New Topaz Lens Effects

I just received a trial kit for the new Topaz Lens Effects plug-in. Within minutes I was easily able to create the sample image (above). I have included the original capture (below). I used a combination of two of the presets. I first opened my image in Photoshop and duplicated it using Ctrl J. By working on a duplicate copy I will be able to make some final adjustment tweaks to the filtered image via a layer mask or with the layer palette opacity slider in Photoshop. Next I opened my plug-in. FILTER> TOPAZ LABS> TOPAZ LENS EFFECTS. Once inside the program I chose Filter- Single Tone from the Effects Palette located on the left of the interface. Once I selected my effect I was then able to choose the Preset “Morning” from the preset menu located on the left below the Effect Palette. I decided to use the Morning preset because my original image had a lot of cooler tones and needed some warming up. What I liked about this program is that I had the option to keep a realistic look to my image and selectively adjust the focal point with lighting and/or blurring. Or I could opt to do something fun and creative. For this image I wanted to emphasis the bird and the curved perch while toning down the background to make the bird stand out more. So after I applied the morning preset I chose to add the Graduated Neutral Density Filter from the effects palette and from the presets menu below the effects menu I chose Top Half 2 Stops. Once you make those selections- on the right hand side there are a few sliders to adjust the brightness and transition of the filter, there is also an Effect Position options that you can click on which will prompt you to click on the image and make a selection of the focus center. After I did that I made a few more minor tweaks to the sliders. The result is natural and subtle. When I am finished applying the filters my image is brought back into Photoshop for minor tweaks including noise reduction and unsharp mask if needed for web presentation. I will be experimenting with this plug-in some more during the next couple of weeks. Check out my blog www.deniseippolito.com to see more images that I will be processing in the near future with this program.
The official release for Topaz Lens Effects is scheduled for Thursday, May 5, 2011.

From Topaz Labs:


More about the program:
Topaz Lens Effects simulates realistic lens, filter & specialty camera effects. With new interface features and a simple method of creating effective depth maps, Lens Effects makes it easy to emphasize your focal point, create beautiful bokeh effects and have creative control of your image after the shot.

Easily create things like:
bokeh
vignette
miniatures
motion
old school style
color balance, color enhancement and color subtraction
and much more...

Here is the original capture straight out of camera.

It looks very nice. The new filter sounds great! I'm looking forward to seeing more examples.

Awesome image, Denise. Very creative & skillful use of the new Topaz lens effects and just the right choice of enhancements to make it shine! Thanks for sharing the info and your workflow - can't wait to try them out. :S3:

Gorgeous work, Denise. I just wish you had cloned out the curved horizontal stick below it.
beautiful image!

Thanks guys, I will keep trying out more of the presets and let you see some of my results.
Cheryl, I liked the way it curved and added to the flow, thanks.

Denise, I would like the curved branch too, except that when it is so close to the toenail, to me at first glance, it looks like one giant long toenail.

Very nice Denise. I'll have to give it a try when it becomes available. I love the effect it had on your image. Thanks for the heads up about this new plugin. :S3:

Denise, Very dramatic difference with the before and after. Thanks for sharing your learnings with these new tools - looking forward to seeing more of what you've learned and applied!

Lovely Denise! I see more of my money going to Topaz Labs... Thanks for taking the time to document such a detailed workflow. I must remember to add this to the workflow sticky once the software is released. I'm putting a yellow sticky in my brain. :c3:

Great work Denise.
Appreciate the workflow.
Looking forward to a new special offer for this plug-in !!!!
Would you believe I only recently got my first grad ND filter and haven't even used it yet !!!!
However it's all a game of making jigsaws from all available pieces.
Do you stick with the Topaz Denoise or try other options like Noiseware and Noise Ninja?
Cheers: Ian Mc

Thanks so much for your info, and this has turned out very well. Love the 'morning' feel/colours you have created. ( love the others in your blog too :w3 )

Thanks folks, I appreciate the comments.
Ian, Believe it or not I have only used Photoshop noise reduction. I haven't had a problem with noise. If I do get an image that is terribly noisy I use Surface blur at a very small amount to help with it. I apply it selectively using an inverse layer mask.:S3:

Beautiful image and processing. So much to learn... so little time!!! Thanks a bunch for the work-flow and heads up about this new filter, denise. This forum is fantastic! :S3:

Thanks Steve, It's talented folks like you and our talented participants that really make this forum special!:S3:

Very nice work. I'm glad to see an image processed with this soon-to-come-out software.