Topaz Adjust AI Review: Photographer’s dream

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This Topaz Adjust AI review demonstrates that it is a photographer’s dream PS plugin. With just one click you can leverage the Topaz Lab AI neural network for incredible results.

We love that Topaz Adjust offers fantastic one-click Looks for beginning photographers. And, we love that more experienced photographers can make super precise adjustments.

Note: Topaz Adjust AI is also included in the Topaz Creator Bundle.

Full Review

To access this plugin inside Photoshop, go to Filter > Topaz > Topaz Adjust AI

When you first open this plugin you’ll see a pop-up with a few lessons. This is really a great feature because it immediately teaches you everything you need to know to get started.

At first, you’ll find all your adjustment options on the right of your screen. All the included one-click Looks are conveniently grouped by theme. You’ll also find them categorized as HDR Looks, Stylized, Film Looks and more.

To preview a Look on your image, just click on one of the thumbnails. After you’ve applied a Look you’ll also be able to adjust the opacity of the effect.

After selecting your Look you’ll also be able to click on the slider icon on the thumbnail to enter the Controls panel.

Firstly, you’ll notice that the Controls panel contains all the adjustments in your selected Look! 

This allows you to make changes to the Look and then save it in your collection. Secondly, this menu is also important because this is where you reset your image to remove any adjustments

The Topaz Adjust AI One-Click Option

According to Topaz Labs:

Topaz Adjust AI leverages the power of machine learning to transform your photos into something incredible. We trained our neural network to intelligently enhance photos. After months of training, the network “remembers” and applies the enhancements needed to make your image pop!

There are two important one-click AI options available: Standard and HDR. To see the AI effect by itself, make sure you use an image with no adjustments.

To start, have a look at this unmodified image:

Then, have a look at the effect of Standard AI mode.

The Standard setting gives hugely improved contrast, color and details compared with the original.

Finally, here’s the Topaz Adjust AI HDR effect.

As you can see the results are pretty good. However, the HDR version has very saturated colors and may need to be adjusted separately. A different type of image will probably fare better with the HDR option.

Standalone vs. plugin

Topaz Adjust AI works equally great as a standalone program or as a plugin. If you’re just working with a single photo, you may just want to use it as a standalone program.

However, if you are working on a layered PSD file, then using it as a plugin obviously makes more sense.

Our favorite features of Topaz Adjust AI

Here are two of the most impressive adjustments areas you can make in Topaz Adjust.

1. Clarity Adjustments

In addition to enhancing contrast and dynamic range, Clarity also virtually eliminates artifacts. You can now quickly manipulate micro, mid-range, and large area contrast without halos or noise.

2. Detail Adjustments

Topaz Adjust Detail uses AI to find the parts of your image that are  “detail” and which are not. You’ll then have the ability to make precise adjustments for small, medium, and large details.

Destructive Editing

Unfortunately, Topaz Adjust does not offer any real option for working non-destructively in Photoshop.

Applying the Topaz Adjust effects to a Smart Object is pointless because all your adjustments are lost if want to edit the effects.

So, we recommend using either a copy of your initial photo, or use a merged layer.

Topaz Adjust AI review conclusion

This plugin from Topaz Labs has everything a photographer would want in one place. From super easy one-click options, to super precise adjustments, Topaz Adjust has it all. We highly recommend Topaz Adjust AI!