Ponylander
Forum Enthusiast
Good evening. A few weeks ago I purchased the discounted bundle of Topaz' Gigapixel AI, DeNoise AI, and Topaz Sharpen AI. Someone posted a discount code on DPR, so I got an additional discount and got the bundle for about $85.
I admit that I am a resolution freak, and I also don't like looking at things that seem "soft", as that is never what I see when I look at something (so long as I have my glasses on). I never see a soft person, object, still life, or whatever. Call it a curse. I cannot appreciate soft images. Generally, I am an F8-F11 kinda guy. I know, I was probably dropped on my head as an infant. I also definitely don't like looking at pixellation, and I like my images large. I printed one 11x14 this year, one 13x19, and the rest were 35x40 or larger.
The camera I use is a Fuijifim GFX 100s, and I shoot full-size (11,648 x 8,736 files), using edited RAW files about half the time ad SOOC JPEGS about the other half the time. I like stuff sharp, large, and printed large.
Initially, in using Gigapixel AI, I was a little dismayed that the largest image files one can produce from it are 32,000 pixels per side. That is large enough for many things, but it is not large enough to cover a big wall without tiling. No matter, purchased as as part of a discounted bundle for $85, I use Gigapixel AI every day.
I found that for the quality of files I obtain from GFX 100s, image quality is sacrificed with Gigapixel AI. In at least one image, it seems to be adding pixel-level artifacts and notably decreasing contrast, but I basically paid $28 and some change when you divide the total bundle cost of $85 for the three Topaz programs by three. What I have decided to do with it regarding my GFX 100s files, is to basically not use it for those; if necessary, I will shoot vertical and stitch two or more files together for a larger image.
The image below is of a vineyard from above, take from a hot air balloon around 700' in altitude.
View attachment ab15be378691430e946fa727d1f0d5c4.jpg
Below is a screenshot of part of the above image with a resolution-doubled Gigapixel AI version. The left side of the image is the GFX 100s file. The right side is of the same portion of the same image doubled in size with Gigapixel AI. You can see that the soil between the rows of vineyards is darker on the Fuji image, and brightened in the Gigapixel image, while the rows of vines are about the same brightness.
However it is reasonable to expect that Topaz may well improve their software with time. Even now, it is a bargain at the $28 or so I paid for it!
Here is the good part: I love old, mid-century advertising/art. What Gigapixel AI can achieve with some of the images I enlarged was a WONDERFUL surprise. It is EASY to blow the up to 300dpi, poster size images - that look good. If by any chance you love mid-century advertising, here are some examples of what you can get with Gigpixel AI:
This is an old Harley-Davidson flathead engine. I love 'em. The image on the left is the largest and best one that eons of stalking the Internet provided me. The one on the right is part of what was gleaned with Gigapixel AI.
The latter was enlarged to 9,840 x 12,804 pixels. None too shabby.
This is even better:
An old Peter Helck painting (I believe) used for early 1050's Chevrolet advertising. Here is what I found on the Internet; you see a zillion tiny dots related to printing technology of the time. Resolution is 1,223 x 729 pixels.
Here is the same image, enlarged on Gigapixel AI to 7,338 x 4,374 pixels. Most notably though, is the improved texture. The 1950's printing texture is gone! Instead, I got an image arguably more in line with that produced by the artist (at least texture-wise):
I have been having so much fun with Gigapixel AI that I have not even started to mess with DeNoise AI or Sharpen AI.
I hope this has been helpful.
Merry Christmas.
Peter
I admit that I am a resolution freak, and I also don't like looking at things that seem "soft", as that is never what I see when I look at something (so long as I have my glasses on). I never see a soft person, object, still life, or whatever. Call it a curse. I cannot appreciate soft images. Generally, I am an F8-F11 kinda guy. I know, I was probably dropped on my head as an infant. I also definitely don't like looking at pixellation, and I like my images large. I printed one 11x14 this year, one 13x19, and the rest were 35x40 or larger.
The camera I use is a Fuijifim GFX 100s, and I shoot full-size (11,648 x 8,736 files), using edited RAW files about half the time ad SOOC JPEGS about the other half the time. I like stuff sharp, large, and printed large.
Initially, in using Gigapixel AI, I was a little dismayed that the largest image files one can produce from it are 32,000 pixels per side. That is large enough for many things, but it is not large enough to cover a big wall without tiling. No matter, purchased as as part of a discounted bundle for $85, I use Gigapixel AI every day.
I found that for the quality of files I obtain from GFX 100s, image quality is sacrificed with Gigapixel AI. In at least one image, it seems to be adding pixel-level artifacts and notably decreasing contrast, but I basically paid $28 and some change when you divide the total bundle cost of $85 for the three Topaz programs by three. What I have decided to do with it regarding my GFX 100s files, is to basically not use it for those; if necessary, I will shoot vertical and stitch two or more files together for a larger image.
The image below is of a vineyard from above, take from a hot air balloon around 700' in altitude.
View attachment ab15be378691430e946fa727d1f0d5c4.jpg
Below is a screenshot of part of the above image with a resolution-doubled Gigapixel AI version. The left side of the image is the GFX 100s file. The right side is of the same portion of the same image doubled in size with Gigapixel AI. You can see that the soil between the rows of vineyards is darker on the Fuji image, and brightened in the Gigapixel image, while the rows of vines are about the same brightness.
However it is reasonable to expect that Topaz may well improve their software with time. Even now, it is a bargain at the $28 or so I paid for it!
Here is the good part: I love old, mid-century advertising/art. What Gigapixel AI can achieve with some of the images I enlarged was a WONDERFUL surprise. It is EASY to blow the up to 300dpi, poster size images - that look good. If by any chance you love mid-century advertising, here are some examples of what you can get with Gigpixel AI:
This is an old Harley-Davidson flathead engine. I love 'em. The image on the left is the largest and best one that eons of stalking the Internet provided me. The one on the right is part of what was gleaned with Gigapixel AI.
The latter was enlarged to 9,840 x 12,804 pixels. None too shabby.
This is even better:
An old Peter Helck painting (I believe) used for early 1050's Chevrolet advertising. Here is what I found on the Internet; you see a zillion tiny dots related to printing technology of the time. Resolution is 1,223 x 729 pixels.
Here is the same image, enlarged on Gigapixel AI to 7,338 x 4,374 pixels. Most notably though, is the improved texture. The 1950's printing texture is gone! Instead, I got an image arguably more in line with that produced by the artist (at least texture-wise):
I have been having so much fun with Gigapixel AI that I have not even started to mess with DeNoise AI or Sharpen AI.
I hope this has been helpful.
Merry Christmas.
Peter
