onOne Software Essentials 2.1 now supports Photoshop Elements 6 for Macintosh. Essentials 2.1 provides Photoshop Elements users with four important plug-in solutions to solve common digital imaging problems. Version 2.1 also features a new version of Enlarge it!, based on the award-winning Genuine Fractals 5 engine. onOne Software’s Essentials 2.1 is available as a free upgrade for all current users of Essentials 1 or 2. It costs $59.95 for new users.

Kubota Artistic Tools V.4 features over 40 new Photoshop image enhancement actions. Highlights include the 3-dimensional vividness of “Enter the Dragon” to the rich, cinematic palette of “300esque”, as well as cool new interactive black-and-white converters for the perfect tonal blend and richness.  “These new Actions provide a fresh collection of modern image-enhancing tools for producing the hottest looks that are in demand in today’s marketplace. And the exclusive Kubota Action Dashboard provides photographers with a lightning fast way to search for one of our Actions and then launch it instantly.” said Kevin Kubota. Kubota Artistic Tools V.4 retails for $149.

Kubota AutoAlbum V.3 helps professional photographers create magazine-style album pages in Photoshop. AutoAlbum V.3 includes more than 500 single-page layouts - both square and new rectangular pages - as well as panoramic designs. Also included in this upgrade is the new printed AutoAlbum Book, a handy reference of all of the templates. AutoAlbum V.3, including the printed book, retails for $399.

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 1.4 and Camera Raw 4.4 are now available immediately as free upgrades for existing users. This update adds raw file support for nine additional digital cameras, including the Canon EOS 450D, Nikon D60 Pentax K20D and Sony A350, and updated printer driver compatibility for Apple Leopard Mac OS X 10.5.

Animoto lets users easily create personalized, professional-quality music videos from their own photos and music. Animoto uses high-end motion design and music-analyzing technology to automatically produce dynamic videos. You can also now export your full-length Animoto videos directly to YouTube. “Animoto’s relationship with YouTube is particularly exciting since the integration will finally make uploading video content to YouTube accessible to people who only have digital photos but still want to contribute professional-looking video content to the YouTube community,” said Brad Jefferson, CEO and Co-founder of Animoto.

CyberLink PowerProducer 5 is a new disc authoring software application which supports the creation of Blu-ray Discs and DVDs featuring video content recorded in the AVCHD format. PowerProducer 5 is available in two versions. PowerProducer 5 Ultra lets users create high-quality professional-looking discs on Blu-ray Discs and DVDs. PowerProducer 5 (DVD) supports the creation of customized menu designs for DVDs and VCDs. CyberLink PowerProducer 5 Ultra costs USD 79.95/Euro 74,99, and CyberLink PowerProducer 5 (DVD) USD 49.95/Euro 44,99.

Photo-enhancing software LightZone 3.5 now includes an extensive video learning center, additional camera compatibility and revised pricing of up to $50 off. “Our goal with LightZone is to show the digital public that there is an approachable way to enhance all their photos without lengthy books, manuals and luck.  Transforming your photos is a very visual experience, so we have employed a visual approach with our new video learning center,” said Fabio Riccardi, chief executive officer, Light Crafts. LightZone 3.5 is available for download now. The full version is now priced at $199.95, and the Basic version is $129.95.

Ulead VideoStudio 11.5 Plus from Corel offers a complete, user-friendly solution for standard- and high-definition video editing and authoring. “VideoStudio 11.5 Plus also includes support for the latest HD formats including Blu-ray, HD DVD and AVCHD, giving consumers the ability to create professional- looking, high definition videos that they are proud to share whether it is in their living room, a board room, or over the Web.” said Jeff Hastings, President and General Manager, Corel Digital Media. VideoStudio 11.5 Plus is priced at $129.99 SRP (US and Canada), and is available now.

Microsoft have released a Beta version of Expression Media 2, a professional asset management tool formerly known as iView MediaPro. Available for both for Windows and Mac platforms, this fully functional version will expire on July 1st 2008. If you are already running Expression Media 1, you can install Expression Media 2 Beta without uninstalling Expression Media 1. The two versions will both run side by side on your computer.

Website: Microsoft Expression Media 2 Beta (Windows)

Website: Microsoft Expression Media 2 Beta (Mac)

YouSendIt Express allows users to seamlessly send files and folders directly from their desktop. Available for both the PC and the Apple Mac platforms, YouSendIt Express offers file expiration control, password protection, and a built-in zipping feature. “YouSendIt Express expands the current range of solutions available to users and is just one example of enabling workflow integration for all businesses and creative environments,” said YouSendIt founder and CTO, Ranjith Kumaran.

Apple has quickly followed up the launch of Aperture 2 with a new version, 2.0.1, that “addresses issues related to performance and overall stability”. It specifically includes fixes for the following areas:

  *  Upgrading libraries from earlier versions of Aperture
  * Publishing .Mac Web Gallery albums
  * Preview generation and deletion
  * Creating and ordering books
  * AppleScript support
  * Keyboard shortcut customization
  * Appearance of metadata overlays in the Browser, Filmstrip, and on light tables
  * Watermarking of emailed photos
  * Highlight Hot and Cold Areas

Website: Download Apple Aperture 2.0.1 Update

AKVIS ArtSuite, previously known as Frame Suite, has been updated to version 3. Three new effects - Black&White, Shift Colors, and Channel Mixer - have been added to AKVIS ArtSuite v.3.0, which also offers 15 digital photo frame effects. The program can be used as an independent application (standalone) and as a plug-in to a photo editor. AKVIS ArtSuite sells for $49 USD, and a free 10 day trial version is available.

DxO has added 10 new lenses, including popular zooms and fish-eyes, to its library of lens correction modules for DxO Optics Pro v5. The addition of these lenses, designed specifically for the Nikon D3 and Nikon D300 digital SLR camera bodies, bring the total number of lens correction modules available to DxO Optics Pro users to nearly 700. “We are constantly extending our library of DxO Lens Modules to offer photographers worldwide the greatest selection of correction capabilities,” said Luc Marin, vice president of the DxO Labs Photography Business. “Combined with the batch-processing capabilities of DxO Optics Pro, this means workflow improvements for even the most serious photographers.”

RectFish aims to make fisheye image remapping simple, accurate, and efficient. RectFish is for users of fisheye lenses remapping in software to other projections, which produces images with an angle of view wider than that provided by rectilinear lenses. All the user has to do is to select a camera and lens, then RectFish will use appropriate parameters for both RectFish and rectilinear remapping. RectFish costs $30.

Nikon have also released a new version, 1.3.2, of Capture NX. Modifications enabled with ver. 1.3.2:

  * Support for RAW images captured with the D60 has been added.
  * When Exposure Compensation was adjusted from Base Adjustments > Exposure Compensation while Picture Control settings were applied from Base Adjustments > Camera Adjustments > Picture Control, the sharpening effect was cancelled. This issue has been resolved.
  * When images captured with the D1 and an AI Fisheye Nikkor 16mm f/2.8D lens, “Fisheye Lens” could not be selected from Base Adjustments> Lens Adjustments. This issue has been resolved.

Website: Nikon Capture NX 1.3.2 (Windows)

Website: Nikon Capture NX 1.3.2 (Mac)

Nikon have released a new version, 2.1.0, of Camera Control Pro. Modifications enabled with ver. 2.1.0

- Support for the D60 has been added.
- Response is faster when thumbnails are selected in the Viewer.
-When a camera with a PC lens was connected, the lens name displayed in the Mechanical tab indicated that it was a G-type lens. This issue has been resolved.
Lenses with which this occured:
PC Micror-Nikkor 85mm f/2.8D
PC-E Nikkor 24mm f/3.5D ED
Cameras with which this issue occurred:
D3, D2Xs, D2X, D2Hs, D2H, D300, D200, D80, D70s, D70, D50, D40X, D40
-When a D40 or D40X with a PC-E Nikkor 24mm f/3.5D ED lens was connected, the lens name displayed in the “Mechanical” tab indicated that it was an AF-S 24mm f/3.5D lens. This issue has been resolved.

Website: Nikon Camera Control Pro 2.1.0 (Windows)

Website: Nikon Camera Control Pro 2.1.0 (Mac)

MAGIX Movie Edit Pro 14 is a new version of the award-winning video-editing software. Available in two editions, Classic and PLUS, both feature easier editing and burning and a new improved user interface. You can also now upload your videos from Movie Edit Pro 14 to YouTube. MAGIX Movie Edit Pro 14 Pro is available from 10th March at SRP £39.99 inc Classic and PLUS version at SRP £59.99

VueScan, the world’s most widely used 3rd party scanning software, now includes support for skew correction. Version 8.4.60 of VueScan can now straighten any photo that has been placed in the scanner slightly askew. “Many of our users are high volume users, and it is annoying to them when a document or a photo is slightly rotated. Skew correction allows them make the changes from within VueScan, and therefore saves them frustration and time.” says Ed Hamrick, President of Hamrick Software. VueScan is available in two editions, Standard Edition ($39.95 USD) and Professional Edition ($79.95).

Image Compressor 2008 provides everything you need for storing, viewing, retouching and sharing your photos. New features include a powerful image viewer, Photoshop plugin compatibility, and support for all major image types including RAW format. Image Compressor 2008 is available for $99.99 (USD) for the Pro Edition, or $49.99 (USD) for the Home Edition.

DxO Optics Pro v5 now supports the new Nikon D3 camera body and an initial selection of lenses. Lens correction modules for three popular Nikkor lenses are available for the Nikon D3: the AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED, the AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D and the AF-S Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8G ED. “This SLR is built for demanding professional photographers who will make no compromise in image quality. And that’s what DxO Optics Pro is all about: getting the best image quality possible,” says Luc Marin, VP of the Photography business at DxO Labs. DxO Labs has also reset the demo limitation at “0” for everyone who has demo’d version 5.