New "painting" Program - Topaz Impression (25% Discount Till Sep 30, 2014)

To make it happen computer must to have OpenGL v.3.2 or higher.

My PC has OpenGL v.2.1 no luck for me.

Thanks for that Les.
I'm going to give it a try

I believe that this product is problematic on several levels. For example, Topaz's announcement highlights the ability to turn photographs into "real, authentic art;" as if photography isn't an art in itself. That's a slap in the face to all photographers.

Also, this should scare the pants off of painters. If their software is truly as painterly as they claim, in a market where prints are the products, the faux paintings produced by this software will quickly overwhelm the genuine painting reproductions being sold as prints.

Yes and no.
I wouldn't worry about the "real art" point. On one hand, there will be always people who think that only painters create art, and on the other hand there are people (both painters and photographers) who fancy themselves artists by running a smartphone photo through an oil paint filter.

As to scaring the pants off of painters, I wouldn't worry either. Topaz is not the first company to introduce painting filters. Corel and Media Chance have had similar products for years now and they haven't affected painters or photographers greatly. I don't think that Leonid Abramov, Mike Savad and other established FAA painters and image manipulators loose too much sleep over a possible competition from these products.

Each of the painting programs has some strengths and weaknesses, and some filters are truly awful, but certain styles/presets in this programs can produce interesting or nice looking images. In my view, some of those treatments can make more appealing images than the coveted lens-baby filters or HDR effects.

Les, my point about the painters is that this software is supposed to be a great leap forward in tailoring the "brushstrokes" to the actual image. When it's difficult or impossible to tell a print of a painting from one of a filtered photograph, the painters will be at a disadvantage when it comes to production. That's all.

As for the "real art," I was just observing that a company who makes products for photographers seemed to be saying that it's the paintings which are the genuine fine art. Seemed odd to me.

I have a few of the effects that I've gotten over the years. I enjoy playing with them. I have gotten free upgrades like they say and basically pleased with what I have. You lose nothing by trial version. Relax and enjoy!

Where on my computer (W8) do I look for....OpenGL v.3.2 or higher? I snooped around but.....I obviously don't know what I'm looking for! Really don't like windows 8 (side note)

Viktor,
thank you for pointing out the OpenGL requirement. My OpenGL version was OK, but I would imagine that there will be other users with an older OpenGL program.


Melissa,

I don't like Win 8 either.
To find out which OpenGL version you have installed, just click on Topaz Impression download link, and as the first thing it will search for your OpenGL. It will display it and tell whether it is a go or not.
You can also use free app for that called GLview, a OpenGL Extensions Viewer shows basic information about graphics renderer in your Computer. Some of the games will display this information as well.

Thank you Les, I'll check later today, tied up right now :o)

I may try this, but I have to say...watching the video showing how to apply the "brush strokes" made me just want to get out my wacom and just paint. :) After all, that's the part that makes it "mine" and puts my emotion into it.

This is digital art. It is not Painting.

If people choose to throw a filter over an image they should call it digital art and not Painting. There are many on FAA claiming they are doing paintings when they have been nowhere near any paints.

It would be nice if people were more honest about their work.

If you got message that your OpenGL outdated it means you need new video card,
in case of laptop no chance to update for video card but buy new laptop :(

We call it digital painting or, for short, painting. Creativity do not have limits. Tools doesn't matter.

@Murray,

"my point about the painters is that this software is supposed to be a great leap forward in tailoring the "brushstrokes" to the actual image. When it's difficult or impossible to tell a print of a painting from one of a filtered photograph, the painters will be at a disadvantage when it comes to production. That's all.

As for the "real art," I was just observing that a company who makes products for photographers seemed to be saying that it's the paintings which are the genuine fine art. Seemed odd to me".

Murray,

As one can expect, the program works great for certain images that are relatively consistent in light density, even distribution of colors, and symmetrical in composition and shape, so yes, one could use it as automated tool to churn out hundreds of oil paintings in a day.
However, a competent painter with a brush (real or digital), can target certain spots in the picture and add special touches or strokes that can't be done too easily in this program, unless you create multiple versions, then load them as layers in Photoshop,and finish the process in Photoshop. Perhaps in the future versions, Topaz will add some masking and local brushes, but that would complicate the program both for the developers and casual users.

Anyway it's fun and useful to play with the program even if it's only for the free trial period, to find out the possibilities and the limitations of automated "paintings". Tomorrow, I will post some examples of my experiments.

RE 'We call it digital painting or, for short, painting...' Viktor Savchenko


Viktor, why don't you just shorten it to 'Digital' instead of 'Painting'. it would be far more accurate !

@ Viktor - it might mean you just need to upgrade the drivers to a graphics card. I've been talking to a tech at Topaz. My computer passed the OpenGL test and yet Impression won't fully open on my computer. He gave me a link to upgrade my drivers . . . apparently, they already know which vid cards aren't working properly with the program since I didn't tell him which card is in my computer. What's odd is I have the complete Topaz package (as of late July) and have had no issue with any other Topaz product.

@ Murray - I hear you on both points.

After devoting the Sunday afternoon to painting my garage door, I spent a few hours playing with the Impression painting program.
Here are some of the renditions, using the Abstract, Oil Painting, Van Gogh, and Charcoal presets.

For Viktor (and others with older OpenGL version):
Topaz has listed all supported graphics cards and drivers on their support site:

https://support.topazlabs.com/hc/en-us/articles/203602883-Which-video-cards-are-supported-with-Impression-

There is also a link to Intel's Graphics Drivers Download page.

A review of Topaz Impression with quite a few examples has been posted on my blog:

http://advantica.wordpress.com/2014/09/21/topaz-impression

Just call it a digital "CREATION"

Interesting, I think I will try the trial version.

You can call it whatever makes you happy, but technically, it's photo manipulation. Digital painting typically starts with a blank canvas in whichever digital program you're working with and proceeds from there similarly to traditional painting.

That being said, I find the filter interesting. I like some of what it can do.

Roseann

I was one of the beta testers and I think it sucks between you and I. I am not buying it. It is also too expensive in my opinion. I also think you can get the same results with a program you probably already have.
I did these with that Beta program to test it out. I think the final version is the same.

..

I am noticing impressions doesn't come up under the free trial page.

Am I missing something?

JC,

use the link in the top post of this discussion, and when the Topaz screen comes up, navigate down to the Impression block.
I think it's the same link for trial and immediate purchase, you just won't proceed to the checkout.

Les

Digital Impressionism? Seems just fake to me I can't see it.

I did that, it sent me to a page to download the trials, but that program is not an option in the trial versions.

It is the same program, trial version or perpetual.
Try to download the regular program, but do not pay through the checkout.

Once you have it in the Downloads folder on your hard drive, you can install it, and then the program will ask you if you want to activate it.
Just skip the Activate step, and the program will display that you have only 30 days to use it. Everyday the counter is reduced.

The program should install in two fashions - as a standalone program and as a plugin.
With a trial version it is more convenient to use it in standalone mode, since the program asks only at the startup if you want to activate it.
With plugins, the program will asks you for activation every time you invoke it from Photoshop.

JC ... it's an option in my trial version ... "Impressionistic" ... between "Ancient" and "Modern" ...

JC, I'm not sure if I understood correctly.
"Impression" as program, or "impressionistic" as style? Could be confusing.

Anyway, as Lois pointed out, Impressionistic group of presets is there and includes the old masters, such as Cezanne, Monet, Renoir, van Gogh, pointillism, and impasto. In the top right corner, you can choose whether you want to see all presets/effects or just some groups of presets.

Not Impressionistic but the program is simply not there for me to download a trial.

I have ALL the other Topaz stuff I am not interested in but the program/product/plugin that is mentioned in the OP is simply not there.

Oh well, guess that means I didn't need to spend the money.

So far I'm enjoying it.

JC - when the link opens for you, you don't see the banner in a teal color that says to get the new plug-in for 25% off?

JC,

I tried it again, and it worked for me.
As Roseann says, there is teal-colored horizontal box on the bottom with the text "GET TOPAZ IMPRESSION FOR 25% OFF" on which you must click.

Yupp, I did exactly that, it brought me to a page that had all the other stuff, maybe I will try again tonight.

My thought process here is that some of my cell phone shots are well done but won't print large. IF I transform them they may be able to print at a good size. I know Angel has used something along those lines to save a couple sales from my old point and shoot that had issues printing.

I haven't been online much, for the last year or so, and the examples shown look like a step forward in simulating "human" brushstrokes.
However, none of the examples struck me as having the expressiveness of a human artist.
I am neither for nor against the technology, but I am still not impressed. But it is getting much closer.

@Rudy Umans:
"I was one of the beta testers and I think it sucks between you and I. I am not buying it. It is also too expensive in my opinion. I also think you can get the same results with a program you probably already have. I did these with that Beta program to test it out. I think the final version is the same. "

I agree that the beta program is not much different from the official release. Don't know which other program are you comparing it with, if Topaz Simplify or Adjust, those programs are much simpler with fewer capabilities. When compared with Corel Paint or MediaChance DAP, then I agree again that you may get similar results. However, the difference is in the details, and also in the execution speed.
Lastly, as I found myself out running the experiments, not every image lends itself to a painterly rendition. Some images should be left alone and never be rendered in a painterly fashion. You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

@JC
"My thought process here is that some of my cell phone shots are well done but won't print large. IF I transform them they may be able to print at a good size. I know Angel has used something along those lines to save a couple sales from my old point and shoot that had issues printing."

That is, indeed, a very good way to salvage an image and make it into a bigger size. For the transformation into an oil painting or charcoal sketch you don't need a super-sharp image to start with. If you need a bigger size, it's best to enlarge the image prior to running it through the paint filter.

@Gregory:
"I haven't been online much, for the last year or so, and the examples shown look like a step forward in simulating "human" brushstrokes. However, none of the examples struck me as having the expressiveness of a human artist. I am neither for nor against the technology, but I am still not impressed. But it is getting much closer."

You are absolutely right on both counts, Gregory.
1. The automated brush strokes don't have the expressiveness and attention to detail of a human artist. It must be easier to program a chess playing machine than to create another da Vinci.
2. At the same time, the painting filters are getting better, and an artistically inclined person with a good eye and common sense can produce a more appealing piece than some poor painter angry at the world (or a drunken painter in a really happy mood).

Les I couldn't agree with you more when you said "not every image lends itself to a painterly rendition. Some images should be left alone and never be rendered in a painterly fashion." I don't know how or why, but I get a vibe FROM the image itself ... IT tells me if it wants to be edited or left in a more straight photographic state ... or dumped!! ; ))

Lois - I understand that. It does make sense to me.

Roseann, I'm SO glad you said that. I've known it for a long time ... no, I don't hear voices ... lol!! But I do feel idiotic when I try to explain it!!!

My son took some great shots when he was in Scotland and at first he only wanted me to do straight photographic edits. But the first one BEGGED to be played with. He's finally come around to understanding ... so I've posted a couple new ones recently. Both played with!!

: ))

Exactly. The same way you look at something and know it wishes to be photographed. :-)

Roseann!!!! YES!!!!!

I know when the image tells me it wants to be dumped! (of course, none of my own images)

~ laughing ~ Hey, Les!!! Lucky YOU!!!!!

JC,

I ran into the same problem as you, but eventually their automated process sent me both the serial number for the trial and direct link. Their system for getting the trial is a bit messy and I almost threw up my hands. But it worked out, and I have it now.

Murray,

Painters have been at a disadvantage for a long time, as it takes far longer to paint the same scene as one shot in a camera. But there is no stopping it. This is just like the disruption that photoshop and digital camera caused to photography. You figure out how to deal with it and move forward or not.

One thing I know for sure is that photographers no matter how hard they try can't photograph a landscape that doesn't exist. And being able to produce something unique and creative that a computer program and camera can't touch is where future painters will succeed. That and coming up with new and unique styles of presentation...something painters have been doing for centuries to separate themselves from past artists.

I remember time when calligraphers complained against printing press.

"Painters have been at a disadvantage for a long time, as it takes far longer to paint the same scene as one shot in a camera"

On the other hand, an expert painter experienced in a certain technique can paint some exotic looking beach with a palm tree in an hour or less in comfort of his home, maybe even in his pyjamas, whereas the photographer must drive or fly to some faraway location, spend good money on getting there, and then it rains for a week.

I beta tested the software and it is pretty impressive with some tweaking, but t has it's limitations.

Applying a filter to a photo doesn't make art. Your vision of what the art should be does. The filter is just an ends to a means so it is perfectly acceptable for graphic designers, and digital artist to use it as a tool in their toolbox, but it should never be used as the only tool. If you lust apply one of these filters to a photo it is not going to look very good on it's own.The bottom line will always be that you can't cheat at art, because no program is going to help you understand the fundamentals of art. So painters need not worry that everyone will magically become great artist from a program. You still need to know color theory, and how to work a brush, and everything else that you learn in art school. Programs can't provide that knowledge.

For what is worth the brush strokes in Impressions are terrible. Any real artist can see that with just a few seconds with the program. They go off in odd direction, and don't conform to any sort of flow in the artwork. It will never be confused with real brush strokes, or a real artists painting.

I applied it to one of my color field paintings to enhance the surface texture, and it came out looking ok, but like I said the brush strokes are pretty bad.

I'm enjoying the experimentation of it, so far i'm impressed.

I agree, some of the brush strokes don't look very real. Especially in the oil painting and daVinci sketch presets.

But by minimizing the painting brush size and strength of the strokes (both the brush width and stroke length), one can mitigate this effect, and sometimes you can even combine in Photoshop one layer with another to come up with acceptable results. But as I mentioned earlier, not all images are good candidates for painterly renditions and some should be left alone. Either way, it's good to make some experiments, and see for yourself what works and what doesn't.

Only one more day left for the Impression promotional price:

Topaz Impression

For those that need to upgrade OpenGL: https://www.opengl.org/wiki/Getting_started

I wrote an article on classifying your work correctly awhile ago. In short this is what it explained:

Traditoinal = Anything that is made physically. Such as film, stone, clay, or paint
Digital= Anything made with pixels. Such as digital camera, or painting program.

So there is traditional photography, and digital photography. Traditional painting, and digital painting. Traditional manipulation, and digital manipulation.

Not matter the source if something is manipulated digitally it then considered a Digital Manipulation.

The term Painting only applies to art that was created using the Painting process of applying paint to a blank canvas. Either digitally, or physically.

In the case of the this filter being applied to a photo it would be considered a Digital Photo Manipulation.

A good rule of thumb is to think of your job title. How do you market yourself as a Photographer or Painter? Photographers take pictures, and Painters paint. If you are not a painter you do not paint. Painting is a verb or action that you perform.

Hopefully someone finds this useful. My advice is try to focus on the art, and don't worry about how you have to classify it. Tools are just tools. They don't create the art, you do. If it didn't exist before you created it, then you created something completely new in the world that no one else has ever seen. I would say that is amazing in itself no matter how it was created. Labeling it Digital Photo Manipulation is not going to take away from the fact that it's good art. Good art transcends all labeling.

LC - I just wish more folks thought the same as you.

My favorite is Simplify. I think they will give you a trial version and when it runs the program tells you if they can access your gl and possibly can.

Try the trial for that and for Simplify.

https://www.topazlabs.com/simplify


There are tutorials for all their effects I believe.


Have fun!

@ LC... what difference does it make to you personally? I don't mean to be sarcastic but are you the format police? I know people that use Wacom and they are actually using a brush on their pad. So many new programs are out and more every day. It would be silly to give them all titles and description. IMHO

LC,
thanks for posting the link for OpenGL explanation.

Erica,
As far as I know, Topaz Simplify doesn't check for a late version of OpenGL and therefore it should run even on older computers.

Topaz Labs has released Impression 1.1, officially a minor update, yet containing some nice additions.
The new version adds over 50 more presets (incl. Georgia O'Keefe, Degas, and other painters), 3 new sliders (Stroke Rotation, Rotation Variation, Stroke Color Rotation) and an ability to use the original picture as the background.

If you already have Impression 1.0, you can upgrade it for free. If you haven't used Impression yet, you can download it and try it for 30 days free.
Here is the link for both situations:
Topaz Labs

If you decide to purchase it, enter "lespalenik" at the checkout as the coupon code for 15% discount

LC, if you keep repeating your mantra we are going to eventually get it and be able to move on. Maybe you should make a copy and put it in your documents file and pull it out when needed!

I agree, good art is what it is and I have not found a short cut yet.

If anyone still has a ? about GL... if you have photoshop click on edit, open preferences, click on 3D. Upper right you can turn on GL. Not sure if all art programs have the same thing but if not then just ask Google "Where can I find my GL" That might work.
I still like Simplify better, but there is another program that I think is fabulous if you want to try.
http://www.smartphotoeditor.com/
There are thousands of effects that you can use or not use. Enjoy

And I will repeat my mantra as well... we only sell Fine Art Prints... and Photographs. Everything that FAA sends to a customer is digitally printed. Film is only Traditional if it is developed and printing using traditional darkroom processes... we don't sell those here. If I sell a print that looks like a painting I will call it a painting, but I am only selling a Fine Art Print of a painting. I will describe somewhere that the image started out as a photograph but I will still call it a painting if that is what it looks like.

Oh.. and Mediachance DAP does a much better job at rendering a painting from a photograph... and you can do selective strokes and masking as well.

bob

The Topaz impression 25% discount no longer active. Can you negotiate for one more time for the members or any body knows any seller selling this software little less than $100?

@ Sharif
Try to get ahold of Eric at Topaz/ Explain your situation and ask him if he could extend the special. Not sure but got nothing to lose by trying.
You may want impression but I tried that and I have always used Simplify and I prefer that. Have you tried that one?

Eric.yang@topazlabs.com

Their special deal is on through 12/1 for 1/2 price on all.

It will be interesting to see what the outcome of reaching out to Eric would be. I've corresponded with Topaz customer service and quite honestly am dissatisfied with them and how they treat existing customers. But YMMV!

That's sad to hear Sai. I've been with them for about 5 years+ and never had a problem.

There is still nothing to lose by asking.

Sharif,

As Erica mentioned, Topaz is now running a huge 42% promotion on their entire suite (Collection of 15 plugins, including Impression) for $249.99.
If you don't have any of their programs yet, that's a great deal. And if you already have some of their plugins, you will receive a partial credit (depending on the number of previously purchased plugins) when you make the purchase, so that makes the final price even better, it can bring the price down to around $200.

The special price is valid till Dec 1, midnight (sometimes even till next morning). Here is the link to their online store:

Topaz Store

and enter "BLACKFRIDAY2014" as the discount code to obtain the above discount.

At this time, we can't get the previously advertised 25% discount for Impression.
If you miss the Dec 1 deadline and still want to buy Impression (or any other plugin) at a reduced price,
you can use the same link above, and at the checkout, type "lespalenik" as the discount code to get 15% discount from the regular price.
In short, 15% instead of 25%, but with more flexibility.

Erica, thank you for motivating me to reach out to Eric Yang. He has been quite helpful. I appreciate you sharing Eric's email in this thread. Thanks much!

Thank you very much Erica and Les Palenik for your reply and suggestion.

Sharif