Although Photoshop and Co. already provide tools for sharpening, several work steps are required to achieve good results. Easier with specialized plug-ins. COLORFOTO has looked at three of these programs for Photoshop more closely and clarifies whether they offer added value and for whom the acquisition is worthwhile. Click – and the photo is in the box. Topas InFocus 1.0 The sharpness plug-in from Topaz Labs is called InFocus and costs $ 70. It is available for Windows and Mac and also works with the Topaz Fusion Express software as a plug-in for Lightroom and Aperture. The program is compatible with 64-bit versions of Photoshop and uses multiple processor cores to calculate. The InFocus interface includes, in addition to a large preview, a palette for presets as well as a range of controllers. Own settings can also be saved. The “Deblur” category is responsible for sharpening. In the test, the setting “Unknown / Estimate” under “Blur Type” with a radius of “2” proved to be a solid basis. Generic, on the other hand, produced much poorer results. Then click on “Estimate Blur” to start the sharpening process. The setting for removing motion blur could not be convincing – as with all other hitherto tested sharpeners with this function. In the test scored the plugin with solid sharpening, but had problems with oblique edges: here were often stairs effects – but not in the competition. In terms of speed, InFocus is in the middle with an average of eight seconds. Conclusion: Topaz InFocus convinces with practical surface and good functionality, but can not compete with the picture quality with the competitors. The Plugin Site FocalBlade 2.02
The test candidate with the most features is called FocalBlade and costs $ 70. It is available for Windows and Mac and uses 64 bit as well as several processor cores. The user interface is simple and straightforward in the "Start mode", with the dropdown menu, users can choose from the presets. It is also possible to save your own settings and are available for the next session with the software. In principle, it is sufficient to adjust the sharpness for contours and surfaces in order to obtain good results. A checkmark in "Analysis" almost always improved the quality of the test. All functions are equipped with detailed explanations - so far, so simple. The software is significantly more complex in "main mode". In horsemen there are numerous controls to choose from, for example, to control color noise or white seams. Selected colors can be explicitly excluded from sharpening.
The picture quality convinces even in the largely automatic mode with very good sharpness. There are hardly any artifacts, and only a small amount of noise is visible. The FocalBlade software also provides an excellent performance at the operating speed: FocalBlade, which takes just three seconds, is used as an average for the calculation. Conclusion: Very good results in the simple car mode combined with a large range of functions for special cases make FocalBlade the sharper choice. Fixer Labs FocusFixer v2
FocusFixer is one of four plug-ins in the FixerBundle. In addition to the sharpness plugin, the package also contains filters for noise reduction, shadow brightening and softening. The FixerBundle costs 100 dollars together and is available for Windows and Mac. In contrast to the competition, the plug-ins do not run in 64-bit Photoshop - users therefore have to start the 32-bit version. As the only sharper in the test field, FixerLabs uses camera profiles to sharpen photos. The interface is very simple: two very small before / after windows, two sliders, as well as the camera and aperture selection. A check mark activates automatic sharpening. Apart from the camera profiles there are no presets and also no possibility to store your own. In terms of image quality Focus-Fixer convinces. Thus, it presents beautifully sharpened images largely without artifacts or noise. However, the software can calculate the time: it is averaged over several photos by 10 megapixels around 21 seconds and thus seven times longer than the fastest competitor. Conclusion: FocusFixer convinces with simple operation and very good picture quality. However, users have to accept comparatively long waiting times and can not store their own settings. Total Conclusion: The deserved test win is home to FocalBlade from The PluginSite. The combination of very good image quality, simple operation or complex functionality plus the highest speed in the test leaves nothing to be desired. FocusFixer from FixerLabs also impresses with its image quality. The restriction to 32 bit as well as the slow speed convince however not in comparison. Topaz Labs InFocus offers a good start for the first version, but it can not compete with its competitors.
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