[robgski]

To be clear, I am not suggesting one over the other, each has a separate use.

[Peter_JDH]

Topoz Sharpen AI has no effect on the lenses. After applying sharpen AI to both images from new and old lenses, images from new lenses are still superior to images from old lenses. For a fixed goal of image enlargement, ideal sharpening technique can make it possible with image from old lenses when the perceived print quality wouldn't have been great without good amount of sharpening. The same holds for new modern lenses.

I can see no noticeable improvement in centre sharpness on a modern lens (DA 16-85) on a KP when doing global sharpening in Sharpen AI - just a bit at the corners. So, given Sharpen AI may not improve an already sharp image/image area taken with modern glass, I’m wondering if full frame owners are able to use Sharpen AI to bring older FF glass on par with those modern FF lenses that are already sharp in the corners? As a crop sensor owner, I don’t use the corners of my film era lenses so I get no real benefit from Sharpen AI on my KP with old glass. Maybe a K-1 owner can answer this?

[biz-engineer]

So, given Sharpen AI may not improve an already sharp image/image area taken with modern glass...

Yes you are right. I noticed also T. Sharpen AI has a kind of sharpness baseline from which it defines the values of sharpening parameters. When an image is soft, it applies more sharpening, I noticed. When an image is already sharp it applies less sharpening.

...I’m wondering if full frame owners are able to use Sharpen AI to bring older FF glass on par with those modern FF lenses that are already sharp in the corners?

I could observe that corner sharpness is corrected when using "stabilize mode" if the lens blur is asymmetrical, e.g blur dominates in one direction (sagittal vs meridional blur). In case the lens blur is equally bad both sagittal and meridional, it is better to do a two pass sharpening with radial masking: 1) sharpen the image one time with a mark excluding edges/corners, then 2) sharpen again the image excluding the center and including edges/corners.

[robgski]

When an image is soft, it applies more sharpening, I noticed. When an image is already sharp it applies less sharpening.

The advances in AI technology related to imagery are astounding, and they become available to the consumer at a reasonable price, we live in a wondrous age.

it is better to do a two pass sharpening with radial masking

Good idea. I really need to try out the masking feature of Sharpen.

[Mccsiz]

I am new to Topaz. Recently, I purchased Gigapixel and then DeNoise. If I had seen this forum sooner, I probably would have bought Sharpen and not the others. C'est la vie! Perhaps Sharpen will come on sale like DeNoise did (60$ instead of 80). I'm glad robgski has started a forum, but while I'm here, two questions: has anyone here compared either Capture One 21 or DXO Photolab 4 to Topaz? And second, has anyone used Topaz to process photos from a K3 (using an HD Pentax D FA 1:4.5 to 5.6 150-450mm ED DC AW)?

Cheers,
Loyd

[robgski]

Perhaps Sharpen will come on sale like DeNoise did

I would expect to see a price reduction during the upcoming holiday period, either separately or as a bundle. If you purchase the bundle, Topaz usually reduces the price if you already own one of the Topaz products in the bundle.

If you use the PF code which Adam publishes whenever he announces vendors or sales, you save money as well.

I look forward to seeing the results, please consider posting them in the Topaz User Group so a body of knowledge will be created in ne easy to find location. Now that I have completed several work projects, I will have time to catch up on posting comparison images in that Group as well.