Mac software > All Reviews > Software > Creativity > Consumer creative software > Adjust 5 review

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 Adjust 5 review

Created HDR and tone-mapped images with this superb Photpshop plug-in

Duncan Evans

Manufacturer: Topaz Labs
Manufacturer: Topaz Labs
Pros: 107 new presets, edge-aware selective brushes, stack effects and presets, fine tweaking control of effects, save your favourites, HDR and retro in one package, relatively cheap
Cons: Retro effects lack real grunge or distress, borders are limited, no paper textures
Price: $49.99 (£35)
We rate this 4 out of 5.Star rating:

Instead of buying two Photoshop plug-ins, one for HDR and tone-mapped images and another for retro effects, why not attempt to get both in one. That’s the rather ambitious focus of Topaz Labs’ Adjust 5. The well laid-out interface has a number of effects categories and then presets within each one. They cover classic tweaks, vibrant, HDR, film, toned, stylised, your own concoctions and the presets from Adjust 4. The idea behind most is to give your images a boost with colour, contrast and selective tone-mapping. Any preset chosen can be previewed and then adjusted with the global parameters plus the local adjustments. Here you can use edge-aware brushes to tweak areas of the photo. The finishing touches section adds diffusion, grain, transparency, warmth, vignetting, tone and a basic border. By tweaking these or adding extra features in, you change the preset which can then be saved as your own combination. Most of the adjustments are aimed at landscape images whereas the film-based retro ones are for portraits. If there’s any issue here it’s that the retro ones don’t have the grunge and damage of other apps, so if that’s your main focus, it’s probably best to look elsewhere.

Here a second preset is being applied to an image using a vignette. The Curves are modified to retain the highlights

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