Extensis Press Release 12/07/04

Specialist photography bundle now with added DAM features

Northampton, UK. - Monday 12th July, 2004 - Extensis has today announced that’s its popular photography bundle, the Photo Imaging Suite, has now been updated to include the latest version of digital asset management solution Portfolio. The bundle now consists of Portfolio 7, Mask Pro 3, SmartScale 1, Intellihance 4.1 and PhotoFrame 2.5, and is still priced at just ?299.99 - offering customers a saving of over ?450 from the recommended retail price of buying all the products separately.

The Photo Imaging Bundle is a combination of a number of award winning creativity tools from the Extensis stable aimed at any individual or business wishing to master photo imaging.  The recently launched Portfolio 7 is an invaluable cross platform tool for anyone generating digital assets including images, photographs and brochures. It creates a visual database of your images to help you organise, find and distribute your files with ease as well as offering support for raw image files from the most popular high-end digital cameras.

jthurber’s weblog has posted a quick and dirty review of Canon’s new EOS Viewer Utility, which is their replacement for the pretty terrible File Viewer Utility (FVU). jthurber is pleasantly surprised by how good the new software actually is at converting your RAW files, when compared with Capture One and Adobe Photoshop CS RAW (found via alexking.org):

“Personally I’m planning to get C1 (the workflow piece is really slick), but that purchase will come sometime after a 1D Mark II (priorities ya’ know). For the present I’m planning to use EOS Viewer for most of RAW conversions. I’m as surprised by this as anyone, as the original File Viewer Utility was pretty bad! “

Website: jthurber’s weblog - Quick test of Canon’s new EOS View Utility

Shuttertalk have just reviewed Pixort, a software program dedicated to helping you sort and select your best images.

“On a recent wedding shoot, I took over a thousand photos - I bracketed a lot, and took many double and triple shots of the same scene just in case one didn’t turn out, or someone important was frowning in the photo. When I got back, I had a tedious task ahead of me - it was quite a pain comparing two photos with a normal image viewer. I had to flick back and forth between them, which was especially hard if they were not taken consecutively.

I notice too that a lot of packages out there focus on the image manipulation (Adobe Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, etc.) management and archival of photos (Adobe Photoshop Album, JASC Paint Shop Album), but not many actually focus on the image sorting, selection and rating process. Stepping in to fill the gap, JottoSoft has produced Pixort, which at the time of writing this article, is at Version 1.1.”

Website: Shuttertalk - Pixort Review

Website: Pixort

PC Magazine have reviewed the full version of Jasc’s Paint Shop Pro Photo Album 5, which allows you to get your photos from camera to computer and then enhance, organize, and share them with Photo Album’s fast and easy-to-use tools. In other words it’s a direct competitor to Adobe Photoshop Album.

“Although previous versions of Jasc’s Paint Shop Photo Album had a lot to like, we were awfully frustrated with its interface, which was built on a hierarchical folder system. Competing products?namely Adobe Photoshop Album and Picasa?have proven there are better ways. Now Jasc Paint Shop Photo Album 5 has followed their lead, providing a much improved interface.”

Thanks to Sanj for the link.

Website: PC Magazine - Paint Shop Pro Photo Album 5 Review

About Graphics Software also have a review, commenting “Jasc Paint Shop Photo Album 5 allows you to import, organize, enhance, and share your digital photos. The printing and sharing features are exceptional, but there are better solutions for editing and organizing your photo collection.”

Website: About Graphics Software - Paint Shop Pro Photo Album 5 Review

Website: Jasc Software

Fuji Photo Film U.S.A. Inc. Press Release 07/07/04

FUJIFILM’S NEW STUDIOMASTER PRO 3.0 BOOSTS PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS’ PRODUCTIVITY BY INCREASING WORKFLOW EFFICIENCIES

Enhanced image preview, editing and ordering features enable photographers to generate additional revenue opportunities while cutting costs and saving time

VALHALLA, NY, July 7, 2004 - As professional photographers manage millions of pictures this busy summer season, Fuji Photo Film U.S.A. Inc., announces a new version of its Studiomaster PRO image presentation, editing and ordering software designed to increase workflow efficiencies for photographers and labs. With over 70 years of imaging know-how and close ties to the professional market, Fujifilm understands photographers’ needs to save time and money, while maintaining creative control - and Studiomaster PRO 3.0 does just that.

With Studiomaster PRO 3.0, wedding and portrait photographers can more easily preview and edit images, quickly create and present professional albums to clients and efficiently send print orders to their lab. Based on feedback from previous versions, Fujifilm enhanced many features and added new functionality to Studiomaster PRO so photographers can spend more time behind the lens, instead of in front of the computer.

Fotoware Press Release 04/07/04

Take Full Control Of Your Digital Assets With FotoStation Pro.

Fotoware is Europe’s leading supplier of digital asset management software. Anyone working professionally with images and other digital media will agree that a powerful archive and retrieval system is essential.

FotoStation Pro has been designed for people who work professionally with digital assets. It puts you in command whether you work alone or in a large organization and whether you have just started building your archive or need a fast, powerful solution to organize your existing one. FotoStation Pro offers powerful group collaboration tools and adapts perfectly to even the most complex workflow requirements.

IPIX InfoMedia Press Release 29/06/04

IPIX InfoMedia Announces IPIX Interactive Studio Product Line Enhancements

New Tools and Camera Support Extend Customer Options

Oak Ridge, TN, June 29, 2004 - IPIX InfoMedia, the world leader for the creation of Full-360 degree panoramic photography, today announced a new version of Interactive Studio which includes new features and functionality that expand the options for creating panoramic photography.

The IPIX Interactive Studio V1.2 now supports the Fujifilm FinePix s7000 and FinePix S20 Pro digital cameras. Both cameras feature ultra-high resolution sensors which are ideal for creating stunning, Full-360 degree panoramas. In addition, Interactive Studio V1.2 has new image editing and hot-spot tools that make annotating, correcting and linking panoramic images simple and fast. The hot-spot tool, a major upgrade to the popular IPIX i-Linker, is now offered for the first time on Windows and Mac OS X platforms.

Imaging Resource have reviewed the latest version of the popular alternative to Adobe Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro from Jasc Software. Version 8 includes several features aimed squarely at photographers, including the Perspective Correction, Straighten, One Step Photo Fix and Scratch Remover tools.

“So where does PSP fit into the image editing software landscape?

Sort of where Clint Eastwood’s Frank Corvin fits into Space Cowboys. He’s good, real good, but not too modern (despite the user interface face lift). He can still get the job done, even if it’s the old fashioned way. And he doesn’t have to worry about getting the girl—he’s already been married for years (to 40 million users).”

Website: Imaging Resource - Paint Shop Pro 8 Review

Fred Miranda has just released a new Photoshop plug-in for sharpening Canon EOS 1D Mark II SLR files.

“The Canon 1D Mark II CSpro Plugin is a new sharpening technology specific designed to accommodate Canon 1D Mark II SLR files. This plugin is compatible with JPEG files straight from the camera or TIFF/JPEG files converted from RAW files.

Here is how the interface looks:
http://www.fredmiranda.com/Buzz/Inteface2.html

Although the Canon 1D Mark II CSpro’s interface appears simple and intuitive, complexity makes this plugin very smart: It provides everything from haloless sharpening, edge-sharpening, luminance sharpening, mode sharpening, and more with just the press of a button. With this plugin you can also choose from low or high ISO settings.

Other options allow you to sharpen fine detail. There are pre-designed intensity levels, and options to reduce color noise from high ISO files. You can even create your own sharpening settings, preview settings and tweak intensity results.”

ImageRecall Press Release 22/06/04

ImageRecall Offers European Digital Camera Users Professional-Grade Photo Recovery with ImageRecall 2.0

The easy-to-use software is now available throughout Europe from ImageRecall’s network of distributors and retail stores.

Winchester, Hampshire, UK -June 22, 2004- ImageRecall announces the European availability of ImageRecall 2.0, a professional-grade photo recovery program that retrieves lost images, data and sound files from flash memory cards. According to the Photo Marketing Association, Europe overtook the Americas during 2003 as the world’s largest market for digital cameras, accounting for 36 percent of all units sold. This increasing popularity can be attributed to recent improvements in picture resolution that make it possible to take digital photos that are the same quality as film. Unlike film however, digital images are subject to losses from accidental deletions, reformatting and random corruptions. With more dependence than ever on digital film for keepsake images and professional shoots, losing digital pictures can be devastating.

Luminous Landscape have published a detailed review of Imageprint 6.0 from ColorByte Software, in conjunction with the Epson 4000 inkjet printer.

“Regardless of what it’s called, a RIP is simply a program that does everything needed to print your image, and it does it in a highly integrated manner. Or at least the latest RIP from ColorByte Software does. It’s called Imageprint 6 , and it is available for Epson 1270, 1280,1290, 2100, 2200, 4000, 5000, 5500, 9000, 9500, 9600, 10000 and 10,600. Roland FJ Series and HP Designjet printers are also supported, as are Iris printers. Postscript as well as raster versions are available.”

Website: Luminous Landscape - Imageprint 6.0 & The Epson 4000

Website: ImagePrint

DO Labs Press Release 21/06/04

DXO OPTICS PRO ADDS IMMEDIATE SUPPORT FOR NIKON D2H AND CANON EOS 1D MARK II DIGITAL CAMERAS

Paris, France, June 21st, 2004 - DxO Optics Pro, the award wining image correction software application from DO Labs now supports the two most recent high-end Digital Single-Lens Reflex (SLR) cameras from Canon and Nikon, namely the Nikon D2H and the Canon EOS 1D Mark II. Released on May 24, 2004 for both Macintosh and Windows, DxO Optics Pro software automatically eliminates Distortion, Vignetting1, Blur and Lateral Chromatic Aberrations to dramatically improve digital image quality.

About Photography have just reviewed FotoFusion 3.0, a software tool for home and studio use that makes stunning artwork from digital photographs. It works quickly and with uncompromising quality, allowing users to share or to sell their work with ease.

“For any photographer who regularly makes pages with several prints for clients, either as finished work or as proofs, FotoFusion is certainly worth considering. If you produce wedding albums, face cards, class composites or anything similar you should take a look. It enables a much more automated throughput than standard imaging software, and once you have defined your templates, the saving in time could be considerable. It will also work in tandem with an application such as Photoshop, so that you can edit images using that program while working with them in Fotofusion.”

Website: About Photography - FotoFusion v3.0 Review

Website: LumaPix

A new version of Qimage has just been released.

Qimage v2004.300 (06/15/04):

New Features:

Freehand by page: Take full control of the placement of images on any page at any time by just clicking and dragging your prints on the page. Unlike old versions which required switching the entire document to “Freehand” placement mode, v2004.300 allows freehand placement on a page-by-page basis, allowing you to fine tune individual pages while leaving the rest of the document in an auto-placement mode such as center, optimal, etc. Simply use the automatic placement method of your choice and click/drag at will. A small “F” button at the upper/right corner of the page shows you which pages are in freehand placement mode and allows you to control freehand/automatic placement for that page with just a click of the mouse. Be sure to check the “Listing of Major Functions”, “Freehand” section of the help for more info.

Print rotation: Take full control over the orientation of your prints by highlighting prints and clicking the “Rotate Left” or “Rotate Right” buttons which replace the old portrait/landscape buttons. You can even right click and select a rotation with respect to the thumbnail (original image), such as selecting a print and rotating to 180 degrees (thumbnail upside down). Manual rotations “stick” until you change them or set the rotation back to “automatic”. Prints that have been manually rotated show with a small rotation symbol at the upper right corner of the print on the preview page. Check the “Listing of Major Functions”, “Print Rotation” section of the help for more info.

Click/drag on the preview page: You can now click and drag to move/size images directly on the small preview page on the main window. The full page editor is still available for high precision adjustments, placement at specific locations, and print cropping should you need it.

New nudge feature: Go to the full page editor and highlight a print. Hold the Ctrl key while pressing the left/right/up/down arrows on the keyboard to nudge the current print up against the next logical edge on the page: either the edge of another print or the edge of the page. This allows quick and easy alignment to other prints or the edge of the page.

Fixes:

Some minor bugs from v2004.211 were fixed along the way, most of which were cosmetic or related to certain window areas not updating or showing the latest information/status. The most significant issue was a fix where the page editor was not utilizing the monitor profile when “All Images” or “HQ Preview” was selected.

Website: Qimage

Adobe Press Release 14/06/04

Popular Digital Photography Software Makes it Easy for Consumers to Organize and Share Their Digital Memories

SAN JOSE, Calif. - June 14, 2004 - Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced that more than five million consumers worldwide are using Photoshop Album 2.0 Starter Edition software, just six months after launch. With Photoshop Album Starter Edition software, consumers can easily share their digital memories with loved ones via e-mail, printing at home or through one of Adobe’s online service partners; fix common photography problems such as red-eye; and organize them for quick retrieval and viewing. Starter Edition software is a free version of the award-winning Photoshop Album 2.0, offering essential functions found in the Windows based, digital camera companion software for consumers.

Rob Galbraith has an exclusive story about the imminent release of a new product for removing colour casts from your photographs, specifically targetted at RAW files. WhiBal has been created by Michael Tapes, a name that some readers may recognise - Tapes also runs his onw website, rawworkflow.com, which sells and provides support for Capture One software, amongst other things.

“WhiBal is composed of four small, rectangular cards - one white, one black and two different shades of grey - held together by a grommet in the corner. When fanned out, WhiBal is meant to be dropped into a scene and photographed, then used later during processing of the photos from that scene to set a white balance and, optionally, to set white and black points too.”

Website: Rob Galbraith - WhiBal white balance system to ship June 15

Divide and conquer! Lobster works in Photoshop* to accurately separate images into tonality and colour.

Lobster creates four new layers from your file: Luminosity ( a very specific type of tonality) and Red, Green and Blue Chromaticity (Hue and Saturation). These separate layers offer you UNPRECEDENTED CONTROL AND POWER over your RGB files. (To prove one aspect of this extreme claim - visit the Exercise in Curves section.)

Even though the image has been separated, Lobster ensures your file appears unaltered and coherent on the screen.

Lobster makes many dialogue boxes, tools and histograms more accurate. If you have not previously understood the feedback that you were getting from Levels and Curves - with Lobster you will understand why - and now these most essential dialogue boxes will become ACCURATE and MUCH more powerful. If Dodging and Burning changed your colours as well as your tone - this will now cease. If Sharpening created unpleasant digital artefacts these will be reduced.

Working with the Manual is an important part of Lobster - it develops insights into your everyday imaging dialogue boxes and offers uses for Apply Image, Calculations, Layer Blending Options - not just Curves and Levels, but other essential imaging dialogue boxes are expanded in their range of application.

Lobster is not a Photoshop plug-in or filter but a Photoshop droplet offering a one step drag and drop operation. It integrates perfectly with Photoshop - the only restrictions on its operations are those of any other Layer Set.

Website: Lobster

Ahead Software Press Release 08/06/04

Ahead Software Announces Launch Of Nero PhotoShow Elite, The Easy And Complete Photo Experience

Glendale, CA, USA (June 8th, 2004)—Ahead Software, leaders in digital media technology, are pleased to announce the latest addition to their Nero product family, Nero PhotoShow Elite. This exciting photo management application provides digital camera users with a comprehensive set of photo editing and creation tools combined with unprecedented ease of use.

Worldwide digital cameras sales are widely expected to exceed 60 million units in 2004. There is an increasing demand for an application that allows these users to easily manage, make and share their digital photos. Ahead Software fulfills this demand with Nero PhotoShow Elite.

Ahead Software Press Release 08/06/04

Over 14 Individual Applications Now Included In The Most Complete Award-Winning Digital Media Suite Available

Glendale, CA, USA (June 8th, 2004)—Ahead Software, leaders in digital media technology, today announced several new exciting updates to the Ultimate All-In-One Digital Media Solution, Nero 6 Ultra Edition, including a newly designed package. This reloaded version of Nero 6 Ultra Edition offers all of its award-winning applications along with unlimited MP3, unlimited MPEG-4, Dolby Digital 5.1 surround and Dolby 2 channel encoding, Double Layer recording, and the all new Nero PhotoShow Express, the easy photo management application. With Nero StartSmart as your command center for all your digital media projects, accessing all 14 applications and launching a desired project is a breeze for users of all skill levels.

The Plugin Site Press Release 04/06/04

June 4, 2004 - The Plugin Site (www.thepluginsite.com) released Version 2.0 of ColorWasher, a Photoshop-compatible plugin for correcting the colors, contrast, exposure and saturation of 8bit and 16bit photos. ColorWasher takes photo correction to a new level of accuracy and speed. With its help even beginners are capable of doing photo corrections within seconds that only experts were able to produce in the past.

New in Version 2.0
ColorWasher 2.0 offers a greatly improved color and exposure correction and a vast amount of other new features and improvements. Color casts are better removed from the shadows, red and orange casts are treated more effectively and the automatic exposure fixing works much more reliable and effective.