Topaz Star Effects™ Sneak Peek!
Posted on 23. Jan, 2012 by Ashley Robinson in Insider Info
We received many requests from users (like you!) for more filters that offer creative finishing effects. So I am happy to share with you a sneak peek at the upcoming Topaz Star Effects™.
About Topaz Star Effects™
Star Effects gives you creative control over the various light and reflective sources in your image. You can easily manipulate and enhance the lighting sources to create unique light and star effects. So let’s take a quick look at what’s waiting for you in the new program!
How it works:
Step 1: Light Source and Star Type Selection
As with all Topaz programs, Star Effects™ will come with a variety of default presets. You’ll be able to open the program and select one of those presets and it will automatically detect the light sources in your image and apply the effect to those light sources. Additionally, you’ll have selective control over the affected light sources via the Star Selection Brush. This brush will allow you to individually select which light sources in your image to include/exclude. In addition to selecting your light sources, you can also choose the type of star effect that you want to apply – choose from options like traditional, starburst, cross star, hollywood star and more!
Step 2: Setting Effect Characteristics
The Main Adjustments tab is where your selected light sources come to life! Here you can control the appearance of your selected light sources. In additional to adjusting the number of points (1 to 32) you can also control the strength, visibility and intensity of your added lighting and star effects using the included sliders.
Step 3: Customized Tweaking
Your created lighting and star effects are fully customizable – with the added adjustment controls for color, temperature, secondary spikes, glow and ring flare. Just go into the Color Adjustments and Additional Adjustments tabs to tweak these parameters to your satisfaction.
Uses for Topaz Star Effects™
Topaz Star Effects™ can be a useful tool for adding a finish touch to a variety of photography types including:
- Enhancing the appearance of stars, sun and moon (great for Astrophotography)
- Adding a bling or sparkling effect to jewelry
- Adding a shimmering effect to water or other reflective surfaces
- Enhancing night photography and cityscape lights
- Adding a eye gleam/twinkle
Helpful Features
1. Star Stack-a-bility. Star Effects™ includes the Apply button (one of the most user-requested features!) which allows you to stack multiple star effects (with different characteristics) during the same workflow.
2. Effect Extraction. Star Effects™ offers two viewing/editing modes (located in the Star Settings tab) – combined and Stars only. The combined mode allows you to see your base image along with the applied star effects. The Stars only mode allows you to view just your added star effects (on a black background) without your base image. What’s unique about this is that you also have the option of saving just the created star effects back to Photoshop (or your other host program) – just make sure that the Stars Only mode is selected before you click the OK button. This is great for creating your own backgrounds.
3. No loss of contrast – which can occur with the use of traditional glass filters.
Availability information:
Once the new Topaz Star Effects™ is available we will send out a newsletter announcement with trial sign-ups and purchasing details – and there will be a special introductory discount. If you are not currently signed up to receive the Topaz newsletter you can sign up now online at: www.topazlabs.com/list
Sneak Peek Webinars:
We invite you to join us at one of our sneak peek webinars to check out the new Topaz Star Effects™ in action. We’ll also be giving away some FREE copies of Topaz Star Effects™ so a few lucky attendees! Click below to sign up.
Topaz Star Effects™ Sneak Peek webinar 1
Tuesday, January 24 – 1pm Central (11am PDT, 2pm EDT, 7pm GMT)
Click here to register
Topaz Star Effects™ Sneak Peek webinar 2
Wednesday, January 25 – 11am Central (9am PDT, 12pm EDT, 5pm GMT)
Click here to register
Jeff Foliage
29. Jan, 2012
Looks interesting and cost will be the sticker since I don’t know how often I would want to add it in. I’d really like to see you go to a single panel toolbox. so I could quickly go back and forth between the tools (adjust, star, B&W, etc) and then finish up. I use it through LR and I have to use one then back to LR and then go use another… This by itself keeps me from using my Topaz all the time…
Also I noted up above it’ll be great for astrology… Did you mean Astrophotography or Astronomy? I don’t know how the star effect would aid in telling my horoscope…
Randall Huleva
26. Jan, 2012
I agree that this is a nice feature set to add a little extra “pop” to a finished photo as long as the price is appropriate for a relatively limited filter set.
Carlos Ignacio Morales
25. Jan, 2012
I was hoping that it would become a plugin and I am elated to hear that it is on its way!!!
George
25. Jan, 2012
Just viewed the Webnar — well done, as usual. My only suggestion (which seems easy enough) is to provide an angle option. Not to be confused with the rotation option but would work with it. This option would allow the user to direct the direction of the rays. For example if the user wanted to project multiple rays from a lighthouse out to sea but not back onto the lighthouse the user could select (slider from 0 degrees to 360 I suppose) 10 degrees and the direction.
As demonstrated, this effect can only be done by bringing a star burst (without the base image) back into PS as a layer and erase the unwanted rays or to make several single oriented rays and “Apply”ing after each one.
Regardless I will be picking up this plugin when it becomes available.
William Spreadburyt work!
25. Jan, 2012
Anxious to acquire Star Effects. Please inform me when it will become available. Please, keep my the great work!
Many blessings,
Bill
Raquel Bigby
24. Jan, 2012
I cant wait to see it in action. Love all the Topaz filters
Raquel
ps
Maybe sometime topaz will have a water and reflections filter
Verneitta
24. Jan, 2012
I love all of the Topaz products, I have them all, and will purchase this one as soon as it comes out.
I also like being able to go in, and view a tutorial when ever I need too.
I’d be lost with Topaz Labs.
Thanks, Verneitta
budi abe
24. Jan, 2012
thats absolutely awesome
budi abe
24. Jan, 2012
fantastic awesome
Rebecca
24. Jan, 2012
I will definitely purchase this as I have ALL Topaz products. I would be absolutely lost without Topaz! My only complaint is that the webinars are not available to folks like me with day jobs and it takes a while before they appear in the archives. Eventually I view them but usually long after I’ve purchased the product.
tess talbot
24. Jan, 2012
keep up the good work on your plug-ins Topaz !
Robyn
24. Jan, 2012
As this is the only piece of software I don’t have from Topaz, I’l be up there to buy a copy. As fast as I was with B&W.
The products are so easy to use.
For my part, I think I’ll skip the preview and watch the video later on. (Sleep in for me on the other side of the world.) Besides, I’ve seen enough to know I’m going to like using it.
However, I do have one complaint. There aren’t enough hours in my days to enable me to access all of the software I’ve purchased and love to use each day! Having said that, I know I’m fortunate. Thank you Topaz for adding an extra zing, or maybe I should say sparkle, to my lifestyle.
Better hurry up and finish the current slide show so I’ve more time to play.
Robyn
Peter
23. Jan, 2012
I love night photographs, and would like to try it out, looks great.
Peter.
Wesley
23. Jan, 2012
As a retired guy, I use plugins in a random fashion. But when the situation calls for “It”, a plugin is priceless. I will experiment almost daily so wish me luck.
SUSAN Cowles
23. Jan, 2012
I am looking forward to the sneak preview seminar. This looks fantastic.. See you tomorrow!
Susan
Pam
23. Jan, 2012
Can’t wait! I have the bundle, couldn’t break up a set could I??? Just another play thing to set me apart from the rest.
Truman Photography
23. Jan, 2012
Cute little program, I have already made 20 stars in my Brushes, but this could be fun if you don’t want to much money for it…
What you should do is make one program called (EFFECTS) that as you come out with this type of thing it could be added to it… Then you could pull this Program up and choose the effect or effects you want to apply to your image, instead of having to go to God knows how many plug-ins you guys are going to come out with….
Chuck E.
23. Jan, 2012
How much will it be for users of other effects?
Sydney Australia
23. Jan, 2012
Looking forward to ‘trialling’ Star Effects.
I photograph a lot of landscapes and would like to see how this new product will ‘beef up’ the clouds.
Patty Brinkmeyer
23. Jan, 2012
Can’t wait! I was needing this very thing at Christmas and had to manually star brush every light with Photoshop.
Dennis Samlal
23. Jan, 2012
It looks it will be a useful tool.Looking to trying it some time.
Thanks,
Dennis
Brian Barrett
23. Jan, 2012
As I photograph a lot of jewellery and gemstones it could be a very useful plugin. Look forward to its arrival.
Mario
23. Jan, 2012
The separation feature is great. I will be able to layer shines keeping in seprated layer the original source for other filters and adjustments.
Wilm
23. Jan, 2012
Hi,
I’d love to try it out. Looks great!
Linda Abbott
23. Jan, 2012
Very exciting. Can’t wait.
Your most addicted Topaz junkie,
Linda
Name (required)
23. Jan, 2012
Oh Great, I can’t wait. Just what I need. You guys are on the case.
Greg
23. Jan, 2012
I use Photoshop Elements brushes at the moment. Not sure about this one but I will give it a whirl (if the price is right). What I would really like Topaz to create is a proper photo stacking plug-in for multi shots DOF. How cool would that be as there are only a couple of contenders and one is way over priced.
Jonathan Lentz
23. Jan, 2012
How does it compare to Knoll, Alien Skins or Flaming Pears products? Will you be doing comparisons?
Melanie Zander
23. Jan, 2012
This look great! Would love to try it out!
Dennis Frates
23. Jan, 2012
Mac and PC compatibility???
Donald Gallagher
23. Jan, 2012
Looking good… use to love Cokin Filters – anything that duplicates Cokins in software I am down with… would love a look at it.
Name (required)
23. Jan, 2012
Looking forward to try the Star Effects
Fashoro
Marra Racz
23. Jan, 2012
Hello,
I am excited to hear about the incoming Star Effects:))
Willing to give it a try..
Thank you
Marra