Topaz Photo AI Review 2024: Is It Worth it?
Posted By: Chloe Turner- Category: PhotoPro AI Tips
- Post On: May 20, 2024
In the digital age, behind every perfect photo may be hidden countless adjustments and polishing efforts by photographers and editors. But imagine if there was a tool that could understand your needs and automatically perform magic to make every picture vivid, which would greatly improve your efficiency. As an AI-driven photo editing software, Topaz Photo AI is attracting the attention of photographers and editing enthusiasts around the world. In this review, we'll reveal Topaz Photo AI core features, how to use it, pros and cons, purchasing options, and compare alternatives to help you decide if this software is right for your creative workflow.
1. What is Topaz Photo AI?
Topaz Photo AI is an advanced photo editing software developed by Topaz Labs, which uses AI technology to improve the efficiency and quality of users' photo editing. The core of Topaz AI lies in its automated features, designed to reduce the amount of work required by users in photo post-processing while delivering high-quality image enhancements. Compared with Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom, it focuses on image quality improvement, while Photoshop provides more comprehensive and complex editing tools, and Lightroom focuses on photo management and adjustment.
👉️ Learn More : Topaz Video AI Review 2024: What Is It? How to Use it?
2. Topaz Photo AI Features - A Deep Dive into AI-Powered Tools
Topaz Photo AI integrates several powerful AI models to automatically improve image quality by enhancing sharpness, reducing noise, and increasing resolution. Here are four main features to further understand this AI photo enhancer.
Automatic Detection and Optimization
Topaz Photo AI's Autopilot function is one of the core functions of the program, which uses AI to automatically analyze and improve imported pictures. Through analysis, Autopilot provides an initial setting list to lay the foundation for further manual adjustments by the user. This feature is especially suitable for users who are new to photo editing, as they only need to fine-tune the optimization results provided by Topaz AI instead of starting from scratch.
However, after our trial, this feature is enabled by default, which means that once you upload a photo, Topaz will automatically optimize it and cannot be turned off. So if you want to adjust the picture yourself, this function may bring you some inconvenience.
Noise Removal and Reduction
Topaz Photo AI’s noise reduction technology is one of its highly regarded features, and it does a great job of reducing noise in photos caused by high ISO or poor lighting conditions. Topaz AI offers different noise reduction modes, namely "Normal" and "Strong", to suit different types of noise and user preferences. However, according to real feedback from some users, sometimes denoising results in too strong a result and distorts the picture. If the default noise reduction effect is too strong for some images, users can also manually adjust it with a slider to achieve a more natural effect.
"I enjoy using the Topaz products, as I own a bunch. However they are still a bit wonky and not close to perfect. Most of the time I have noticed that images become too sharp and the noise reduction is a bit much. This ultimately produces unrealistic looking images."
-- a user of Topaz Labs claimed on trustpilot.com
Face Recovery
Face restoration is a feature that enhances and improves faces in images. Topaz Photo AI makes facial features clearer and more pronounced by enhancing the details in low-resolution photos. It works well for small-sized faces in a scene, such as individuals in group photos or distant faces. If facial restoration does not perform as expected, Topaz Photo AI will automatically recognize and disable the feature, or users can turn it off manually.
At present, this function has received a lot of feedback. Some users said that when using facial repair, the face will look plasticky, or it will only focus on the face and ignore other parts, resulting in unsatisfactory results.
"I actually really dislike my experience with Topaz photo AI - it seemed like all i could get it to do was sharpen the pixels, and it would only recognize sections of faces - not an ear, which still looked really abstract and terrible. The info on the website seems to grossly over-promise the capabilities of this app. I want to cancel and get my money back!"
-- a user of Topaz Labs claimed on trustpilot.com
"While it removes noise and sharpens images it also leaves people in those images with a "plastic" look to them. Sometimes it completely disfigures hands and even facial features. I'm hoping that it's just me not using it correctly and these issues will be worked out. Fingers crossed because it's not a cheap app."
-- a user of Topaz Labs claimed on trustpilot.com
Resolution Enhancement
Topaz Photo AI enhances resolution by intelligently upscaling images to higher pixel sizes through AI algorithms without losing detail or sharpness. The feature offers three different operating modes: Natural, Graphics, and Low Resolution to accommodate different types of images and enhancement needs. This is great for old or low-resolution photos, restoring detail in these photos and making them suitable for printing or further editing. In addition, during use, there may also be a problem that the image cannot be enlarged normally due to the size of the photo.
"Topaz is full of bugs - very disappointing for more than $300 of software. Upscaling doesn't work properly - the number of pixels is not the same as specified. It is impossible to set pixels for a square photo properly, Topaz require there to be a different number of pixels V vs H which is ridiculous for a square photo. Topaz generally crashes after completing an export back to Lightroom."
-- a user of Topaz Labs claimed on trustpilot.com
In addition to these product features, many people will also be concerned about the reasonableness of the price relative to the product features and support. Topaz is not a free tool and requires payment to use it normally. However, according to the official price and user feedback, this product is still not very cost-effective.
"For the price point, I expected a lot more ease of use and support. There are free options out there that seem to be able to do an equal, if not better job."
-- a user of Topaz Labs claimed on trustpilot.com
3. Topaz Photo AI Reviews - The Pros and Cons
By understanding the core functions and operating procedures of Topaz Photo AI, we can also draw some advantages and disadvantages of Topaz Labs image enhancer AI:
Pros:
- The operating interface is clean, intuitive, and user-friendly.
- Automatically analyzes and optimizes images, reducing the need for manual adjustments.
- Able to significantly reduce noise and deblur, making images clearer.
- Available as a standalone program or as a plug-in for other applications such as Photoshop.
- No complicated settings are required, allowing users who are unfamiliar with photo editing to get started quickly.
Cons:
- Missing basic features such as auto-exposure and white balance correction tools.
- In some cases, picture enhancement may produce unnatural or artificial effects.
- The Autopilot function is not disableable, meaning that it will be activated every time you upload an image.
- Price is too high relative to other programs offering similar features and needs, and purchasing options are few.
- The free trial cannot export photos and must be activated to use it.
4. Best Alternative to Topaz Photo AI
After understanding the core features, benefits, and limitations of Topaz Photo AI, you may want to explore new options or compare different AI photo editing tools to help you make a decision. Is there any Topaz Photo AI alternative? The answer is yes, AVCLabs PhotoPro AI is one of the best Topaz Photo AI alternatives.
Similar to Topaz Photo AI, AVCLabs PhotoPro AI is an advanced artificial intelligence photo editing software that helps users improve and simplify the photo editing process through a series of AI-driven tools. These tools cover the main functions in Topaz such as noise reduction, sharpening, removal, and face recovery. In addition, there are other AI models, which can be divided into the following categories:
- AI Inpaint: Analyzes image content and seamlessly removes selected unwanted elements such as superfluous objects or distracting elements.
- AI Replace: Select any object in the image and replace it with a new object generated by AI by entering descriptive text.
- AI Matting: Select and extract specific areas, such as people or objects, from the original background, which can then be replaced with a solid color or a custom image.
- AI Enhance: Use AI technology to enhance the quality of old or low-resolution photos, restore image details, and improve the overall clarity of your photos.
- AI Stylize: Provide a variety of art styles, such as animation, sketch, to convert photos into works with specific artistic effects.
- AI Colorize: Automatically colorize black and white photos for historic buildings, portraits, and landscapes to make them look more vivid.
- AI Upscale: Increase image resolution without losing quality, supporting up to 4x magnification.
- AI Toning: Quickly correct mismatched colors in images. Users can correct overall hue or color problems by modifying parameters such as brightness, contrast, and saturation.
Why AVCLabs PhotoPro AI is the best Topaz Photo AI Alternative
More comprehensive AI editing tools: Compared with Topaz Photo AI, AVCLabs provides more comprehensive editing functions, including enhancement, removal, repair, and enlargement functions. It also supports AI tools such as text to image, stylization, and black and white coloring to help users create pictures. greater possibility.
More diverse pricing options: Topaz Photo AI only has a purchase option of $199 which may make many people hesitate to pay. However, AVCLabs provides more reasonable and rich purchase options, including monthly fees, annual fees, and one-time fees, with prices of $39.95, $89.95, and $169.90 respectively. And monthly and annual subscriptions can be canceled and renewed at any time. It provides an extremely cost-effective option for users with different budgets.
The free version can be exported: The free version of AVCLabs can still allow users to edit pictures. Unlike the free demo of Topaz, which requires unlocking to export pictures, even if you are in the free version, you can directly export the edited pictures, but there will be a watermark.
User-friendly interface: AVCLabs adopts an intuitive and simple operation interface. Users can easily find all AI tools on the left toolbar and edit them according to their needs. Topaz is a bit difficult to operate for users who have no previous knowledge of it. It takes a while to find out how to use the program.
Key Features of AVCLabs PhotoPro AI
- AI-driven technology applied to detect and remove backgrounds automatically.
- Automatic detection and substitution of components with new objects generated by AI.
- Upscale image up tp 4x without losing quality and details.
- Intelligently restore and enhance photo quality and clarity with AI.
- Bring black and white photos to life by adding color.
- Intelligent text-to-image conversion opens up more possibilities for photos.
5. FAQs About Topaz Photo AI
Does Topaz Photo AI Include Gigapixel?
Yes. Maybe many people will be curious about the difference between Topaz Photo AIi vs Gigapixel. The fact is that Topaz Photo AI incorporates the advanced capabilities of Gigapixel AI, offering users the same robust image upscaling features that Gigapixel AI is known for. With Topaz Photo AI, you can enlarge your images to a higher resolution while preserving or even improving their quality.
Is Topaz Photo AI Free?
No, Topaz Photo AI is not a free product. It is a premium software offered by Topaz Labs, which requires a one-time purchase which is priced at $199 to unlock all of its features and capabilities. Although Topaz Photo AI offers a free trial, you still need to pay to unlock it to enjoy full features and save pictures.
Is Topaz Better than Photoshop?
Choosing between Topaz Photo AI and Adobe Photoshop depends on your specific needs and preferences. Topaz Photo AI focuses on using AI technology to provide photo enhancement and editing functions, suitable for users who want to quickly improve the visual effects of their photos. Photoshop is a comprehensive image editing software that provides a wide range of tools and features for professional designers and photographers.
How to Use Topaz Photo AI to Improve Image Quality?
Step 1: Install Topaz Photo AI on Your Device
Visit the Topaz Labs website and select the version appropriate for your operating system to download.
Step 2: Import Pictures That Need to Be Adjusted
Before importing images, you need to activate your Topaz Labs account. If you don't have a key, you can choose "Free Demo" to test the function. Then enter the editing page and choose to import or drag the image into the program.
Step 3: Adjust and Edit Images
After importing images, Topaz Photo AI will automatically perform initial optimization on the photos, that is, its Autopilot function. You can then fine-tune the results of this optimization without having to set up all the parameters from scratch.
If you want to edit the image further, you can use the editing options in the right sidebar to fine-tune the image. Easily toggle each setting on and off, and use the sliders and buttons to get your picture just the way you want it.
Step 4: Save the Final Images
Once you're done editing, you can export the image to JPG, PNG, TIFF, or DNG format. Topaz Photo AI allows you to choose where to save the image and the export format. If you haven't activated your account, you won't be able to save the final photo.
Conclusion
After comprehensively evaluating the performance and features of Topaz Photo AI, we can conclude that this software is a good choice for those looking for a fast, automated image processing tool. Its AI-driven features excel at noise reduction, sharpening, and resolution enhancement, and the user interface is intuitive and easy to use, making it quick to get started even for beginners.
However, if your workflow already includes comprehensive editing tools like Adobe Photoshop, or if you require more advanced manual control and more sophisticated editing features, Topaz Photo AI may not be your first choice. For those on a budget or looking for better value for money, AVCLabs PhotoPro AI offers a Topaz Photo AI alternative worth considering. It also uses AI technology to provide automated photo editing capabilities and may be similar to Topaz Photo AI in some aspects, but may have more advantages in price or other specific features.
