They FIXED Topaz Photo AI – YAY!

Anthony Morganti
11 May 202404:17

TLDRIn this video, Anthony Morganti discusses the recent update to Topaz Labs' Photo AI, which has restored the ability to maintain the RAW format when used as a Lightroom Classic plugin. Previously, updates had removed this functionality, causing a loss of RAW format upon return to Lightroom. Morganti demonstrates the process, showing how the unedited RAW file is processed by Photo AI's Autopilot feature, which applies noise reduction and sharpening. He highlights that by not adjusting lighting or color balance, users can export the image back to Lightroom as a DNG file, preserving the RAW format. Morganti also mentions an upcoming course on Photo AI, which he plans to release soon at a discounted price for newsletter subscribers.

Takeaways

  • 🎉 Topaz Labs has restored the functionality to maintain the RAW format when using Photo AI as a Lightroom Classic plugin.
  • 🔍 The recent update had removed the ability to keep RAW format, but now it's back with a caveat.
  • 📸 When sending an image from Lightroom to Photo AI and back, the original RAW file is preserved, unless adjustments are made in Photo AI.
  • ⚠️ Editing the lighting or balancing the color in Photo AI will result in a TIFF file instead of a RAW file upon returning to Lightroom.
  • 🤖 Photo AI's Autopilot feature analyzes the image and determines the necessary adjustments, such as noise reduction and sharpening.
  • 📈 The AI models used for noise reduction and sharpening are 'Raw Normal AI' with a strength of 16 and 'Standard' with a strength of 72, respectively.
  • 🦅 The sharpening effect is localized to the subject (e.g., an eagle in the example), leaving the background untouched.
  • 🚫 If you want to keep the RAW format, avoid making adjustments to lighting or color balance in Photo AI before exporting back to Lightroom.
  • 💻 The unedited RAW image is sent to Photo AI, and any edits made in Lightroom are applied upon the image's return.
  • 📉 The noise in the original Nikon RAW file is significantly reduced, and the image is much sharper after processing with Photo AI.
  • 📚 Anthony Morganti is working on a course about Photo AI, which will be released soon with a discounted price for newsletter subscribers.

Q & A

  • What was the issue Anthony Morganti had with Topaz Labs' Photo AI when used as a Lightroom Classic plug-in?

    -The issue was that with a recent update, the functionality to maintain the RAW format of the image throughout the workflow was removed. After editing with Photo AI and returning to Lightroom Classic, the user no longer had a RAW file but a TIFF file instead.

  • Has Topaz Labs restored the RAW format functionality in Photo AI?

    -Yes, Topaz Labs has restored the functionality to maintain the RAW format when using Photo AI as a Lightroom Classic plug-in.

  • What is the caveat mentioned by Anthony Morganti when exporting images from Photo AI back to Lightroom Classic?

    -The caveat is that if you add enhancements such as 'adjust lighting' or 'balance color' in Photo AI before exporting back to Lightroom Classic, the file will be saved as a TIFF instead of a RAW file (DNG).

  • How does Photo AI's autopilot feature work?

    -Photo AI's autopilot feature examines the image and determines what needs to be done. It identifies the required adjustments such as noise reduction and sharpening, and applies the appropriate AI models and strengths to achieve the desired result.

  • What are the AI models and strengths used by Photo AI for the given Nikon RAW file example?

    -For the Nikon RAW file, Photo AI used the 'RAW normal AI model' with a strength of 16 and 'minor to blur' at one for noise reduction. For sharpening, it used the 'standard AI model' with a strength at 72 and 'minor denoise' at 31, focusing only on the subject (the eagle).

  • What happens to the edits made in Lightroom when the image is sent back to Lightroom from Photo AI?

    -The edits made in Lightroom are retained. When the image is sent back from Photo AI, it applies those edits after a brief moment, resulting in a final edited image that incorporates the enhancements made by Photo AI.

  • What course is Anthony Morganti working on related to Photo AI?

    -Anthony Morganti is working on a comprehensive course on Photo AI, which he plans to release soon.

  • How much will the Photo AI course cost, and is there a way to get a discount?

    -The course will cost $29.99, but subscribers to Anthony Morganti's newsletter will receive a discount code that reduces the price to $19.99.

  • How can viewers subscribe to Anthony Morganti's newsletter to get the discount code for the Photo AI course?

    -Viewers can subscribe to Anthony Morganti's newsletter by clicking on the link provided in the description below the video.

  • What was the main complaint regarding the RAW file after using Photo AI as a Lightroom plug-in in the past?

    -The main complaint was the loss of the RAW format in the workflow after using Photo AI as a Lightroom plug-in. The RAW file would be converted to a TIFF file upon returning to Lightroom, which was disappointing for users who wanted to maintain the RAW format.

  • What is the significance of maintaining the RAW format in photo editing workflows?

    -Maintaining the RAW format is significant because it preserves more of the original image data, allowing for greater flexibility and higher quality in post-processing. RAW files contain more color and tonal information compared to other formats like TIFF or JPEG.

  • How does the process of sending an image from Lightroom to Photo AI and back affect the original edits made in Lightroom?

    -The original edits made in Lightroom are not affected when the image is sent to Photo AI. The unedited RAW file is processed by Photo AI, and upon returning to Lightroom, the original edits are reapplied, ensuring the user's adjustments are preserved.

Outlines

00:00

📸 Restoring RAW Functionality in Topaz Labs Photo AI

Anthony Morganti discusses the recent update to Topaz Labs Photo AI, which has restored the ability to maintain the RAW format throughout the editing workflow when used as a Lightroom Classic plugin. Previously, the RAW file was converted to a TIFF file after being processed with Photo AI. The video demonstrates the process of using Photo AI, including how the software's autopilot feature determines the necessary adjustments for noise reduction and sharpening. It also highlights that as long as no additional adjustments such as lighting or color balance are made within Photo AI, the RAW file can be exported back to Lightroom Classic as a DNG file. Anthony also mentions an upcoming course on Photo AI, which he is offering at a discounted price to subscribers of his newsletter.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Topaz Labs

Topaz Labs is a company that specializes in developing photo editing software. In the video, the host discusses a specific issue with one of their products, Photo AI, and how it has been resolved. This keyword is central to the video's theme as it is the main subject of the discussion.

💡Photo AI

Photo AI is a software plugin developed by Topaz Labs that enhances the quality of digital photos, particularly in terms of noise reduction and sharpening. The video focuses on the functionality of Photo AI and its integration with Adobe Lightroom Classic. It is a key concept in the video as the host explains the changes and improvements made to the plugin.

💡Lightroom Classic

Adobe Lightroom Classic is a photo editing software used for organizing, editing, and publishing a wide range of photos. In the context of the video, it is mentioned as the software through which the host initially edits images before using Photo AI for further enhancements. The compatibility and workflow between Lightroom Classic and Photo AI is a significant part of the discussion.

💡RAW format

The RAW format refers to the raw image data that is captured by a digital camera's sensor before any processing or compression. It is a high-quality format that retains more detail than JPEG or TIFF files. In the video, the host expresses concern over the loss of RAW format after using Photo AI as a plugin with Lightroom Classic, which has now been resolved.

💡Autopilot

In the context of Photo AI, Autopilot is a feature that automatically analyzes an image and determines the necessary adjustments for noise reduction and sharpening. The host mentions that Autopilot chose specific models and strengths for the RAW to noise and sharpening processes, demonstrating the software's ability to make intelligent decisions based on the image content.

💡Noise reduction

Noise reduction is the process of minimizing the amount of visible noise (random variation of brightness or color) in images, which is particularly important for photos taken in low-light conditions. The video showcases how Photo AI's Autopilot feature effectively reduces noise in the RAW file, contributing to the overall improvement in image quality.

💡Sharpening

Sharpening is a photo editing technique used to enhance the details and edges within an image, making them appear clearer and more defined. In the video, the host discusses how Photo AI selectively sharpens the subject of the image (the eagle) while leaving the background untouched, which is a desirable outcome for maintaining a natural look.

💡DNG file

A DNG file, which stands for Digital Negative, is a raw image file format associated with Adobe products. It is mentioned in the video as the format that Topaz Labs' Photo AI saves the image in when exporting back to Lightroom Classic without additional adjustments, thus preserving the RAW data.

💡TIFF file

A TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) file is a type of image file format that supports high-bit-depth and lossless data compression, making it suitable for storing high-quality images. The host points out that if adjustments such as lighting or color balance are made in Photo AI, the exported file will be saved as a TIFF instead of a DNG, which is a lossy format in this context.

💡Enhancements

Enhancements refer to the additional adjustments made to an image to improve its visual appeal, such as adjusting lighting or balancing color. The video script mentions that making enhancements in Photo AI results in a TIFF file instead of a DNG, which is an important consideration for maintaining the RAW format.

💡Course on Photo AI

The host mentions that he is working on a comprehensive course about Photo AI, which he plans to release soon. This course is intended to educate viewers on how to use the software effectively. The mention of the course adds value to the video by offering further learning resources for those interested in mastering Photo AI.

Highlights

Topaz Labs' Photo AI has restored the ability to maintain the RAW format throughout the workflow when used as a Lightroom Classic plugin.

Previously, using Photo AI as a plugin resulted in a loss of RAW format, converting images to TIFF upon return to Lightroom Classic.

Anthony Morganti, the presenter, had complained about the loss of RAW functionality in a previous video.

Photo AI's Autopilot feature examines the image and determines the necessary adjustments, such as noise reduction and sharpening.

The unedited RAW file is used by Photo AI, regardless of any edits made in Lightroom.

Autopilot in Photo AI determined the image needed 'Raw Normal AI model' with a strength of 16 and 'Minor to Blur' at one.

For sharpening, the 'Standard AI model' was used with a strength of 72 and 'Minor Denoise' at 31, focusing only on the subject.

Exporting directly to Lightroom Classic saves the image as a DNG file, retaining the RAW format.

Adding enhancements like 'Adjust Lighting' or 'Balance Color' results in a TIFF file instead of RAW.

When exporting back to Lightroom Classic without additional adjustments, the RAW file is preserved.

Edits made in Lightroom are applied to the image upon return from Photo AI with a brief delay.

The original Nikon RAW file had considerable noise and lacked sharpness.

After processing with Photo AI, the noise is significantly reduced, and the image is much sharper.

Anthony Morganti is working on a comprehensive course about Photo AI, which he plans to release soon.

The course will be priced at $29.99, but subscribers to Anthony's newsletter will receive a discount code for $10 off.

Subscribers to the newsletter will be notified when the course goes live and will be able to purchase it for $19.99.

Anthony expresses his appreciation for viewers and teases an upcoming video.