply did not have noticeable improvement especially on medium and high-resolution photos.
The Portrait Sharpen model was trained on high-quality portrait images to better handle the fine details that make people look natural — hair texture, facial features, and clothing details. The goal is to deliver sharp, clean detail without exaggeration or the “plastic” effect that can appear with older models.
To use it, add Sharpen then pick it from the model selector. In this beta, the model is automatically selected.
For closed beta users who have tested this model before, we have adjusted the strength and opacity parameters to produce a better result compared to the previous beta.
For the Best Results
This model should be used only on high-resolution (5MP or larger) portrait images that are already denoised and deblurred. RAW images are the best to use with Portrait Sharpen. We recommend running Denoise and Sharpen first to remove distractions and prepare the image before applying Portrait Sharpen. Attached are sample files you can test the new model with.
For smaller or low-resolution portraits, use Upscale first to increase pixel detail, then apply Portrait Sharpen as a final step for natural, lifelike results.
Click here to download sample images for Portrait Sharpen.
Here is an example of an eye sharpened with the Standard model (original on left, output on right). The eyebrow hairs are smudged together, skin details are over-sharpened and changed. Patterns and textures are created on the skin.
And an example with the Portrait model. Skin texture is enhanced instead of over-sharpened. Details are amplified to become eye-caching (excuse the pun).
For this face, the Standard model enhances the face but does not enhance the skin texture or facial hair. There is also a noticeable shift in brightness on the facial hair.
With the Portrait model, the image is enhanced without a change in exposure. Skin details are finer and more natural. Facial hair is sharpened without losing the quality of hair.
Please try it on a range of portrait images — close-ups, group photos, and candid shots — and let us know what you think. Do faces, hair, and fabrics look more realistic? Does it produce the level of natural detail you expect? Your feedback will help us fine-tune the model for final release.
Adjust Lighting v3 — Better Results in Difficult Lighting
We’re introducing Adjust Lighting v3, an update to one of the most widely used models in Topaz Photo. Adjust Lighting has always been designed to optimize lighting. The v2 model is able to fine-tune already well-lit photos and fix mild lighting issues. However, v2 struggles with underexposed or overexposed images. With v3, we focused on expanding the model’s ability to correct challenging lighting conditions to expand it’s usage for more images.
In this beta, Adjust Lighting will default to the v3 model so you can immediately experience the improvements. The new model is trained to better recover detail from dark shadows and blown highlights, making it more effective across a wider range of real-world images. In addition to improved lighting correction, v3 produces results that are slightly more vibrant and visually pleasing compared to v2, while still maintaining a natural look.
If you want to push vibrance even further, toggle on the color correction to further enhance colors in your image.
Below, we’ll share example before-and-after results demonstrating how Adjust Lighting v3 performs on underexposed, overexposed, and mixed-lighting images. Click here to download sample images to use with the new model.
Dust & Scratch v2 — Cleaner Restorations, Better Detail Preservation
Dust & Scratch is a powerful, time-saving tool for anyone working with film scans, archival photos, and damaged prints. With Dust & Scratch v2, we’re introducing a major model update focused on improving cleanup quality while better preserving original image detail.
This new model includes several key improvements:
- Better dust removal for small particles and fine surface debris
- Better scratch removal for thin scratches
- Fixed issues where original image details were mistakenly removed
- Improved edge handling, eliminating cases where borders and edges had worse results than the rest of the image
Changes to Workflow
Dust & Scratch v2 is available for both local render and cloud render so you can use it on-device or take advantage of faster processing in the cloud.
NOTE: the v1 model is no longer available for use. All local and cloud render will use the v2 model only.
We removed the spot healing step that ran directly after Dust & Scratch processes, as this tool is now included in the enhancement list to be used as needed.
Of course, we have to show off the new model with some examples. Click here to download images for testing. Before and afters with Dust & Scratch v2:
Known Issues
- Dust & scratch v2 local processing for NVIDIA 4000 series and Win ARM not working. Please use cloud render instead
Changelog
- Sharpen - Portrait model
- Adjust Lighting v3 model
- Dust & scratch v2 model
Lingyu Kong
Technical Product Manager
Image AI
