testing vivacity

Okay, I downloaded a trial of Topaz Vivacity. According to the description it's supposed to:

1. sharpen edges without artifacts or halos etc
2. remove noise and preserve detail
3. remove jpeg artifacts
4. enlarge images without losing resolution
5. do cool effects that can't be done in photoshop

this is my test of sharpen:
before, using my software unsharp mask:
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_eTzuNZZ7ZF0/S3...800/coffin.jpg

and same image using the topaz sharpness filter
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_eTzuNZZ7ZF0/S4...00/coffin2.jpg

any thoughts? It's a 30 day trial so I'll be able to really test it.

PS-- I thought that Greg might appreciate the photo. :evil2:

Darn you're getting to know me, but I'm a Gemini so now you have to figure out my other side :laugh:

It has done strange things to the branches and the background headstones.

The snow looks like marshmallow. It seems to have treated the ice crystals as noise and tried to smooth it out.

hmm you are correct. I think it smoothed out the snow and branches which made them 'funny'. It could also be that I don't know what I'm doing with it yet :)

And Greg, I will do my best to get to know this side of you too: :angel:

Give Topaz Detail a try.

Before Detail:

After Detail:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4038/...9557e3c6_b.jpg

nice effect here Jas. Detail is on the list as well. :thankyou:

Hmmm - Shot 2 looks better than shot 1 imo....but shot 1 looks way oversharpened especially in the snow.