Fine Art Discussions

John Crothers

Combined the new Topaz Filter with some HDR. Not something I do much but this seems ok.
Agree or disagree?

Angelina Vick

Seems ok? Agree.

Great? I'm not sure. I don't think that texture is really doing anything for this image.

Loree Johnson

I like it in the thumbnail, but when I zoom in, all I see is noise and blotches. If that's what you were going for, great. But, not to my taste.....

Heather Applegate

Agree with Loree... gotta watch the noise and banding with those programs. Don't think Dawn would pass this through to print.

John Crothers

Thanks for pointing that out Loree. I don't know why it did that. It looked fine in photoshop. Could it have been something with the upload somewhere?

John Crothers

Tried a different one, seems improved.

Myrna Migala

I really like the above image, didn't see the first version, link is now broken, curious now why you didn't replace the first image with this second one to avoid broken link?

John Crothers

It was messed up Myrna and had only been up a half hour.

Plus the first one made me mad!

Thanks for your comment!

Myrna Migala

Wouldn't want you to be mad now! Love the rich HDR effect and the rippling clouds.

Christine Till

Strongly Disagree!
But the buyers decide, not me.

Gregory Scott

I'll give you my "solution" to this problem. Frequently, I like what topaz simplify does, except that it destroys too much detail. How to get the overall simplification while retaining detail?
I often use two layers. The top layer is the original image, but with increased detail and contrast and saturation, and it is partially transparent, anywhere from 30 to 89 percent opaque.
The under-layer is the topaz simplified layer. This allows me to get the simplification/posterization/colorchange, yet retain as much of the detail as needed.

I would like a "blend" of the two barns/meadows, and a sky from you hdr sequence, or from the original single image with strongly reduced highlights, to eliminate the typical distracting "hdr grunge" look. I frequently layer image variations and erase portions to achieve the kinds of blends I'm talking about here.

Carolyn Marshall

Maybe it's my monitor, but when I look at it 100% it looks more like a "painterly" type of filter was used on it as opposed to HDR. I am playing around with Topaz Adjust, too,and haven't noticed this kind of filtering with it yet.

Zeana Romanovna

^ What Gregory said :)

Gregory Scott

Zeana: both points? (A. layering technique AND B. Suggestion of blend of 2 plus 3rd reduced highlight sky?)

Mike Savad

i think the image would be fine natural, but it's too mashy up close. it doesn't look like brush strokes and looks more like a filter. i'd rather see it just as a photo. i did use simplify on something i'll be uploading later on. i wanted to match the house to the rest which was drawn in. but it made the house look like an EGA version, complete with little random chunks that i had to blend in. so i'm mixed about using it again.


---Mike Savad

John Crothers

Carolyn,

It was with simplify 4 used on an HDR picture.

It was a "oil painting" filter in simplify.

John Crothers

Thanks for the info Greg!

Looks like I have something to try this weekend.

Harry Lamb

I learned to apply Topaz filters carefully. Like Greg said - work in layers and reduce the effect of topaz Adjust. I do the opposite of Greg; I put the original Photo Image with final enhancement (Excluding Sharpening) on the bottom. I have the Topaz application on the top, an lower the Opacity as needed. I also notice that the application of some Topaz filters causes a Rainbow effect on my skies. In that situation, I use the Layer Mask and reveal the underlying sky.

Mike is right on. I do not use Topaz for HR, an I very rarely use Grunge. That's just me; others may like grunge.

Carolyn Marshall

I see, John. I haven't tried Simply yet. Guess I will have to add that to the package. I understand what others are saying about using the layers now, too, and will have to try that. Hadn't thought about it before and wasn't very happy with the straight Topaz Adjust. Layers may just be the answer I was looking for. I love the tones in your image, John.

John Crothers

One point. I did not use Topaz for the HDR. I did that in photoshop then brought it to Topaz.