Video processing gets faster with Starlight Fast 3 and Speed Boost

Topaz Labs is focusing its September update on video processing speed. Starlight Fast 3 accelerates upscaling, Starlight Precise 2.6 gets a Speed Boost mode up to ten times faster, while SDR-to-HDR conversion comes to the Premiere panel and the mobile app reaches Android.

Starlight Fast moves to its third generation

Reducing the time required for video upscaling is the main focus of Topaz Labs' September update. Starlight Fast 3 reaches up to 7 frames per second on 1080p footage and is positioned as a faster alternative to Starlight Precise.

In Topaz's published test, a 15-second, 30 fps clip upscaled to 4K takes 4 minutes and 17 seconds with Starlight Fast 3, compared with 18 minutes and 45 seconds using Starlight Precise 2.6. The company describes the new model as roughly four times faster in this configuration.

Starlight Fast 3 is available in Topaz for Web and Topaz Video. A Speed Boost mode for Starlight Precise 2.6

For workloads that require Starlight Precise 2.6, Topaz is adding another option. Speed Boost substantially reduces processing time in exchange for twice the credit consumption of a standard Starlight Precise 2.6 job.

Topaz claims gains of up to 10x. Its example uses a five-minute, 30 fps video upscaled to 4K: 15 minutes and 32 seconds with Speed Boost versus 2 hours and 30 minutes with standard Starlight Precise 2.6.

The mode is currently limited to Topaz for Web, with support for Topaz Video planned later. SDR-to-HDR moves into Premiere

The Topaz panel for Adobe Premiere is adding more finishing operations directly inside the editing software.

SDR-to-HDR conversion uses Hyperion 2.5, while Starlight Precise 2.6 handles enhanced upscaling. Wonder 3.5 and Bloom 2 also join the extension for image enhancement.

The updated UXP panel now combines HDR conversion, upscaling, denoising, and slow motion without requiring editors to move the footage into a separate Topaz application. Topaz processing reaches Android

The other expansion is mobile. Topaz for Mobile is now available on Android alongside its existing iOS version.

The app brings Topaz models and workflows for upscaling, denoising, and sharpening to smartphones and is distributed through Google Play.

The update spans three parts of the workflow: faster heavy video processing on the web, more finishing operations directly inside Premiere, and image enhancement from Android devices.