onOne Software’s Plug-in Suite 4 for Adobe Photoshop combines full versions of six essential software tools. Available in early May Plug-in Suite 4 includes Genuine Fractals 5 Print Pro, PhotoTools 1.0 Professional Edition, PhotoFrame 3.1 Professional Edition, Mask Pro 4.1, PhotoTune 2.2 and FocalPoint 1.0. “We are pleased to be able to offer this affordable full suite of onOne Software products to the photographic and graphic arts communities,” said Craig Keudell, president of onOne Software. “Plug-in Suite 4 contains all the tools needed to quickly and easily improve workflow and overall image quality at a tremendous savings.” The new Plug-In Suite 4 will be available in early May to new users for $499.95 – a savings of $799.75 if purchased separately.

onOne Software’s new Liquid Resize software is a ground-breaking way to resize images. Liquid Resize uses a technique known as “seam carving” to reduce the distortion that typically occurs when manipulating the aspect ratio of an image. The product preview version of Liquid Resize is now available as a free download. A full-featured Photoshop plug-in version of Liquid Resize is expected to be available in the middle of 2008.

AKVIS Enhancer v.9.0 includes a new Focus mode that brings blurred photos into focus. You can improve sharpness on the whole image or accentuate only a part of it. AKVIS Enhancer is image enhancement software that helps you improve your photos. The program is available either as a standalone application or as a plug-in to a photo editor. AKVIS Enhancer Plugin sells for $69 USD. Enhancer Standalone with HDRI support sells for $81.

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2.0 Beta features dual-monitor support, localised dodge and burn correction, and supports 64-bit for Mac OS X 10.5 and Microsoft Vista. “Photoshop Light room 2.0 beta provides early access to requested improvements over version 1.3 and continues our ongoing dialogue and open communication with the photography community,” said Tom Hogarty, senior product manager for Photoshop Lightroom and Camera Raw. Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2.0 beta is available as a free 30-day trial. Existing Lightroom 1.0 customers will be able to test the beta for an extended period until Aug. 31, 2008.

Photomatix Pro 3.0 the latest version of HDRsoft’s High Dynamic Range imaging software. Photomatix Pro combines differently exposed photographs of a high contrast scene into one image with details in both highlights and shadows. Photomatix Pro version 3.0 features a new user interface and workflow. It also adds a second automatic alignment method for hand-held shots and an improved exposure blending method improvements. A license for Photomatix Pro costs U.S.$99.

Kodak has updated its image enhancement plug-ins to support the latest operating systems. Version 2.1 of the four professional tools is now compatible with Windows Vista, Mac Intel and Photoshop CS3. Kodak is offering these updated versions at the same prices, and is also offering special savings to new customers. A free trial is also available.

Luminous Landscape have just reviewed DxO Optics Pro 5, a software application for automatic image quality enhancement for Digital SLR camera users.

“DxO 5 features significant improvements and new features compared to previous versions.  If you are already using DxO you will find that version 5 features new options and is easier to use. If you have not used DxO yet you can download a free trial version from DxO.com and evaluate the software. To me, the new user interface alone is worth updating.  Until DxO 5 I kept wondering where some of the options were. Now I find them all easily and my workflow is a lot quicker and more intuitive.  I focus on image optimization instead of trying to remember where everything is.”

Website: Luminous Landscape - DxO Optics Pro 5 Review

Apple today released Aperture 2.1, which introduces an open plug-in architecture and now includes the Apple-developed plug-in, Dodge & Burn. Apple is working closely with key developers to bring the most requested plug-ins to Aperture. “The image quality in Aperture 2 has won over the most demanding photographers,” said Rob Schoeben, Apple’s vice president of Applications Product Marketing. “Now, thanks to our open plug-in architecture, users can access an entire industry’s worth of imaging expertise without ever leaving Aperture.” Aperture 2.1 is available immediately as a free software update to current Aperture 2.0 users.

Hasselblad 3FR RAW files are now supported by Apple in Mac OS X 10.5.2 and Aperture 2. The free Leopard update includes support for Hasselblad raw image files in the 3FR, FFF and DNG format, created with any Hasselblad digital camera. Apple’s raw file processing is very fast, and delivers images with a generally high image quality, resulting in a level of image quality sufficient for standard application.  The quality of the images produced, however, will not equal that of those processed via Hasselblad’s proprietary FlexColor or Phocus software.

Nik Software and Vertus have teamed up to offer 20% off the cost of Color Efex Pro 3.0 and Fluid Mask 3. This new software bundle offers photographers an all-in-one solution for image extractions and creative enhancements. Color Efex Pro 3.0 and Fluid Mask 3 are being offered together at $429.95, representing a savings of $110. The bundle offer will run until June 1st 2008. In addition, current Color Efex Pro 3.0 owners can get Fluid Mask 3 directly from Nik Software at a 15% discount.

The file compression software BluBox will ship with Samsung memory cards in Europe on a free trial basis from April onwards. BluBox V4 promises to compress photo file sizes by up to 95%, plus it encrypts and protects pictures using Government-standard encryption. “We are very pleased to have concluded this deal with Samsung for our BluBox technology as it will enable millions of Samsung memory card and USB memory users across Europe to benefit from the massive compression of digital images which BluBox brings.” commented Tim Capps, VP Business Development at BluBox.

CyberLink MediaShow 4 combines photo and video management, enhancement, authoring, burning and sharing in one convenient application. MediaShow 4 features a next-generation 3D “liquid” interface that ensures ease-of-use and fun for users. “CyberLink MediaShow 4 is the ideal software to manage visual media libraries in a fun and easy way, allowing users to enhance their own videos and photos quickly, helping them to share their stories creatively, through slideshows, online posting and preserving their best memories onto DVDs.” said Alice H. Chang, CEO of CyberLink. CyberLink MediaShow 4 is now available online and the retail version will be available in UK and German stores beginning May 2008. MediaShow 4 costs USD 49.95 and Euro 44.99.

The new Kroll Ontrack photo recovery service saves your photos from a single media or computer hard drive. Digital photos are second only to Microsoft Office files as the most requested files for recovery. Instead of overexposure or a damaged roll of film, individuals have to deal with corrupted files and media damage. “Because digital media can suffer from damage or corruption like computers, losing precious, irreplaceable photos is a very plausible experience for families,” said Todd Johnson, vice president of operations for Kroll Ontrack. “Fortunately, recovery is often feasible and Kroll Ontrack has both the expertise and experience to help.”

ImageTitler 3.0 provides a simple and effective way to add descriptive titles to any image. It’s ideal for adding a title or caption to any photo before posting to social networking or photo sharing sites. “ImageTitler is an extremely easy-to-use Windows XP and Vista program that really simplifies adding a title or text to a digital photo. It does not require any other digital photo editor. Now you don’t need a complicated image editing program to simply add a title to a digital photo,” said Craig Huelskoetter, president. ImageTitler is bundled free with PictoColor’s CorrectPhoto 3.0 Digital Photo Editor, or it may be purchased separately for $19.95.

Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 for Macintosh is now available. Photomerge combines the best facial expressions and body language from a series of shots to create a single cohesive group shot. Guided Edit mode helps walk users through the steps of improving a photo. Online galleries based on Adobe Flash provide an interactive experience for friends and family. Photoshop Elements 6 is immediately available at an estimated street price of £57.58.

Apple have just released the Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update 2.0 for Mac OS X 10.4.11 and OS X 10.5.2. This update extends RAW file compatibility for Aperture 2 and iPhoto ’08 for the following cameras:

Hasselblad CFV-16, Hasselblad H3D-31, Hasselblad H3D-31II, Leaf Aptus 54S, Leaf Aptus 65S, Nikon D60, Olympus E-3, Pentax *ist DL2, Pentax *ist DS2, Pentax K100D Super, Sony DSLR-A200, Sony DSLR-A350

Website: Apple Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update 2.0

Geophoto 2 from Ovolab is a major upgrade to its photo-geotagging application. Ovolab Geophoto is an all-in-one application for easily organizing and browsing photos by location, through a three-dimensional representation of the Earth. Ovolab Geophoto 2 adds powerful new features and a revamped user interface. Ovolab Geophoto 2.0 is available immediately at the price of $24.95 (USA/Canada) or €24.95 (rest of the world).

Capture One 4.1 is being previewed at the Photo Imaging Expo in Tokyo this week. This update will include support for the 22 megapixel Mamiya ZD camera and digital back. It will also include two new technologies initially available for Phase One digital backs. “We are committed to offering professional photographers the choice that best suits them in achieving ultimate image quality,” said Jan H. Christiansen, Marketing Director.  “Capture One is engineered to support the most rigorous imaging demands for the widest range of operating conditions and equipment.” Capture One 4.1 will be available for download beginning with volume production shipments of the new Phase One 645 Camera platform, expected Q2, 2008.

The Lightroom 1.4 update for Mac and Windows has been temporarily removed from the Adobe.com web site. All users who installed the update are instructed to remove the update and reinstall the previous version (1.3.1). Several RAW file handling bugs have been found. In addition it’s also recommended to replace the Camera Raw 4.4 plug-in with the 4.3.1 plug-in.

FocalPoint from onOne Software is a selective focus and vignetting plug-in designed to help photographers easily blur and/or vignette areas of an image. This new plug-in eliminates the need for photographers to purchase, carry and use special selective focus or tilt-shift lenses, filters or vignetting hoods. “It’s just like having a lens inside of Photoshop. Users set the location of their ‘sweet spot’ of focus directly on their image and then control the amount, kind of blur used and even lighten or darken the edges quickly and easily.” said Craig Keudell, president of onOne Software. The FocalPoint plug-in will be available in April 2008 for $159.95.