Topaz as Affinity Plugin

[HFNotts]

I cannot find a way to use the Topaz apps as a plugin with Affinity Photo.  I have Nik also and that does work as an Affinbity plugin.  I have enabled unknown plugins which brought in Nik but Topax doesn't show there.  I don't have an Adobe folder in Programs as I don't have any Adobe software.  Topaz website just direcxts to the enable unknown plugins so is not help yet Topaz lists Affinity as available as plugins.  I use Windows 11.  All software and drivers are fully uptodate.

I would appreciate any help with this issue.

[UweN]

Hi,

no problem with Topas plugin, W11.

Regards, Uwe

[HFNotts]

I don't have anything showing in the way you have so it doesn't work for me like that.

[UweN]

Assumption:
1. you have selected the folder with the Topaz app (in my case the Sharpener AI) in AP and it appears in the list of plug-ins (top box).
2. You have allowed the use of unknown plug-ins.
3. you have restarted AP
4. if it doesn't work then, unfortunately, I don't know what to do.

[HFNotts]

Thanks, I do appreciate your replies.

I have done all that yet still it doesn't work for me.

[Callum]

Hi HFNotss,

Please could you provide a screenshot showing the plugins section within the Affinity Photo preferences menu so I can look into this further with you?

Thanks
C

[HFNotts]

Most grateful, I hope this is correct - snapped on my phone.

[Callum]

HFNotts,

Please could you try adding a plugin search folder for your topaz plugins? Do Topaz plugins show up under the filter > plugins menu?

[HFNotts]

Thanks.  When I press ADD nothing shows.

Topaz doesn't show in the filter> plugins menu.

Under C>Prtogram Files I see Tpoaz LLC but that only show Topaz AI and Topaz Studio 2 and not the other AI Topaz programs I hav e which, at present I use as standalones but adding all those extra steps to my workflow is driving me mad!

[John Rostron]

Do you have the Topaz plugin files (ending in .8bf) in the directories that Affinity is looking into?

John 

[HFNotts]

Not sure which directories that Affinity should be looking into.

I've looked at so much onloine and on the Topaz web site that confusion reigns supreme, hence raising the question in this forum.

[walt.farrell]

2 minutes ago, HFNotts said:

Not sure which directories that Affinity should be looking into.

The one(s) you've configured in the Affinity Photo Settings (or Preferences, in V1).

[HFNotts]

Sorry, even more confused now.  Whilst I am competent in my computer basics I'm in no way an expert at understanding what experts take as straight forward.  I'm not aware of configuring any directories in Affinity Photo.

[walt.farrell]

58 minutes ago, HFNotts said:

Sorry, even more confused now.  Whilst I am competent in my computer basics I'm in no way an expert at understanding what experts take as straight forward.  I'm not aware of configuring any directories in Affinity Photo.

There is a default. You can configure others. Help: https://affinity.help/photo2/en-US.lproj/pages/Filters/plugins.html

A screenshot of the configuration dialog:

That screenshot is from the 2.2 beta. The default directory will be different for 1.10 or 2.1 retail, as your installation will show if you open the Settings/Preferences.

 

[HFNotts]

Oh, I see, thank you.

I've been looking at that so often over tghe past few days and there is nothing in that folder which seems to be the default folder.

The thing that really confuses me is that NIK loaded fully straight as a PS plugin so why doesn't Topaz?  It did on my old system but Affinity and Windows updates seem to have changed things in a way I cannot fathom.

[walt.farrell]

Possibly Nik understands how to install in Photo 2 and Topaz doesn't. Or perhaps you did something more to install it in V1, a long time ago, that you've forgotten about?

[HFNotts]

No, Topaz last time acted just like NIK and appeared straight away as a PS plugin and Affinity could see it OK.

All a big puzzle especially as a friend had no trouble at all with W11 and A2 and has done nothing different to me.  A quirk somewhere.

[John Rostron]

Look first in the Topaz installation folder for a subfolder  containing the 8bf files. In the plugins dialogue box, there is a button labelled Add. Use this to add more folders for Photo to look into.  Browse to the plugins folder and click OK.

John