AKVIS has released version 4.0 of its NatureArt image manipulation software. Described by its developers as “an excellent tool for imitating the magnificence of natural phenomena”, AKVIS NatureArt lets photographers choose from up to eight nature effects including ice, frost, rain, water, lightning, clouds, fire and Sun. The new version makes it possible to apply an effect to a transparent area, adds new presets to the Sun and lightning effects, and includes an improved, more realistic version of the fire effect. AKVIS NatureArt is available in two editions, including a standalone version and a plug-in to a photo editor. The program sells for $72 USD for Home version (either Plugin or Standalone, 6 effects), $129 USD for Home Deluxe (Plugin and Standalone, 8 effects), $189 USD for Business (Plugin and Standalone, 8 effects, for commercial use).

Adobe has released the final versions of Lightroom 3.6 and Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) 6.6. Previously available as “release candidates”, these updates add support for new cameras including the Nikon 1 V1 and J1, the Canon Powershot S100, the Fujifilm X10, the Leica V-Lux 3, the Ricoh GR Digital IV, the Sony NEX-7, the Panasonic GX1 and the Samsung NX200 and NX5 (pictured). They also contain various bug fixes.

Website: Adobe Software Updates

Nik Software’s first-ever mobile app, Snapseed, has been named by Apple as iPad app of the year in the company’s App Store Rewind 2011. Introduced half a year ago and featuring the company’s award-winning U Point technology, Snapseed enables users to apply a wide variety of innovative filters to their photos including Grunge, Vintage and Drama. “It’s very rewarding for our entire team to have Snapseed for iPad recognized as the number one app available for iPad, having released Snapseed just 6 months ago,” said Michael J. Slater, President and CEO of Nik Software. “We look forward to bringing Snapseed’s powerful, fun photo experience to the desktop and other devices as we continue to grow Snapseed.”

X-Rite has released several free downloadable software updates including ColorMunki Display software, i1Profiler software and i1Profiler D2LionEdition software for i1Display LT and i1Display 2 colour calibration devices. Click through / read on for a detailed description of these updates.

The free Kodak Document Print App allows you to send images and documents from your Android device directly to any Kodak all-in-one printer that is registered with, and connected to, Google Cloud Print. Supported file types include JPEG, TIFF, PNG, BMP, GIF, PDF, PowerPoint slideshows, web pages and Word documents. In addition to printing files that are located locally on your Android smartphone or tablet, files can be accessed on Google Docs, Dropbox and Evernote sites. Web pages can be accessed using the KODAK Document Print App’s built-in browser.

Claudio Stefanutti Photography has announced Contact Sheet Maker 1.2.0 for iPad, an update to their photography app that allows the user to save up to 24 thumbnails of photographs per page as a multi-page PDF document. The contact sheet can then be easily emailed, stored in Dropbox, viewed on any mobile device or computer that supports PDF files, or printed via any AirPrint enabled printer. Contact Sheet Maker 1.2.0 is available on iTunes for $3.99.

Nevercenter has announced that a free, fully-functional public beta of CameraBag 2 Desktop, a Mac/Windows program which allows you to simulate the look of many classic film types and techniques, is now available for download. “[The software[ is much like those apps that add instant filters to your photos, but CameraBag 2 Desktop has a much higher level of control, allowing you to adjust the levels, combine filters and layer effects,” the company says. “It’s intended to bring back the feeling of film, but without all the hassle of developing your own Photoshop filters.” You can download CameraBag 2 from the website below.

iWorldWideApps has just introduced Camera FX+ for iPad 2 and iPhone 4S. The application has a graphical user interface (GUI) that resembles the look of a DSLR camera, and allows you to apply various effects to your photos. You can use your existing images or take a photo from within the app, and then post the resulting image to Twitter or Facebook. Currently, Camera FX+ sells for $2.99 on iTunes.

Shacked Software has released Flickpad 2.8, an update to its Flickr and Facebook photo app designed specifically for the Apple iPad. Flickpad supports Flickr photo sets, favorites, comments, views, Interestingness etc., as well as Facebook albums, comments, likes, and more. It allows you to quickly and easily switch between user accounts on shared iPads. Flickpad 2.8 is available now on iTunes for $1.99.

Be Pro Now, formerly known as ‘Self Study Apps’ has released two versions of its PhotoGuide app. Available for Android and iPhone, PhotoGuide has both a free and an (updated) paid version, with the price of the latter now reduced to $0.99 from the original $1.99. You can download the app from the website below.

proDAD today announced Mercalli Easy, a Windows application that allows users to easily fix shaky videos. In addition to removing the shake from your footage, Mercalli Easy also fixes rolling-shutter problems common with CMOS sensors. The program is currently available for $14.95 on the Mercalli Easy website.

Reallusion has released an updated version of its Big Lens iOS app, which allows you to add a shallow-DOF effect and apply a range of filters to your pictures. The new release adds an HDR button and an option to import high-resolution images, and allows you to restore your last work session without having to open a saved project. Additionally, it enables users to adjust their blur edges by simply moving the blur edge slider. The updated app is available for $0.99 from the website below.

X-Rite has just released the English version of Francesco Marzoli’s Camera Raw 6 User’s Guide. A winner of the Adobe YouGC Contest, Francesco is an Adobe Certified Expert, X-Rite beta-tester and d co-founder of CCC-Color Correction Campus. His 37-page electronic guidebook covers all the tools of Camera Raw, including hidden ones, and devises a fast and safe workflow for processing your images. You can download the free e-book by clicking the link below.

PictoColor has released iCorrect Portrait 2.0 plug-in for Adobe Photoshop CS5. The plug-in now offers full compatibility with the program in both 32- and 64-bit Windows and Macintosh environments. In addition to one-click image optimisation, iCorrect Portrait 2.0 offers tools for improving colour balance, adjusting brightness and contrast, correcting skin tones, and more. All colour correction settings can be saved and applied to multiple images with similar characteristics. iCorrect Portrait 2.0 may be purchased for $124.95 through the website below.

Iridient Digital has released an update to Iridient RAW Developer. Version 1.9.3 adds support for 14 new camera models, and offers various performance improvements and a couple bug fixes. The newly supported camera models include the Canon PowerShot S100, Fuji X10 and F600EXR, Nikon P7100, J1 and V1 (pictured), Olympus E-PM1, Panasonic DMC-FZ150, Ricoh GR Digital IV, Samsung NX200, Seitz 6x17, Roundshot D2x and Roundshot D3 and the Sony NEX-7. The update can be downloaded from the website below.

Website: Iridient Digital

iDevelopersLab has released HD Camera for iPad 2. Sporting a graphical user interface that is fully optimised for the iPad 2, the HD Camera app incorporates 16 different photo effects that can be previewed in real time. HD Camera for iPad 2 is available now on iTunes and retails for $5.99.

Creanncy has released Photo Frame Studio for iPad 2, an app that enables users to edit their photos and decorate them with different borders and frames. Featuring a convenient graphical user interface, Photo Frame Studio allows real-time editing including, colour, saturation, contrast and brightness adjustments and various effects. The app is available now on iTunes for $5.99.

Billed as “the most comprehensive iOS guide on photography on the App Store”, The Photo Guide is now available in English. The app offers over 80 photography tips, a how-to section containing over 30 entries, and a glossary of 250+ photographic terms. Additionally, there is a photo quiz with more than 300 questions, allowing users to test and expand their photographic knowledge. The Photo Gui

Macphun has announced a limited-time offer on its FX Photo Studio app. Available for $0.99 until 28th November, FX Photo Studio is an iOS app that features over 194 effects and filters, a colour splash tool, selective masking, and other image adjustments. Users of FX Photo Studio can also enter their creations in the first International iPhoneography Show - one of the biggest iPhone photography events of the year, taking place in Soho Gallery for Digital Art in New York, between December 16th and 23rd.

Athentech Imaging has announced that its Perfectly Clear software for one-touch colour correction has just turned 10. Starting with an idea and a single correction, Perfectly Clear has grown to include over 12 automatic corrections and numerous patents in 17 different countries. “Perfectly Clear is flexible, robust, and accurate,” said Brad Malcolm, President of Athentech Imaging. “It has been a pleasure working with all of our customers and partners for the last 10 years and we look forward to another 10 years of continued growth and innovation. On that note, I’m very excited to celebrate our 10th year anniversary with the public launch of our Android library, now available for licence.”