Bits&Coffee, the creators of batch image converter program BatchPhoto, have launched a free online and mobile version of the program, called BatchPhoto Espresso. The app can perform common operations, such as Convert, Resize, Crop, Rotate, Touch-Up or Apply Effects. Special effects, such as black & white, sepia, charcoal, swirl, and negate, can also be applied to images. BatchPhoto Espresso can be accessed from any computer or device connected to the Internet at the website below.

Adobe have released an update to Lightroom CC. Version 2015.10 / 6.10 adds support for raw image files generated by the new Canon EOS M6 (pictured), EOS 77D, EOS 800D and Pentax KP; incorporates 22 new lens profiles, and fixes a number of bugs. In order to install the update, select Help > Updates in the Adobe Creative Cloud app.

Adobe have released ACR 9.10 and DNG Converter 9.10. The latest update of Adobe Camera Raw adds support for the new Canon EOS M6, EOS 800D and EOS 77D, and the Pentax KP (pictured), incorporates 22 new lens profiles, and fixes bugs. To install the update, simply select Help>Updates to use the update mechanism in the Adobe Creative Cloud app.

Source: Adobe Blogs

Picktorial Innovations today released Picktorial 3, their latest non-destructive raw photo editing platform for MacOS. This edition provides advanced local adjustment options, all of which are fully non-destructive and offer real-time preview. These include luminosity and colour masks used by fine-art photographers, a high-end edge-aware brushing engine, state of the art skin-smoothing capacities, blending modes and more.The latest version also offers full support for the latest Fujifilm X.trans cameras' raw image files (including compressed/uncompressed RAF) and auto lens correction based on embedded metadata. The update is free for owners of the previous version.

Akvis have just released Refocus 7.0, an application designed to improve the sharpness of out of focus images and apply lens blur effects to your photos. This update adds two brand new modes - Motion Blur and Radial Blur - allowing you to create the natural-looking illusion of movement - either linear or radial. Additionally, Version 7.0 offers an enhanced Background Defocus effect and an array of new presets. Akvis Refocus sells for $39 (Home license) / $49 (Deluxe license) / $72 (Business license). One license key allows activating and using the software on two computers.

Alien Skin Software today announced the Advanced Layers Update for Exposure X2, their non-destructive raw photo editor. Free free for owners of Exposure X2, the Advanced Layers Update takes a bold step forward by adding advanced layering tools that enable stacking of effects for added creativity. Layers can be copied and pasted, turned on and off individually, applied to multiple images, and more. “Exposure now offers an advanced layering system that provides photographers with limitless stacking capabilities, so they can precisely blend multiple looks in their images,” said Alien Skin CEO Finley Lee. “And Exposure’s fast, catalog-free approach runs circles around traditional photo editors.” The Advanced Layers Update for Exposure X2 may be used as a standalone program or as a set of plug-ins to Photoshop and Lightroom.

Velapp is a new iOS app that allows you to edit your iPhone videos on the fly, taking advantage of Apple's 3D Touch technology.. While filming, users press on the screen to mark the moments they believe are the best. This assigns the frames a rating between 0-10. The harder the press, the higher the number assigned. Once they’ve finished recording, Velapp’s technology automatically pulls together the highest-rated scenes into edited footage and users can then choose how much of it to play back and export. Velapp is available in a free version, which creates watermarked videos each with a one-minute maximum, or a £1.99 paid-for version that removes the watermark and offers exports of any length.

Akvis have introduced the beta version of their new AliveColors image editing application for Windows and Mac OS X. The software offers a variety of image editing tools and effects that lets users create new images from scratch or touch up existing ones. AliveColors allows you to manipulate pictures in a number of ways: it retouches and repairs photos, reduces digital noise, improves focus, applies blur effects, colourises black-and-white photos, corrects colour and tone, improves detail, performs all necessary prepress adjustments, creates HDR images, extracts complex objects, adds text, edits raw files, combines images into collages, applies a variety of unique effects etc. Along with the image enhancement features, the program provides users with an array of artistic brushes and easy-to-use shape tools. The fully functional beta version is available for download at the website below.

Zoner Photo Studio X has received its second major update in six months. Adding a new Filter Brush (for localised non-destructive edits), this update additionally offers an easier way to make complex selections. For travelling photographers, the Spring Update brings the opportunity to work with tracklogs so they can see photographs right along the route of their trip in the Map view. Auto-completion for photo titles, descriptions, and locations speeds up work for anyone who wants to have their photo collection well-organised. Batch edits to labels, ratings, and GPS data are now done in the background while you work. The program’s sharing options newly include the ability to share photos directly to an administered Facebook page, or in a message on Messenger. Zoner Photo Studio X is available as an annual subscription license at a price of $95.88.

Adobe have teamed up with The Photography Show (TPS) 2017 to offer visitors to the show 20% off the Adobe Creative Cloud Photography plan (£8.08 per month instead of £10.10 per month for an annual plan). Providing access to the Lightroom CC and Photoshop CC desktop applications, the Adobe Creative Cloud Photography plan also includes unique sophisticated mobile capabilities: automatically syncing photos with Lightroom CC on the desktop, Lightroom on mobile devices lets users access and edit their entire catalogue of photos on iPad, iPhone as well as Android smartphones and tablets. Additionally, the Adobe Theatre is returning to The Photography Show this year from March 18 to March 21 2017, offering a comprehensive programme of sessions to help improve and enhance photographers' image editing skills.

RNI have released a new version of RNI All Films. The new RNI All Films 4.0.4 for Adobe Lightroom and ACR brings customised camera profiles for a number of new cameras including the Leica TL and M10, the Phase One IQ3 100MP, the Fujifilm X-100F. GFX 50S, X A3, X A10 and  X T20, the Canon EOS M5 and PowerShot G9 X Mark II, the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II, the Panasonic FZ80, GF9 and GH5, the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, and the Sony DSC-RX100 M5. Additionally, film grain is now turned off by default. You can use RNI Toolkit in Lightroom to set the desired level of film grain (ISO 100/21° – ISO 1600/33°).

Fundy Software have launched their newly revamped product line offering Lite, Pro and Studio licensing options starting at $199. Using the Fundy Suite, professional photographers can easily and quickly create customised albums and  beautiful wall art. Fundy is also a sales tool that enables professional photographers to conduct sales sessions with their clients either in-person or virtually from anywhere in the world. For emerging pros Fundy Suite Lite offers a cost-effective way to start using Fundy priced at $199.  Fundy Suite Pro, priced at $349, adds more professional options such as previewing custom framed prints and designing larger albums that are coveted by high-end brides. Fundy Suite Studio, priced at $499, is created for the large studio, allowing up to five computers to run the Suite simultaneously. For a limited time all licensing options offer a 3-moth freesubscription of Pro Enhancements. “Our newly revamped product line and attractive price points reflect the rapid growth and popularity the Fundy Suite has achieved since its launch in 2008. Our new tiered pricing gives a pathway for professional photographers to add significant revenue to their business and expand their product offerings as their business grows,” said Andrew “Fundy” Funderburg, founder of Fundy Software. “Additionally, our new Pro Enhancements perfectly fits our company mission to help professional photographers design better and do more so they can get back to the moments that matter to them most to their clients.”

Sony have released a new PlayMemories Camera App that allows you to divide the scene into two or three areas and optimise the exposure and white balance for each area. According to the company, this application - called Digital Filter - is perfect for scenes containing vastly different brightness levels, such as in backlit landscape scenes. Digital Filter offers functionality, ease of use and image quality that go beyond the features of Sky HDR, another Sony Camera App enabling users to independently control the exposure of land and sky and adjust different brightness levels in one picture. Priced at $29.99, the new Digital Filter application is available for select Sony cameras including the ILCE-7, ILCE-7R, ILCE-6000, RX100M3, ILCE-7S, ILCE-7M2, RX100M4, RX10M2, ILCE-7RM2, ILCE-7SM2, RX1RM2 ILCE-6300, RX10M3, RX100M5 and ILCE-6500. Those who own a copy of Sky HDR can purchase a Digital Filter license for $19.99.

Via SAR

Adobe Lightroom CC 2015.9 is now available. This version adds support for the Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II, the Casio EX-ZR3200, the Fujifilm GFX 50S. X100F, X-A10 and X-T20, the Leica M10, the Olympus E-M1 Mark II, the Panasonic FZ80, GF9, GH5 and TZ82 cameras and the Phase One IQ3 100MP digital back. Additionally, the new update includes a number of new camera-lens profiles and 21 bug fixes.

Source: Adobe

Adobe today released ACR 9.9, adding support for raw files generated by the Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II, the Casio EX-ZR3200, the Fujifilm X100F (pictured), X-T20, X-A10 and GFX 50S, the Leica M10, the Olympus E-M1 Mark II, the Panasonic FZ80, GF9, GH5 and TZ82 cameras, and the Phase One IQ3 100MP digital back. The new update also expands the lens profile library, and fixes bugs.

Source: Adobe

Adobe have released an update to Lightroom Mobile, bringing raw HDR image capture to select Android and iOS devices.  These updates, version 2.7 for iOS and version 2.3 for Android, are available for free. "Previously, capturing an image in HDR either meant using a DSLR or mirrorless camera, capturing multiple exposures, copying to your computer, and then merging in an application like Photoshop, Adobe Camera Raw, or Lightroom," says Josh Haftel, Senior Product Manager at Adobe. "Alternatively, you could capture an HDR JPEG on your phone, though those images normally used only two shots and often failed to capture the full range of tonality in difficult lighting scenarios. By capturing three raw shots and merging on the phone, you get a greatly increased dynamic range with the ability to edit and share right away." This new functionality is currently available on the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, the Google Pixel and Pixel XL, and the Apple iPhone SE, 6S, 6S Plus, 7, 7 Plus and iPad Pro 9.7.

Iridient Digital has released Iridient Developer 3.1.4, a raw file conversion and photo processing application for Mac OS X. This update brings support for the Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II and EOS M6, the Fujifilm GFX 50S, X-T20, X100F. and X-A10, the Panasonic GH5 and FZ80, the Pentax KP, the Leica M10 and the Sigma sd Quattro H. The company also launched Iridient X-Transformer 1.0 beta 3 for both Mac OS and Windows, adding support for the Fujifilm GFX50S, X-T20 and X100F.

CamFi has announced that the new version of its app, CamFi 3.0, adds wireless tether support for Sony cameras. "CamFi is the only wireless camera controller which can support Canon, Nikon and Sony currently. The support for other camera brands will be added in the future," Said Mark Ma, CEO of CamFi. "We hope we can bring something new for the photography industry." CamFi 3.0 supports file transfer as well as live view, and wireless camera control including ISO, shutter speed, aperture and remote image capture. Furthermore, the new version adds support for the newest DNP wireless printer server, allowing the user to print the photo over Wi-Fi immediately after shooting. Last but not least, CamFi supports multiple camera control, which can be used to create a bullet time effect.

Version 1.8 of slimRAW, a fast CinemaDNG compressor which saves storage space and reduces storage bandwidth requirements for CinemaDNG raw video production, is now available to download. This update adds 7:1 CinemaDNG raw compression to the previously available choice of 3:1, 4:1, 5:1 and variable-bitrate raw compression. The new compression level is targeted at the latest generation of CinemaDNG raw cameras with resolutions going beyond 4K. It allows for 25% smaller raw files compared to 5:1 compression. Coupled with the CinemaDNG downscale abilities of slimRAW, 7:1 compression enables CinemaDNG raw proxies at up to 28:1 reduction of raw data footprint. slimRAW is available for Microsoft Windows and Apple OS X.

ON1 has released the first major update to ON1 Photo RAW 2017. The application offers one of the fastest ways to cull photos making it easy to tag, rate, make color and tone adjustments, or add effects to photos. The non-destructive workflow utilises sidecar files to store edits and allows photographers the ability to edit and adjust photos locally, in the cloud, or on file servers. This also allows photographers to access their photos from multiple computers and/or allow colleagues to access and edit the same photos from where they left off. Version 2017.0.2 includes support for over a dozen new cameras - including the Olympus SH-2, E-M5 MKII and E-M1 MKII, the Pentax K5 II, the Nikon D5600, the Panasonic DMC-FZ2000, DMC-G2, DMC-G5, DMC-LX15 and DMC-TZ80, the Leica M10 and Leica TL, and the Canon EOS 500D -, improved raw processing results, updated support for Fujifilm camera files, better highlight recovery, and other performance tuning and bug fixes.