Topaz plugins not showing image

[tuzer3]

I have recently started to use a Mac Studio (Apple M1 Ultra chip, Ventura 13.1 operating systems). My raw photos are stored on a Drobo, and are processed mostly using Lightroom Classic (version 12) and Photoshop to a lesser degree.

I met with mixed success when I installed plugins into my new device: ON1 worked immediately, DxO after some effort. But two other apps, Luminar 4 and the Topaz products, fail in the same way when I try to use them as plugins. Both apps work well when I use them as standalone. But I cannot open the file as plugins.

Here I will refer to Topaz Sharpen AI as a specific example. When I attempt to open the file, and select "Edit with Lightroom adjustments", Sharpen AI returns with a error message "Unknown error/ could not open image. Please contact support with the image attached if the issue continues". Naturally, the issue continues(!) and I contact Topaz support. When I click the OK prompt, Topaz returns to me a tif file which is identical in appearance to the raw ("arw") file that went in.

I have just finished a long zoom call with Topaz support and there was no resolution, other than this: If I click "Edit original file" rather than "Edit with Lightroom adjustments", the image does open up normally and I can edit. Which I don't want to do since I want to leave sharpening to the end of my editing process. I have similar issue when trying to use Luminar 4: The image does not open up. Their the stand-alone application works once I place the raw file there.

I doubt that this is an issue with the Drobo/Mac interface. Rather, the issue seems to be in the interface of Lightroom and these apps, because two other apps ( DxO and ON1) work perfectly after pulling the raw images from the SAME Drobo as the Topaz apps.

I use Topaz products quite intensively but now I can't use them.
What's going wrong?

[Sean McCormack]

First of all, you do know Drobo have gone out of business and that your device will fail at some point? Just a warning as others have been stung with this. 

With the returned Tiff, it's actually Lightroom creating the Tiff, not Topaz, so it's just a render of the original file (with adjustments from LrC).  

I assume you using the Migration tool to get going on the new Mac. If so I'd suggest uninstalling and reinstalling the plugins from scratch. I've had to do with with a number of plugins (I write about plugins for a magazine). 

[Sean McCormack]

Also, have you given Full Disk Access to Lightroom and Topaz? 

[tuzer3]

Thank you for your email. I am sure that they have access but I will check
again just in case

[tuzer3]

Thank you for this hint. I did use the migration tool and will follow your
suggestion about uninstalling/reinstalling Topaz. I am not optimistic
because I did this with Luminar and it did not solve the problem. I thought
of entering through File/Plugin Extras but Topaz does not appear in my list
of Plugin extras and I don't know how to put it there. Luminar4 ( the
other software which does not work) does appear in the list and still does
not work.


HOWEVER, this morning Luminar encouraged me to use the trial version of
Luminar AI and that one works from the Plugin Extras! Btw, Plugin Extras is
the ONLY way I could get DxO to work. After editing it puts the edited file
into a Lightroom Collection.


Do you know how I can put Topaz on the list of Plugin Extras? Their
download instructions imply that it will only appear in the "Edit in"
command

[Sean McCormack]

The software installer places items in Plugin Extras. Usually the Plugin Extras is to allow Raw processing in the plugin. As Topaz generally handles rendered files, this is why it's not there most likely. Luminar 4 is well old Luminar AI isn't current either. Luminar Neo is a better choice for future proofing. 

[tuzer3]

The uninstall/reinstall did not solve the problem.