Topaz Adjust 4

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Topaz Adjust 4

(Topaz Labs)

A Plug-In

     Since I had already presented to you Topaz Remask 3, I figured that once I had written about 1 of their plug-ins, I might as well try a few others. As it turned out, once I had the key to 1 plug-in, it  can be used for all demo try-outs. So today, I present to you Topaz Adjust 4.

    This plug-in offers you a set of adjustments that range from subtle to dramatic. As well,  you're provided with a whole set of slider functions to exaggerate any of the adjustments. Moving a slider to the right will again either make for a subtle change or a dramatic one.

 Their Logo and  Open Window Icon

Because Topaz Adjust 4 is a plug-in, it opens up from Photoshop.

It has a separate window that you work in,  but you can't return to Photoshop.

To return to Photoshop, you have to close down the Adjust 4 window.

The Opening Window

The Left side Menu

You can move the arrow keys to move form top to bottom or vice-versa.

The Right side Menu

You move the slider left or right.

Movements to the left reduces the effect

Movements to the right increases the effect

The Straightforward Open Image Magnified)

               

 Straightforward                  Altered 

Altered Image called "Smooth and Flat"

Another Preset Option called Crisp

The menu items on the left side are called "Presets".

The Slider Settings adjusted and exaggerated  from the "Crisp" Menu Preset.

The Result

The Straightforward Opening Image

The Settings

An Exaggerated Version

The Slider Used to Create the Effect

Another Effect

Conclusions:

 What I discovered from this particular plug-in was something that I can use for any image. If you're like me in terms of taking photos, you don't always remember the details of the image. Therefore, some important characteristics might be lost when you process the image in Photoshop. As an example, what I learned from just about 15 minutes of using Topaz Adjust 4 is:

1. Tryingpout the different presets can bring out detail that perhaps you didn't remember or didn't light  for. In this case, I was photographing objects with subtle textures that weren't "captured" well originally. When I used Adjust 4, the grinding texture on the surface of the green garden sheers comes out superbly! It was the flat and diffused lighting that lost the blade texture.

2. A program such as this offers you a myriad of opportunities.This would be great for a graphic design artist/photographer or photographer/graphic artist to offer their client other variations on the same original photo.

3. I never fully appreciated using layers in Photoshop until today. Again, if I create variations of the scissors image and bring out certain qualities that appear in 1 version, I can then save the file. If then I have 3 images such as the original and 2 variations, I could then use layers to "bring out the best of all 3 images. This could easily be done in Photoshop by erasing parts of 1 layer to present the better parts from another layer. 

Just imagine the possibilities!