Topaz continues to provide fun, intuitive and effective plugins with their most recent release, Topaz Texture Effects. On sale via Topaz Labs website HERE for 30% off (normally $69.99, on sale through November 20th for $49.99 when you use code “TEXTUREFX” at checkout), as is often Topaz’ MO for new releases. Come on in to read my thoughts, and to see more…
Hi all! Welcome to a new, recurring feature on the blog here. I’m partnering with Alien Skin software to work through the processing of images using their Exposure software. Alien Skin Exposure is one of the most complete software processing solutions that I use, and I just love it. With each new release, the functionality and depth become greater and more streamlined. Exposure X is in its final beta, and should be ready to go very soon. You can download a free trial of Exposure HERE if you’d like, and follow along with one of your own images as we explore what Exposure has to offer, together. (if you’re looking for a discount code, you can get 10% off any Alien Skin software using the code “tysonrobichaud” so have at it).
Using images submitted by readers, I will retouch, process and in general, just have fun playing around with them as I might one of my own images, sharing my process step by step along the way. I’ll be using Exposure X today (which may look a little different compared to the screenshots below, when finalized) to process a submitted image from my friend, Billyburg (see more from him on flickr here).
Without further ado…
As a long standing fan of Alien Skin products, I find that it is my duty to alert you guys to their substantial price cuts on all software. Full disclosure, I make no commissions on any sales of Alien Skin software during their sale, which while I’m a bit bummed about that, it is a great deal on some great apps. Any and everything is 40% off through this Wednesday, the 26th, so check it out at AlienSkin.com HERE
You can download free trials of anything they have going. I really like Exposure, myself. Hit me up if you have any questions in the comments or on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and Instagram. If you’d like to receive email notifications on sales, reviews and tutorials, please feel free to add your email address at the top right of the page here. You’ll get email alerts as new articles are released.
Happy shooting!
Tyson
Topaz ReStyle is a unique plugin, and I’ll be honest, when first announced a year and a half ago or so, I saw it as kind of kitschy. With an image opened in ReStyle, you’re presented with a ton of re-toning filters which take the existing tones throughout your image, and shift them to produce some very cool effects. While some were not a great fit for a particular image, I found it kind of tough to really know how to search through the multitude of available tone shifting filters. I liked it, but when originally reviewing it, I don’t think I paid enough attention to the power of the adjustments. This time around, I’m finding it a much more useful plugin. It’s on sale, and you can download a full free trial to follow along by going HERE. For those merely looking for a discount code, use “FEBRESTYLE” and go to TopazLabs HERE to download the software, and input the code in the coupon field at checkout to get $20 off. Normally $59.99, it is on sale through the end of the month for $39.99.
For those interested in seeing a bit more, and reading about why I’m enjoying it more this time around, come on in…
What can one add when it’s all been said before, other than to perhaps reiterate how much they enjoy a perfect harmony of fashion, function and execution.
I’ve been a long time user of Alien Skin’s Exposure software. Of all the film simulation programs I’ve used, none has suited me, my style or my workflow better than Exposure has. Whenever I shoot events, or any personal project series, it has always been my go to program for a replicated filter allowing me to quickly and easily tailor fit and create a variety of final looks. I really benefit from being able to take one particular film preset and adjust the same filter to allow me to quickly get a consistent color profile while accounting for little exposure tweaks for different lighting or the like.
Having purchased and personally used Exposure from version 3, and recently beta testing the last couple, I have also been invited into the Alien Skin family which enables me to offer a personalized discount code along with gaining a sales commission for any referenced sale. While I have long shilled for Alien Skin from my own personal place of use and enjoyment, I now get to sell out a little bit, but with good conscience, because trust me when I say that even if I didn’t make a small commission for sales of this software I’d still be reviewing and talking up this brilliant program just as I have multiple times over the years. If you’re interested in trying it out, upgrading or purchasing Exposure 7, Click HERE to download Exposure via Alien Skin’s website (use code “tysonrobichaud” in the coupon code field to get 10% off any and all Alien Skin Software at checkout).
Come in to hear my thoughts, and see what’s new in Exposure 7.
Let it rain, let it pour. Black Friday has become synonymous with hoards of shoppers jostling to get that $20 dvd player while normally ignoring that there may be another (or many) human beings between them and said dvd player. Then came Cyber Monday (this next monday) where on line retailers and web based deals come out in force. As those of us stateside crawl out of our food based comas, the inevitable deals begin to materialize. For those outside of the states, you might be able to see this as a good opportunity to capitalize on our bizarre seasonal shopping traditions.
Personally, I’m kind of an opportunist shopper. I store products away in my brain, a mental wish list as it were, and if I see those products go on sale at a deep enough gouge, I tend to jump. If you’ve hung out on the fence regarding the Topaz plugins, this my friends, might just be one of those times.
Topaz is offering all 15 of their plugins for $249.99 HERE – Use code “BLACKFRIDAY2014 ” at checkout
Great news for those of us that already own one or more of the Topaz plugins. Click the link above, and if you sign in before checking out (using the email that you’ve had your activation codes sent to for previous purchases, and would have any new ones sent to) you get further discounts as you won’t obviously need to purchase them again, unless you want to. This sale runs through this Monday, December 1st, so the window is short, but oh so potentially sweet.
All plugins, if purchased individually would total $869.85! The complete Topaz Collection normally discounts this down to $429.99, so cutting this down to $250 is pretty substantial. Taking into consideration that Impression alone is $99.99, DeNoise is $79.99, ReMask is $69.99 and Clarity is $49.99 (which are all amazing plugins) the deal is killer. Add to that, Black and White Effects, Adjust, Clean, Detail, and then 7 more products… Well, you get the gist.
Come on in for links to my reviews on many of these amazing plugins, and more clarification on how much you save if you already own some of the Topaz programs.
I’ve just recently come across the MacPhun software plugins, and have reviewed Tonality, their black and white conversion plugin. It’s my go to for black and white image conversion now and I’ve been loving it. Since my review, I’ve been in contact with the fine folks at MacPhun to do my user reviews on their other plugins here in the near future. If you’re a Mac user, I’d really suggest checking them out. MacPhun is offering their entire collection of plugins which include Tonality Pro, Snapheal Pro, Intensify Pro and Focus Pro for a whoppingly low $129 HERE. The collection at 40% off also includes a $25 gift card to either iTunes or Amazon as well!!! This promotion runs through December 25th, so I’ll do my best to write up some in depth reviews on the other plugins included in this deal, but if you’d like to see why I think Tonality Pro is the best black and white conversion plugin I’ve used, you can read more on that HERE. This also gives you plenty of time to download free trial versions HERE to test drive before buying. Stay tuned for more killer Black Friday software deals… Happy holidays and happy shooting, Tyson
I get a lot of email trying to promote, or sell me stuff daily. Deals on this, or sales on that. Discounts on memory cards, or steep cuts on camera kit prices. Normally, I quickly scan them and toss them as my time and energy is pretty minimal these days.
As any readers will know, my enjoyment of the Topaz plugins run deep, and although I only started to use ReMask last year, it has been a revelation for me, especially when it comes to meticulous selection tasks, like hair.
Imagine my surprise when up pops an even simpler hair masking tutorial from our friends at Topaz Labs showing that you can turn a task that without ReMask has taken me up to an hour or more into an even more remarkably time saving step of about 3-5 minutes at the most.
Seriously. If you use photoshop, and you ever have had to select something like hair, you’ll know how tedious it can be even with the best techniques in Photoshop.
Oh yeah, and on top of this killer tutorial, they’re offering ReMask for 20% off (click HERE to download the free trial, or buy ReMask on Sale using code: “hairmask20”)!!! It’s a little, unofficial sale that I didn’t see coming.
Adorama has started to offer the GX7 (body only) with a bunch of freebies or gift card for $300 off the normal price. Now, I don’t have a crystal ball, and I don’t know if this is somehow a precursor to a newer camera, but even if it is, this is a killer deal on what I feel is the best all around micro 4/3 camera out right now.
Let me clarify that last statement. I don’t mean to say there aren’t better performing micro 4/3 cameras in ways. The GH4 is the benchmark right now, but costs a lot. The EM1 has some bells and whistles, but also, costs a lot more than the GX7. Neither of these two is anywhere near as compact as the GX7 is, and as you may have read, I feel the GX7 does really, really well against the EM5/10’s or EP’s of the world in my opinion.
Find the GX7 with a bunch of stuff for $697 at Adorama HERE
Find the GX7 with a $100 Adorama Gift Card for $697 HERE
The GX7 deals are listed through 10/4. If you’d like to read more on why I feel this is the best current overall micro 4/3 camera, hit the links to my review articles below:
GX7 vs EM5 Battle for my affection Part 1 (IBIS, EVF’s and LCD’s)
GX7 vs EM5 Battle for my affection Part 2 (Build Quality and Ergonomics)
GX7 vs EM5 Battle for my affection Part 3 (User Interface, IQ, features and the final decision)
Adorama is also offering a $300 rebate off of the GH3. I’ve never used the GH3 aside from a few shots here and there so I cannot give a personal endorsement, but I do feel it has gained a good reputation for a reason.
It’s currently $797 and can be purchased with a $50 gift card and 4% reward, a $100 gift card or alone without one which is odd, but you can see all 3 deals on Adorama for the GH3 HERE if that floats your boat, and these deals look set to expire on 9/13.
I don’t normally do this type of post, but I do field a lot of questions, emails and various social media inquiries about cameras and the GX7 is one that I feel has been the best mirrorless camera I’ve yet used and with the current deals, is an absolute steal in my opinion. The Adorama links are in fact attached through my affiliate account there and would give me a small commission which will in turn be used to purchase more stuff to shoot and review on the blog, so I thank you in advance for the consideration and I hope everyone is well and enjoying the summer (or winter depending on where you may be reading from).
Thanks all and happy shooting!
T
Topaz keeps offering deals. This month, it is Adjust which is probably the marquee plugin for them. A little bit of everything from toning filters to sharpening and contrast boosting filters. With the new release by way of version 5.1, Topaz Adjust has further streamlined the interface to fall into line with the other recent updates and releases. Download the free trial or buy Topaz Adjust HERE. Enter the code “augadjust” at checkout through August 31st to get 50% off (normally $50, now $25!).
Come on in for a bit more insight into this affordable and cool detail enhancement plugin…
Tyson Robichaud Photo-blography 