PMA 2006: A Windows version of Lightzone is released today. LightZone is available for Windows and Mac OS X for $249.95.

Light Crafts Press Release

Award-Winning Photo Editing and Image Processing Software Now Available for Microsoft Windows - LightZone Delivers the Most Significant Advance in Windows-Based Photo Editing in More Than a Decade

Palo Alto, CA – February 23, 2006—Light Crafts, Inc. today announced that the Microsoft Windows version of its award-winning photo editing software – LightZone™ – is now available. Designed and built from the ground up for professionals and other serious photographers, LightZone for Windows is available as a free 30-day trial at www.lightcrafts.com . Light Crafts also announced its Charter Customer Program. Customers who purchase and register any version of LightZone by March 31, 2006, will receive lifetime upgrades at no charge. LightZone, which recently received a “Best of Show” award at the 2006 Macworld Expo, provides a better way to edit and correct digital photographs and create stunning photographic and fine art prints. With LightZone, a digital photograph can be developed and edited using light values and shapes in a true non-destructive editing environment. LightZone’s breakthrough patent-pending technology helps serious photographers achieve professional results and is easy and intuitive to use.

SeeFile Press Release

ORLANDO—February 22, 2005—At the Photo Marketing Association’s (PMA) annual conference, SeeFile will be showing a major upgrade to their software package, fulfilling on a promise to improve often and well a product that was deemed best of show last year by, among others Joe Farace of Shutterbug and Liz Cunningham of Cygnus Publications.

The Macintosh-based software is aimed at photographers, designers, and smaller graphic arts shops looking for a way to promote their work and interact with customers on the Internet. Traditional solutions to this problem have cost as much as $50,000. The SeeFile 2.0 system is being shown in booth 3280 at PMA at a complete price of only $995, including hardware that puts a Web server on an affordable platform. Once plugged in, it provides instant Web access for any images stored on the system.

PMA 2006: Nikon Capture NX digital image editing software is announced today. Available in May 2006 for £119.99 / €179.

Nikon Press Release

Nikon Capture NX - Advancing full-scale digital image processing and editing

TOKYO – Nikon Corporation announces the new digital image editing software, Capture NX, featuring Nik Software, Inc.’s patented U Point™ technology. This new product, evolving from previously released Nikon Capture 4 software, gives digital photographers more powerful tools complimented by simple and visual operation for exploring NEF, JPEG and TIFF files potential for optimizing images. The new software is scheduled for delivery during Spring 2006.Advancing the world-acclaimed Nikon Capture concept, Capture NX releases not only the latest powers of Nikon’s Electronic Format (NEF) files; for the first time, it makes image processing of JPEG and TIFF files created by other cameras elegant and easy enough for any photographer to implement*. A user-friendly interface makes image editing more visually intuitive and provides access to all necessary enhancement tools. Nikon’s legendary expertise in creating innovative digital cameras and images has expanded the potential for high quality digital photography which will soon be complimented by Capture NX with its technology to maximize the potential for each compatible image. With performance, versatility and convenience it is the perfect match to any Nikon digital camera, as well as for any other camera brand that produces JPEG and TIFF files.

PMA 2006: Nikon View Pro image management software is announced today. Available in May 2006 for £34.99 / €50.

Nikon Press Release

High Speed and Versatile Performance with Image Management and Browsing to speed up and improve the professional digital workflow – Compatible with Capture NX and other Software.

New performance includes: Faster loading of thumbnails, faster NEF preview plus exclusive high speed processing, Action Keys, High Speed Image Management, IPTC Editing Performance, Versatile Display Modes for Image Comparison, Image Marking and FTP Transfer Compatibility

TOKYO — Nikon Corporation is pleased to introduce the versatile new Nikon View Pro software. The new Nikon View Pro is designed to make viewing and handling of large quantities of images faster, and with versatility to make the professional workflow more productive. As digital files grow in size and quality, professional photographers will appreciate Nikon View Pro’s enhanced image display, faster browsing of NEF RAW files, and the ease of editing IPTC information, all in a conveniently fast workflow.

PMA 2006: Nikon Pictmotion in-camera slideshow functionality is introduced in the new Coolpix S5 and S6 cameras.

Nikon Press Release

So much more than a slideshow, Pictmotion blends images, movies, music and visual styles to produce entertaining in-camera shows.

Tokyo – Nikon Corporation is proud to announce Pictmotion – a unique new feature that makes it easy to share the joy of photography in a more entertaining, more advanced manner. Presently available with the newly released COOLPIX S5 and S6, this in-camera capability enables recorded image and movie files to be combined with music and visual styles to produce intuitive in-camera shows that take the fun of digital photography much further. Containing patented technologies provided by muvee Technologies Pte. Ltd., Pictmotion empowers the COOLPIX S5 and S6 with an embedded muvee-making function similar to the muvee feature previously available with Nikon PictureProject software – automatically analyzing selected images, movies, styles, music and settings to produce creative, compelling slideshow productions that are easy to make and exciting to show. And because the software is already in the camera, users can make and view their Pictmotion productions on the go, save them to memory, and enjoy playing them back again and again anywhere – without the need for a PC.

muvee Technologies Press Release

Singapore and New York, NY - February 20, 2006 - muvee Technologies, the pioneer and leader in Instant Personal Video, has partnered with Vector, Japan’s largest online software download website, to make its muvee autoProducer software more easily available to its Japanese-speaking customers. Jack Chen, muvee’s director of sales and marketing in Japan, said, “Japan is one of our key markets and this deal with Vector is part of our increasing efforts to cater to our customers here.  Vector’s success and popularity for software downloads makes it an ideal and convenient platform for our Japanese-speaking users to purchase our software via a secure payment network.”

Bibble Labs Press Release

State-of-the-art noise reduction technology to be included in Bibble RAW processing software.

Austin, TX- 13:00 EST February 17, 2006. Bibble Labs Inc has reached an agreement with PictureCode LLC, developer of the best-of-breed Noise Ninja image noise reduction software application. Forthcoming versions of Bibble Labs’ award-winning RAW workflow software will feature fully integrated versions of Picturecode’s patent pending noise reduction technology. This will enable a new level of image quality in the raw workflow, especially for high-ISO images. “As pioneers of DSLR RAW software we have led the way in speed, feature set, and cross platform support. With the inclusion of PictureCode’s Noise Ninja™ technology, we are again raising the bar for integrated, fast workflow,” states Eric Hyman, President & CEO of Bibble Labs.

Kodak / Bibble Labs Press Release

Eastman Kodak Company and Bibble Labs today announced a cross-licensing and co-marketing agreement that will allow both companies to offer new, improved products to imaging professionals that further strengthens Kodak’s ‘Connect with Pro Quality’ products and programs. Under the agreement, Kodak is licensing to Bibble two proprietary technologies, the KODAK COLORFLOW Color Management Module (CMM) and the KODAK COLORFLOW ICC Input API. New versions of Bibble’s highly successful professional workflow software will integrate both of these technologies to create a best practices data path for generating finished files suitable for display and printing on KODAK output systems with minimal image adjustments. In return, Bibble is licensing to Kodak their RAW format library and conversion engine. Using this valuable tool in select KODAK output systems will enhance interoperability allowing for easier printing from RAW format files.

Corel Press Release

Further details of Corel at Focus on Imaging 2006

Maidenhead, UK - 15 February 2006 - Corel Corporation today announced details of an amazing 20% discount offer on Corel Paint Shop Pro X, its latest flagship digital imaging software, which will run for one month from 15 February to 15 March 2006. For one month from 15 February, customers can purchase Corel Paint Shop Pro X and receive 20% off the standard SRP (£85) or 10% off the upgrade SRP (£41) - all prices exclude VAT.

Extensis Press Release

Extensis Portfolio Achieves Its Largest Revenue Quarter in Company’s Twelve-Year History - Release of digital asset management solution – Portfolio 8 – fuels record sales for Extensis.

Portland, Ore. – February 14, 2006 – Extensis, a division of Celartem Inc., today announced sales for its digital asset management (DAM) solution – Portfolio, have surpassed Extensis’ existing record for quarterly net revenue. Extensis finished the 2005 calendar year with a 39 percent growth over the preceding year for Portfolio sales while increasing the product’s total corporate workgroup revenue 204 percent over the same period.

Nikon Europe Press Release

Nikon Digital Imaging Software Business enhanced by Collaboration with American Developer, Nik Software, Inc.

Amsterdam, 14 February 2006. Michio Kariya, President of Nikon Corporation, is pleased to announce collaboration in the field of imaging software for digital cameras with American software developer, Nik Software, Inc., formerly nik multimedia, Inc. with Headquarters in San Diego, California. With this collaboration, the technologies of both companies will be merged to develop and market innovative software products based on new concepts.  This new relationship will enable a stronger presence and guarantee a leading role in the imaging software market. To further the success of this collaboration, Nikon has also made equity investment in Nik Software, Inc..

Square Group Press Release

Square to host FREE Aperture seminar in conjunction with Apple - All you need to know about post-production software for photographers

Monday 13th February 2006 – Due to overwhelming interest in Aperture, a post-production tool for photographers, Square Group is hosting a free seminar on the software in conjunction with Apple.  The event will take place on Thursday 16th March 2006 at The Design Museum, London. Designed from the ground up for professional photographers, Aperture provides everything you need after the shoot, delivering the first all-in-one post-production tool for photographers. Whether you are a fashion, wedding, sports, portrait, fine art, commercial or editorial photographer, Aperture’s colour managed workflow and flexible design tools will help you easily create stunning prints, customised contact sheets, elegant books and web pages as beautiful as the images you capture.

Photoshop Elements Techniques Press Release

New Three-Hour Mini-Seminar Starts a Six City Tour in Orlando

Tampa, FL – Feb. 09, 2006 – Adobe and the Photoshop Elements Techniques newsletter have teamed up to show people interested in photography, scrapbooking and video the fantastic new features of Photoshop® Elements and Premiere® Elements and the wonderful projects you can create with them. Summit Attendees can look forward to three free hours of tips and tricks for the popular Adobe photo- and video-editing programs.

Epson America Press Release

Memories Captured in Epson StoryTeller(TM) Photo Book Last Much Longer Than Flowers, Candy This Valentine’s Day - For as Little as $20, Easily Turn Your Cherished Photos Into a Hardcover Gift Book That Will Last for Generations

LONG BEACH, Calif., Feb. 9—Cupid can give a gift that will be treasured long after the flowers have wilted or chocolates have been eaten this Valentine’s Day. Whether you relive your first date, the day you said “I do,” or your child’s first steps, the Epson StoryTeller(TM) Photo Book Creator will help you or your Valentine tell a personal story and create a one-of-a-kind keepsake. The StoryTeller kit gives you everything you need to turn your digital photos into a beautiful, hardbound glossy photo book. Starting at $20, the kit includes either a 5"x7” or 8"x10” hardbound book, a glossy book cover, and glossy pages that you easily assemble into the book at home, as well as easy-to-use software that allows you to enhance and place dozens of photos on up to 20 pages per book. And, StoryTeller works with letter-size printers made by all major printer manufacturers.

SoftColor Press Release

SoftColor photo sledgehammer hammers colors of digital photos to the right century

SoftColor photo sledgehammer is a tool for oneclick automatic color correction to digital photos. Sledgehammer utilizes power of illumination spectrum which helps you to make professional photo tuning extremely easy and fast. When you use photo sledgehammer do not need 1000 pages manuals or books. Just open the photo and it will be professionally corrected! SoftColor Oy Ltd has introduced an internationally unique real-time color correction method, which in digital photography utilises the opportunities provided by modern optics and color research.

iView Multimedia have released a free update to its professional media cataloging application iView MediaPro. Version 3.0.2 provides the following improvements and enhancements:

• Added support for Panasonic/Leica Digilux Raw image files (via DCRAW).
• Added support for Sinar/Mamiya Raw image files (Preview only).
• Improved cross-platform path resolver.
• Fixed issue with import using QuickTime 7.0.4 (Win).
• Major optimizations on catalog with 40,000+ items.
• XML Data file function (Make menu) now exports only visible items.
• Japanese localization.

Nik Software Press Release

Nik Multimedia, Inc. Changes Name to Nik Software, Inc. and Unveils New Corporate Identity - Company puts “Photography first™” as it reaffirms its commitment to develop software for the digital imaging market

San Diego, CA – February 7, 2006 – Nik Multimedia, Inc. announces today that the company has changed its name to Nik Software, Inc. effective immediately and has unveiled its new corporate identity keeping the familiar “Nik” and replacing “Multimedia” with “Software” to better represent the company’s focus on software development for the digital imaging market. “Nik Software’s new name and corporate identity marks a significant milestone for the company following the 10 year anniversary of its establishment,” said Michael J. Slater, Nik Software, Inc.’s President & CEO. “These changes have been made to underscore the company’s dedication to developing software products and technologies for serious amateur and professional photographers involved in the fast-growing digital photography market.”

Sharpcast Press Release

PHOENIX, Ariz. (February 6, 2006) – Sharpcast, an innovator in digital media and information management, today introduced the first in a suite of services that will dramatically simplify the way individuals manage digital media and information across their desktop computers, mobile devices and the web. This spring, Sharpcast will introduce Sharpcast Photos, a digital photo organization and access service that will give consumers an ultimately simple and powerful user experience. The company demonstrated Sharpcast Photos for the first time today at DEMO, the industry’s premier event for launching innovative products and companies.

Babel Company Press Release

Impression automates asset archiving for Mac OS X by moving large amounts of data to spanned DVD/CD sets or to mounted drives for offline storage.  Other noteworthy features include an automatic scheduling system, incremental/differential archiving operations, the preservation of all HFS+/Spotlight metadata, after-write file verification and bookmark-based management features. New to version 3.0 comes an automatic scheduler that works in conjunction with Apple’s iCal, performance increases under Mac OS X 10.4, a few bug fixes and a number of other requested enhancements.  Additionally Impression now offers a full manual offering a full compliment of step-by-step how-to information, answers to popular questions and workarounds for the occasional odd issue.

DxO Labs Press Release

DxO LABS ANNOUNCES SUPPORT FOR NIKON D200 AND CANON EOS-1D MARK II N D-SLRS IN DxO OPTICS PRO V3.5

DxO Labs adds highly sought-after camera and lens couples to its DxO Optics Pro offer.
 
Paris, France, February 3, 2006– DxO Labs announces today that DxO Optics Pro v3.5 Digital SLR and lens automatic image quality enhancement software now supports the recently released Nikon D200 and the Canon EOS-1D Mark II N Digital-SLRs. DxO Optics Pro v3.5 is the award-winning digital image enhancement tool incorporating revolutionary optics, noise and exposure corrections in an easy-to-use, feature rich application for Mac and PC users.