TOPAZ Impression Quick Start Guide
TOPAZ Impression Quick Start Guide
TOPAZ Impression Quick Start Guide
Topaz
Impression
Quick Start Guide
About
Topaz Impression
Topaz Impression is designed to turn your
photos into realistic works of art.
Topaz Impression is designed to effortlessly Here at Topaz we've been using a variety of
transform your photo into a variety of mediums to create brush strokes and sketch
different art styles and media types. With a lines (paints, pastels, crayons, colored pencils)
few clicks you can create anything from an on different substrates (watercolor paper,
impressionistic oil painting to a realistic canvas, rock, brick, etc.). These have been
chiaroscuro. scanned, masked out using Topaz ReMask
and placed into the program's algorithm,
Impression differs from our other art plugin, providing even more options for creative
Topaz Simplify, in that both use a different opportunities.
technology. While Impression has the
capability to create realistic and unique
photo effects, Simplify tends to produce
flatter, more graphical results. You may
show your friend something you created in
Impression and they might actually believe
Scanned strokes of different media.
that you painted it (true story).
System Requirements
Mac OS X 10.8 or higher
Windows 7 x64 + OpenGL3.2 (does not support 32bit Windows)
For additional information on OpenGL and your computer’s graphics card, please see pages 7-8
of our user manual.
Download Instructions
Plugin Compatibility
Impression can be accessed as a plugin in:
• Photoshop CS4+
• Photoshop Creative Cloud
• Photoshop Elements 6+
• Paintshop Pro X
• Serif PhotoPlus X5+
• Lightroom as an external editor
• Aperture as an external editor
• iPhoto as an external editor
• NOT compatible with Fusion Express or PhotoFXlab
For installation instructions, please see pages 3-9 of our user manual.
How to Use
Presets & Collections
Upon first entering Topaz Impression, you’ll see a screen containing presets inspired by art
history and different art styles. This is a good starting point for creating your work of art.
Navigate between
different collections
of effects.
Should you want to customize the preset or make your own, you must navigate to the selective param-
eters screen. These sliders are the backbone of the program (and how the presets were created).
The first way to get to selective parameters is to click on the actual preset. You’ll then see the selective
parameters icon appear. Click on it to navigate to the selective parameters screen.
Deletes
preset
To reset all parameters, click on the reset icon in the top right corner.
Selective Parameters
You'll be amazed at what you can create....
Topaz Impression contains a variety of sliders and options that are fairly simple to use. By mixing and
matching sliders, you'll be able to create masterpieces in no time! Here is a definition of the function behind
each selective parameter.
STROKE
Spill: Determines how clear the edge of the
Brush Type: Choose between several
stroke is applied.
different styles of wet and dry brushes.
Paint Opacity: Determines how transparent
Brush Size: Determines the size of the
the paint or other media is.
brush stroke.
Brush Size reduced Brush Size increased Paint Opacity reduced Paint Opacity increased
Stroke Width: Determines how wide the Smudge: Blurs and smooths the edges of the
media strokes are. image. Use for a dreamy look.
Paint Volume increased Impasto-like style of painting Coverage: 0.35, Transition: 0.15 Coverage: 0, Transition: 1
COLOR LIGHTING
Overall Hue: Allows you to alter the overall Brightness: Determines how bright or dark
color of the hues in your image. the effect is. Does not affect the background.
Overall Saturation: Allows you to adjust the Contrast: Determines the separation
overall intensity of the colors in your image. between the darkest and brightest areas of
Overall Lightness: Determines how bright or the image.
dark the colors are in the image. Vignette: Controls the darkening of the
image corners as compared to the center.
Use a vignette to draw eyes towards the
center of the image and away from the
edges.
Vignette Transition: Determines the
hardness of the vignette.
Final Masterpiece:
Examples
Before
After
Examples
Before
After