Have you used Topaz Glow yet?  If not, please go to Topaz’ website HERE and download the full free trial of the newly updated, and not quite yet publicly available Glow 2.  It’s okay, we’ll wait.  Free upgrade (as is Topaz’ awesome policy on every update they offer) and available on sale for 30% off using code “GLOW2” at checkout for new users (normally $69.99 on sale for $48.99).  There are a few effects in the digital photography realm that are instant attention grabbers.   The Glow effect is one of them.

Glow 2 will not be officially released until Tuesday the 16th, but as a Topaz affiliate, I’m able to share the release with readers early.  Go HERE, and you can either try or buy Glow 2.0, 5 days early.

I was a giddy fan when Glow was originally released, and it provided me with a true (and superior) alternative to Fractalius, being a Mac user.  So much so, that my original article Fractalius for Mac needed to be updated to replace my designed effect through Topaz Clean 3, to Topaz Glow to replicate the effect for us Mac OS users.  Since then, I’ve had a ton of fun with Glow, and find even more pleasure using the free update in Glow 2.

C’mon in to see more…

Glow 2 transforms your digital images into surrealist, fractalized artwork with varying levels of effect from “huh?” to mind melting, acid tripping, ocular sensory chaos.  No singular effect will suit all images, nor will it satisfy all artists, but herein lies the beauty of such a plugin.  I’ve always been a fan of selective application on a variety of effects, with this one playing nicely for me in anything from macro to portraiture when applied either sparingly, or through selective masking.

Perhaps not entirely the intention of Topaz, but I tend to really enjoy placing the effect on a duplicate layer (duplicating my background in PS, then running the effect on that layer) so that I can mask and adjust opacity once back in PS.  That said, with Glow 2, there is even more control with the ability to adjust and change effect opacity and blend mode within the plugin itself.  

It can be a lot of fun, for that little punch of surreality in certain images.  Here’s a before and after that I did while reviewing the first release:

Finally, here’s a little blurb from Topaz about the new system requirements and the like:

NEW SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
There have been some compatibility changes to the program as well. Glow 2 requires Windows 7+, Mac OSX 10.9+, and a GPU with OpenGL 3.3 or higher. (this replaces the older requirement for OpenGL 2.1, it is very important that you mention this!)

Topaz Glow introduces a new kind of tool into your workflow designed to electrify your imagination by illuminating the contours of your images to reveal the hidden life in each moment you capture. Glow 2 gives you the power to create stunning neon effects, or subtle ethereal glow. No matter the look you love, amplify your images faster than ever with Glow 2.

New features in Glow 2 Include:
– Over 30 New Presets – That brings the total to over 100 included effects to amplify your images or give you a boost creating a personal look you love. 
– New Masking Module -You no longer need a host editor like Photoshop to create masks on your images! Now, you can open Glow 2 and mask areas of your image directly from the application using luminosity, color selection, a spot mask, or a traditional brush mask, and yes it’s color aware 🙂
– Unlimited Undo/Redo – That’s right! As long as you don’t close the program you can now undo or redo to your hearts content (as far as your system memory will allow.) 
– Topaz Community Integration – Topaz Glow 2 is the 3rd of our products to include the Topaz Community, an easy way for users to search save and share custom made presets with other Glow 2 users around the world. Surf an ocean of hand crafted presets, then download and apply with a click. Or share your custom presets for other users to try. 
– Automatic Preset Backup – as long as you’re signed into your account when you save a preset, that preset will be privately uploaded to the community then synced on any other machine you sign into. 

One thing I have noticed with this new version is that it seems waaaaaay faster, most noticeable with the adjustments applying almost instantly as opposed to hanging the system for a few seconds each time.  This alone is worth the upgrade.

I’m a fan, and I think after playing around a bit, you will be to.  Give it a free trial to see if it jives with your style.  You can download the full free trial, or buy Topaz Glow 2 HERE and don’t forget to use code “GLOW2” to get 30% off through September 2nd!

Thank you for the read.  You can stay alerted by adding your email at the top right (on a standard web browser) or below if using a mobile platform.  You will get no spam from me, just articles as they’re released.  

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Happy shooting,

Tyson