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You are here: Home / Photo Tips and Techniques / Topaz Glow is Fun and Useful

December 11, 2014 by Joel Wolfson 1 Comment

Topaz Glow is Fun and Useful

Glow is Fun and Useful

A Quick Review of the Newest Photoshop and Lightroom Plug-in From Topaz

On the left is a somewhat mundane shot with a dark background of a prickly pear cactus. I created the one on the right with a simple click of a preset in Glow called “Natural Neon” I not only like what it did to my illuminated subject but it also picked up the cactus spines and fruit in the shadows creating a more interesting image.

A few weeks ago I started playing with beta versions of Topaz’s Glow plug-in, which has now been officially released. At first it was just pure fun and now I’m seeing some real uses for it. Certainly there will be many photographers wanting it for commercial work but you can also create some intriguing results in the fine art realm (see “Soft Bloom” example below). Although Topaz considers it a niche or special interest product, the more I use it the more applications I can see for different types of photography. I even used it for the opening photo in my last post about the ideal compact camera.

Topaz is offering Glow at an introductory price of $50 (use code INTROGLOW) through the end of December (regular price $70)

It sports a simple and intuitive interface which is the same as Topaz’s Impression. The array of effects is astounding. You can create glows as the name implies but also illustrative effects, painterly effects, neon, softening, ethereal effects and others that are hard to describe. Below are just a few examples I created from the same image.

©J Wolfson Lilypads Normal
Here is my original image of some lily pads and flower. Scroll down to see some different effects from using Glow.
©J Wolfson Lilypads brilliant on blk
This glowing at night effect is from a preset called “Brilliant on Black” that I lightened and saturated just a bit.
This beautiful and soft ethereal feel is using a preset aptly named "Soft Bloom"
This beautiful and soft ethereal feel is using a preset aptly named “Soft Bloom”

 

"Brilliant on White" creates a sort of colored drawing effect.
“Brilliant on White” creates a sort of colored drawing effect.
This one almost looks like stained glass. I made some slight alterations to the preset "Graphic Sketch"
This one almost looks like stained glass. I made some slight alterations to the preset “Graphic Sketch”
©J Wolfson Lilypads Joel neonish
Here’s one I created by starting with a neon preset and changing several sliders in the parameters
I used Glow on a shot of some hoola hoops on the sidewalk.
I used Glow on a shot of some hoola hoops on the sidewalk.

If you like Glow enough to buy it- take advantage of the Topaz December promotion by clicking here and using the code INTROGLOW

Hope you found this quick review helpful.

Cheers,
Joel

P.S. For learning resources and discounts check out my favorites page on my website.

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Filed Under: Photo Tips and Techniques, Reviews

« The Ideal Compact Camera
Beyond Realism »

Comments

  1. Ron Patten says

    December 12, 2014 at 8:55 pm

    Hi Joel,

    I purchased the last two releases of new software from Topaz.
    I knew that pros like you would demonstrate some of the neat images that the plugins can produce, I’ve never been disappointed! I own them all!

    Best regards,
    Ron Patten

    Reply

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