Useful plug-ins for Photoshop

[Bruce M. Herman]

In addition to being a large format photographer, I also write some reviews of hardware and software as a member of the Alaska Apple Users Group. I've recently written reviews of most of the individual components of the Topaz Labs Plug-in Bundle. I still have a few to complete, but so far, I'm quite pleased. I think that these would be useful for anyone doing their own scanning.

Conflict of interest: I have no financial relationship with Topaz Labs. They did provide a free copy of the software for the purpose of the review.

Here are the links to the reviews.

Adjust 4
http://akappleug.org/2011/04/topaz-l...ndle-adjust-4/

DeNoise 5
http://akappleug.org/2011/01/topaz-denoise-5/

Detail 2
http://akappleug.org/2011/02/topaz-detail-2/

InFocus
http://akappleug.org/2011/01/topaz-infocus/

ReMask 3
http://akappleug.org/2011/02/topaz-l...for-photoshop/

Simplify 3
http://akappleug.org/2011/03/topaz-p...le-simplify-3/

[Peter De Smidt]

I have these plugins. With scanned film I mainly use infocus used lightly as my "capture" sharpening. I use adjust 4 regularly with dslr images but only occasionally with scanned film. For standard f64 style large format photography, these plugins wouldn't be very useful.

[Bruce M. Herman]

I don't agree.

DeNoise works very well to remove noise from a scan when a high degree of magnification is used. It's also useful when removing minute scratches or pits in the emulsion that are picked up in a high res scan of a color negative that's been damaged due to poor storage techniques.

Detail is an alternative sharpening technique that works well when doing high magnification scans. Fine scale noise may be present that can be amplified by sharpening. By selectively sharpening everything but the finest detail, overall sharpness is improved but noise is not enhanced.

It's true that Adjust and Simplify don't fit within the f64 mentality, but they provide a means of expanding one's interpretation if one wishes to go beyond the straightforward reproduction of the negative or transparency.

[Peter De Smidt]

Detail can be useful for LF, although there are other good ways to sharpen, High quality large format negatives that aren't enlarged very much, as many of us here produce, require very little sharpening, and what does need to be done can be done well with standard tools.

DeNoise works OK, but so do lot's of other methods, including some that come with Photoshop.

I doubt very much that anyone here would like "Simplify".

There aren't many photo montages here, and so "Remask" is unlikely to be useful for denizens of this forum.

I use "Adjust" quite a bit, at least I do with dslr images, but it's aesthetic isn't one that's often seen with large format photos. Hence most people here are unlikely to find it very helpful for their large format work.

You're 5 out of 5 star ratings have very little meaning without including careful comparisons to other available methods.

I like adjust and detail enough to have bought the suite, and I'm glad I did, but in many cases a better understanding of Photoshop undercuts the need to buy more plugins.

The software doesn't get a long well with Wacom tablets, which is a real nuisance. I've updated my Wacom drivers and downloaded the special "Wacom" verions of the Topaz software, and I still can't use my Wacom mouse reliably with the plugins. That alone would be worthy of the loss of a star for imaging editing software. By all means people should make up their own mind if the effects seem like they might be useful for their work.