Topaz Labs LLC TP-CLA-C-001-GN User manual

User Manual

Topaz Clarity

I. Installation

A. How to Install 3
B. Entering Your Key 3
C. Host-Specic Installation 3

1. Paint Shop Pro 4

2. Photo Impact 5

3. Irfanview 6

D. Uninstalling 7

II. Introduction

A. About Topaz Clarity 8

B. Main Features 9

D. Advanced Masking . 10
E. Masking Tools 11
F. Collections 13

G. Presets 14

III. Work Area

A. Interface 19

B. Preview 23

C. Eects & Presets 25

1. Adding Presets 26

2. Deleting Presets 26

3. Favorites 26

4. Snapshots 26

5. Importing Presets 27

6. Exporting Presets 27

7. Sharing Presets 27
D. Tools 28
E. Menu 29

1. Preferences 29

2. Check for Update 29

3. Enter Key 30

4. What’s This? 30

5. User Guide 30

6. Tech Support 30

7. Product Info 30

8. Gallery 30

9. MyTopaz 30

10. Tutorials 30

11. About 30

IV. Settings & Parameters

A. Clarity - Dynamics 31

B. Clarity - Tone Level 32

C. Hue/Sat/Lum 33

VII. Additional Resources

A. Shortcut Keys 35
B. FAQ’s 36
C. Connect 38
D. Company Info 39

2

User Manual

Topaz Clarity is a plug-in, which means it won’t run by
itself and requires a compatible host program for use.

To Install in Photoshop

Topaz Clarity

1. Close Photoshop or other image editing program if
you are using it.

Installation

Entering Your Key

Entering your trial key allows you to save your projects
and print them during your evaluation period. Entering
your license key allows you do the same, except with­out any time limitations.

2. Double-click on the Topaz Clarity folder to access the
installer, and then follow the on-screen instructions.

Mac dmg Windows exe

3. Your Topaz Clarity plug-in will automatically be in­stalled in your Photoshop plug-ins folder.

4. After the installation, you will need to enter your
license or trial key.

Important for Mac Users:

After installation, Topaz Clarity will be installed in the
following folder: “ Macintosh HD -> Library -> Applica­tion Support -> Topaz Labs -> Clarity”.

1. Start by opening up an image in Photoshop.

2. Go to Filters -> Topaz Labs -> Clarity -> Menu

-> Enter key.

3. You can then copy and paste or type your key in.

Important: To install the product on a second comput­er, you will need to download Topaz Clarity and then
enter your same license key.

3

Host-Specic Installation

Topaz Clarity is also compatible with Lightroom, Ap­erture and iPhoto. To use Clarity in any of these pro­grams you will need to download and install the free
Topaz Fusion Express compatibility add on. You can
get it online at: www.topazlabs.com/downloads

In Windows, Topaz Clarity is supported by most host
applications that support Photoshop plug-ins. This
includes Paint Shop Pro, Photo Impact and Irfanview,
although there are additional host programs that may
also support Topaz Clarity.

If your Photoshop is installed in a customized location,
you will need to manually create a shortcut (alias) link
inside folder “<Photoshop install folder> -> Plug-ins”
that links to “ Macintosh HD -> Library -> Application
Support -> Topaz Labs -> Clarity -> Plug-ins”.

To install Clarity in either Paint Shop Pro, Photo Impact,

or Irfanview rst download Topaz Clarity to the default
location. Then, to congure it into each program, fol­low the host-specic instructions on the next page.

User Manual

Installation

How to install Topaz Clarity in Paintshop Pro

1. First launch PaintShop Pro / Photo Impact.

2. Go to Menu le -> Preferences -> File Locations.

Topaz Clarity

Select “Plug-ins” from the “File Types” list and click
“Add”.

3. Choose C: \ Program Files \ Topaz Labs \ Topaz Clarity\
Plugins and click “OK”.

4

4. Topaz Clarity is now available to use. Simply go to Ef­fects -> Plug-ins and select “Clarity”.

User Manual

Installation

How to install Topaz Clarity in Photo Impact

1. First launch Photo Impact.

2. Go to File -> Preferences -> General or use shortcut

Topaz Clarity

key F6.

Then click on the button and browse to nd the

Clarity plug-in folder located in: C:\Program Files\Topaz
Labs\Topaz Clarity plug-ins and click “OK”.

5

4. Restart Photo Impact. Go to Menu -> Eect to access

the plug-in.

3. Select Plug-ins from the Categories list.

User Manual

Installation

How to install Topaz Clarity in Irfanview

1. Make sure that you have downloaded and installed
the 8bf plug-in add-on, available on the Irfanview
webpage.

Topaz Clarity

2. Open Irfanview and go to Image -> Eects -> Adobe
8BF lters.

(http://www.software.com/irfanview-plugin)

3. In the screen that pops up, select “Add 8BF lters”

and navigate to the C:\Program Files\Topaz Labs\
Topaz Clarity \Plug-ins folder and click “OK”. You will
then see “Topaz Clarity” in the Available/Loadable 8BF
Filters section.

6

4. To use Topaz Clarity in the future, simply go to

Image -> Eects> Adobe 8BF lters again and select

“Topaz Clarity”.

User Manual

To uninstall Topaz Clarity follow these instructions:

Mac

1. Quit Photoshop (or other editing program).

Topaz Clarity

2. Navigate to the Topaz Labs support les and frames

located at: Macintosh HD -> Library -> Application Sup­port -> Topaz Labs.

3. Locate the Topaz Clarity folder and move it to the
trash. You will need to enter your system password to
OK this change.

Uninstalling

3. Select Programs, then Uninstall a Program.

4. Select Topaz Clarity and click remove.

Windows 7

1. Quit Photoshop (or other editing program).

2. Click on the Start Menu and select Control Panel ->
Programs -> Programs and Features.

3. Select Topaz Clarity and click uninstall.

*

4. Navigate to your Photoshop plug-ins folder located
at: Applications -> Photoshop -> Plug-ins

5. Locate any leftover Topaz Clarity les and move it
to the trash.

Windows XP

1. Quit Photoshop (or other editing program).

2. Click on the Start Menu and select Control Panel.

3. Double-click on Add / Remove programs.

4. Select Topaz Clarity and click remove.

Windows Vista

1. Quit Photoshop (or other editing program).

2. Click on the Start Menu and select Control Panel.

*

*

*Please note that if you also have the 64-bit version
of Clarity installed, then you will need to rst uninstall
this version before you can uninstall the regular ver­sion.

Before After

7

User Manual

Topaz Clarity

Flawless Image Denition

Topaz Clarity

Topaz Clarity is the ultimate tool to create compelling
and powerful images by intelligently enhancing con­trast and clarity with absolutely no artifacts or halos.

With just a few clicks you can easily manipulate your
micro, mid-tone and overall contrast, transforming

your image from at to vibrant, all while maintaining a

natural quality and tonality.

Introduction

Traditionally, photographers who wanted to boost
clarity while retaining the full tonal range, had to

choose between sacricing image quality with quick

adjustments or making a series of painstaking and time
consuming adjustments. The cutting-edge technology
inside Topaz Clarity eliminates this problem by giving
photographers the ability to quickly produce images
that are both vibrant and high quality.

Visit the Clarity Gallery to see more examples:

gallery.topazlabs.com/Photography/Topaz-Clarity

Before - By Topaz User Steve Huskisson

After - By Topaz User Steve Huskisson

8

User Manual

Main Features

The Primary Features of Topaz Clarity Include:

Topaz Clarity

1. Selective Contrast Control. Use a cutting-edge

process to select specic contrast variations in your

original image, allowing you to quickly target and then
increase or decrease the contrast and clarity in that

specic variation.

2. Breakthrough Halo-Free Algorithm. Boost contrast
and clarity without emphasizing transitions between
light and dark areas, eliminating the common problem
of halos, noise and artifacts.

3. Advanced Hue/Saturation/Luminance Technology.

Using IntelliColor technology, you can easily enhance

your image with the HSL lter, getting stronger, yet

more natural HSL adjustments.

Introduction

Before - By Topaz User Steve Rich

9

4. Re-Imagined Masking Workow. The masking mod-
ule, now attached to each adjustment tab contains a
comprehensive set of tools including an edge-aware
brush, gradient mask, smart feather tool, color aware
tool and more.

5. User Interface Design. With Clarity, we have contin-

ued to develop a cleaner, more modern and ecient
interface to improve usability, workow and overall

aesthetics.

After - By Topaz User Steve Rich

User Manual

Advanced Masking

Topaz Clarity introduces a new masking workow designed to help you
easily and eectively achieve selective adjustments. Additionally, each

adjustment module now has an individual mask attached.

Topaz Clarity

1. Reveal/Hide Option

Choose which color you would like paint with: white (reveal) or
black (hide). If you are masking on a white mask, you’ll want to
start with a black brush color and vice versa.

2. Undo/Redo/Invert/Reset

Features

1

2

From the left: Undo and redo your steps, invert your mask colors
and reset all values to a white (reveal) mask.

3. Brush and Gradient Tools

Switch between a brush or gradient tool to

create our mask. The brush tool has 3 dierent

brushes: normal, edge aware and color aware.

The gradient tool can create 3 dierent types of
gradients: linear, radial and reective.

4. Sliders/Tool Options

Controls the masking tool selected using slid­ers and buttons to adjust the available settings.
This area will change with each tool.

5. Rening Options

Use the Color Range and Smart Feather adjust-

ments to rene or even create your mask.

3

The mask view allows you to see the areas where your
selective adjustments are being applied in your image.

4

10

5

User Manual

Masking Tools

Features

Along with a new masking workow, several new

Topaz Clarity

masking tools are introduced in Topaz Clarity along­side some of our redesigned tools.

Brush Tool

The brush tool has 3 dierent brushes to choose from:

normal, edge aware and color aware.

The normal brush is a standard brush controlled by the
sliders below.

The edge aware brush is a smart brush that detects the

edges of the area you are masking. Just keep the cross
hairs of your brush on the area/color you want to eect

and the brush will not bleed into any other areas.

Strength

Controls the strength of the brush value being applied.
At 1, the strength is 100% and will apply at the strongest

value of the brush....at lower values it will only apply a

percentage of the strength each time.

Brush Size

Controls the size of the brush.

Hardness

Controls the edge hardness of the brush. A value of 0
is 100% hard, while a value of 1.00 is 100% soft.

Preset

The A/B presets allow you to create more than one
size/type brush so you can quickly switch back and
forth.

Gradient Tool

The brush tool has 3 dierent gradients to choose
from: linear, radial, reective. Just click and drag in

your image to create the gradient.

11

The color aware brush uses the same technology as the
edge aware brush, but gives you a color picker instead
of having to keep your cross hairs in the area you are

masking. Just click the color picker icon, select a color

in your image that you’d like to mask, then brush away
without fear of going into another color. You can con­tinue to select colors during your masking session.

Linear Gradient

The gradient follows a line.

Radial Gradient

The gradient radiates from a dened point

Reected Gradient

User Manual

Features

Color Range

The Color Range tool selects a specied color within

an image and creates a mask based upon that color.
To use the Color Range tool, click on the button

Topaz Clarity

within the mask module, then select the color in your
image that you would like to mask out (the green dot

lets you know which color is selected).

Smart Feather

The Smart Feather tool blurs the edges of the mask
to create a softer transition between the masked and
unmasked areas.

Feather Radius

Determines the size of the feathered edge. Use a small
radius for harder edged, and a large one for softer
edges.

Feather Aware

Controls how edge aware the feathered area is. Higher
values increase awareness, which is good for precise
yet natural transitions. Lower values indicate less
awareness, allowing for a more soft and blurred transi­tion.

Mask Contrast

Determines the edge brightness of the mask. Increas­ing this parameter will give the mask edges more detail

and denition.

12

Size

Controls the size of the area eected by the Color

Range selection.

Sensitivity

Adjust the range of the color selected using the Sensi­tivity slider. Set a high Sensitivity value to restrict the
color range to only the selected color, a lower value to
increase the range.

Mask Strength

Determines how hard your mask is applied to subject
edges in your image. The higher the parameter the
harder your edges will be. The lower the parameter,
the softer your edges will be.