Topaz DeNoise AI - difference between 3.2.0 and 3.3.2?

[BrendanC]

Hi all,

I recently updated my 3.2.0 to 3.3.2 and I'm sure there's a difference in the rendering.

I contacted Topaz and their response was that they haven't changed anything in the algo, but I'm sure there's a discernible difference.

Is anyone else noticing this? 

I actually have some sample files if anyone fancies taking a look or playing around with them: https://1drv.ms/u/s!AqovBuVZMwj3kZMFpjjz4h19KrgYpA?e=Fgp2Ue (four TIFF files, about 1.4GB)

They're all created using Low Light at 50% denoise and sharpen, CPU rendered. Two of them were using 3.2.0, one on my PC, one on my laptop, so I could compare across machines. They're identical, as expected. Then I upgraded to 3.3.2 on the PC, and there is a clear difference. It's grainier, not as soft - and, I think, not as effective. I've also included the original image, autosave.tiff 

I've also shared these with Topaz support, not heard anything back yet.

Any thoughts?

Thanks, Brendan

[BrendanC]

No one here uses Topaz Denoise AI?

[newbie alert]

I don't use it myself but could it be a difference in screen calibration 

Just a guess

[BrendanC]

OK, so Topaz support confirm that yes, there was a change in the Low Light algo. I'm going to play around with the new one and see what I can get out of it but I find it so very annoying when these things change and, imho, become worse.

[Adreneline]

5 minutes ago, BrendanC said:

OK, so Topaz support confirm that yes, there was a change in the Low Light algo. I'm going to play around with the new one and see what I can get out of it but I find it so very annoying when these things change and, imho, become worse.

This is of interest to me.

I have also noticed the way Topaz works since the update and was speculating with a fellow SGL'er that some 'under the bonnet' changes had been made to the Low Light option. I use it at no more than 10% noise reduction and even at that low level there is a difference. I rarely if ever use the Sharpen option - that is nearly always set to zero.

I also use Dfine2 and have noticed no changes at all over numerous updates over the past 4+ years.

[Crackabarrel]

Glad I held off on updating from 3.2.0 so, a low strength pass of severe noise setting seems to work quite well on that version, at least in my experience.

[BrendanC]

I've decided to stick with 3.2.0. The Low Light change just doesn't do it for me. It's been a bad software week: APT, StarTools and Topaz have all issued updates that don't work too well for me.

Here are two examples...

3.2.0 - nice and smooth

3.3.2 - to my eye, a bit crunchy and grainy, and more noticeable when you zoom in, on the original image

I should add that neither of these images are processed to look as good as possible - they're just processed using defaults in StarTools and 50% Sharpen/Denoise with CPU rendering in Topaz, so they're more easily directly compared.

I mean, it could be a matter of choice, but I do prefer the 3.2.0. I also understand that Topaz isn't an astrophotography package (another irritation of 3.3.2 is that it automatically chooses 'the best' algorithm which is never Low Light, which I routinely use). But it's still annoying.

Edited October 8, 2021 by BrendanC