This document refers to a legacy version 

Adobe Lightroom Classic (LrC) is the desktop application of Adobe Lightroom. 

There are two Photo AI plugins for Lightroom Classic that are automatically installed:

Very important to use this path and not the path #2, if you want access to RAW Denoise to remove RAW noise and hot pixels.

For non-RAW files (JPEG, TIFF, PNG, etc): the 

This will convert the file to TIFF, and if the image is originally RAW this is not recommended as it revokes access to RAW Denoise, and will not give good results. See path #1 above for the correct RAW plugin path, to get optimal results and retain a RAW format (DNG). 

The maximum image size when using the plugins is 512 megapixels (512,000,000 pixels total).

The RAW plugin provides the best image quality results for your RAW photos. Sending a RAW image to Photo AI enables the RAW denoise enhancement, which improves detail and decreases noise. 

The RAW plugin is here: 

We recommend using unedited RAW files with this plugin because Photo AI does not read any of the edits made on the RAW file in LrC. Once the DNG file is back to LrC after the Photo AI edits, that is when you want to do your light and color edits. 

Processing a RAW or DNG file with Adjust Lighting or Balance Color outputs a TIFF file. To retain a DNG RAW format, do not use these enhancements. 

For some file types, Lightroom Classic prompts you to 

, which creates a copy of your original image in Lightroom.

This menu does not appear when working with "proprietary" RAW formats as they cannot be overwritten. A DNG copy is always created. This is for any RAW Files that are not supported. 

The supported cameras are documented here

Images are only exported as a TIFF if the Adjust Lighting and/or Color Balance Enhancements are used. Otherwise, images are exported to a DNG.

Exporting with the plugin for the first time asks if you want to save images to collections.

The external editor plugin appears under the Edit In option within Lightroom Classic. It is meant to be used on non-RAW files (JPEG, PNGs, TIFF, etc) :

PSD files are not compatible with the Photo AI Lightroom Classic plugin.

The following Lightroom Classic menu appears after invoking the plugin:

The RAW plugin and the external editor both support batch processing.

Select multiple images in the Library Grid or in the Filmstrip and:

For the external editor, right-click your images and click 

 from in the Develop tab. This only sends the currently viewed image to Topaz Photo AI.

Lightroom Classic (Legacy)

These plugins automatically install to Photoshop (1) and are accessible from here:

The Filter plugin is available in Photoshop (PS) and Photoshop Elements (PSE). 

 allow size changes (scale options) or cropping. Use the File > Automate plugin if you want to change the size and access scale options. 

Does not create a new layer. It is important to make sure there is a merged new layer on top of your work before using the plugin to avoid losing any work. 

[RECOMMENDED] -> File > Automate > Topaz Photo AI 

The Automate plugin is only available in Photoshop (PS).  

Allows size changes (scale options) and cropping. (2)

Automatically creates a new layer on top of your work named TPAI. This is the recommended menu plugin. 

(1) The Automate plugin is only available in Photoshop CC and not in Photoshop Elements. Since size changes are not possible in the Filter plugin, the PSE plugin cannot be used to upscale images. Photoshop CS suite is not compatible as a plugin. 

(2) The plugin supports a maximum image size of 30,000 pixels on the longest side. 


If you do not see any Scale options, you may be using the 

 in Filters > Topaz Photo AI, which will 

 plugin instead, which will allow size changes. 

The plugins send the selected image layer straight to Photo AI for processing and return the processed image back to Photoshop.

Photoshop & Photoshop Elements (Legacy)

The Photo AI plug-in automatically installs into Capture One. Access it from:

Capture One sends an image directly to Photo AI and imports the processed image back to Capture One as a copy. 

We recommend using unedited RAW files with this plugin. 

can be used on Windows to round-trip the image. However, it cannot create a DNG copy of the image.

 on Mac. This option does not import the image back to Capture One.

Capture One (Legacy)

The Photo AI plug-in automatically installs into Apple Photos. Access it by:

After processing, a JPG file is returned to Apple Photos.

Do not use Ctrl + click > Edit with > Topaz Photo AI. This does not save the output file to Apple Photos.

The following window will appear within Apple Photos, and Photo AI will open a new window.

return a JPG file to your catalog no matter what format the original file is. 

Apple Photos (Legacy)

The Photo AI plugin for Affinity Photo is 

 automatically enabled but can be manually added. Once enabled, open the plugin from the 

 It is very important to make sure you have the Affinity program installed directly from the Affinity website and 

 from the Apple Store. The plugin will not work for the Apple Store version. If you are unsure what version you have, uninstall Affinity and reinstall a fresh copy from the Affinity website. Then you can follow the steps below to integrate the plugin. 


The below information  may look a bit different depending on the Affinity version you have. 

If there is no plugin in the "Detected Plugins" section, click "Add" and manually add C:\Program Files\Topaz Labs LLC\ and restart Affinity. If Photo AI is installed somewhere else then C, there can be conflicts. Contact support@topazlabs.com if any issues remain. 

Affinity Photo sends the selected image layer straight to Photo AI for processing and returns the processed image back to Affinity Photo.


Affinity Photo (Legacy)

For any programs that are not part of our 

 - you can test if Photo AI can be launched if your application has an 

 menu option (1). If the plugin works, you may need to re-import the processed image for it to appear within your application after Photo AI closes. 

(1) Important: Incompatible plugins can have issues, conflicts and inconsistent behaviors. Any issues in these workflows are not supported when Photo AI used as a plugin. For any programs that are not in our dedicated plugins, we support using Photo AI as a standalone (from the Desktop shortcut), then export from the standalone, then use this exported file in the program of your choice. To use Photo AI as a plugin, make sure to use from one of our dedicated and supported plugins. 

Other Applications (Legacy)

Supported Cameras & Files (Legacy)

Selection (Legacy)

, from Serif and does not apply to the new Affinity Studio (from Canvas) program. The Affinity Studio (from Canvas) program is not a supported host plugin. 

Photo AI integrates with other image editing and catalog software. 

Photo AI automatically integrates with the following programs. It is important to have the host program installed 

Make sure when you install Photo AI that the host program is closed for the plugin to install correctly. 

Lightroom Classic (LrC)

Photoshop (PS CC) & Photoshop Elements (PSE)

Capture One

Apple Photos

The Affinity plugin is supported, however it requires manual installation. See steps below: 

Affinity Photo

If your editing program is not mentioned above, it is not a supported plugin: 

Plugins (Legacy)

Supported Plugins

Lightroom Classic (LrC)

Photoshop (PS CC) & Photoshop Elements (PSE)

Capture One

Apple Photos

Affinity Photo

Unsupported Plugins

Other Applications

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