The Getty Images iView Submission Utility is available as a free plug-in for iView MediaPro for signed photographers to Getty Images Creative image collections. Designed to cut preparation time for stock photo submissions, the utility automates two key processes, image validation and submission packaging. “Our close relationship with iView in developing this submission utility demonstrates our commitment to helping photographers streamline their overall workflow and deliver images to us with less hassle,” said Paul Banwell, Director of Photographers and Filmmaker Relations at Getty Images.

Light Crafts is offering LightZone Basic for the discounted rate of $99.95 to all Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, Apple Aperture and Apple iPhoto users. Unlike traditional photo-editing software, LightZone enables users to retouch and enhance photos in a simple and natural way. “Light Crafts is fundamentally changing digital photo editing to reduce complexity and return control to photographers,” said Georges van Hoegaerden, chief executive officer, Light Crafts. “We’re introducing the power of visual photo editing to all photographers, independent of their photo management software environment.”

Extensis have released an update for Portfolio 8.1. The Portfolio Raw Filter 3.2 update adds support for 32 cameras, bringing the total to more than 100. The Portfolio Raw Filter is powered by technology from Bibble Labs and the update is free of charge for registered Portfolio 8.1 users.

The latest Apple Mac OS/X 10.4.9 update adds support for the Leaf RAW file format. Adobe also recently announced that Leaf RAW files will be supported by Lightroom. Leaf are the first medium format photography company to encourage third party software developers to support their RAW files.

Sharpcast Photos 1.0 is a free, automatic photo software and service combination that offers a completely new way to connect with people through photos. Sharpcast Photos keeps photo collections automatically backed up and in sync across multiple PCs, the web and mobile phones. With Sharpcast Photos, changes made anywhere are automatically synced everywhere else. For example, photos added using a web browser while away from home will be waiting on a person’s home PC when they return.

FaceFilter Studio 2.0 is the new and improved version of Reallusion’s award-winning photo enhancement software. The Smart Portrait feature auto-detects human face and skin tone to create vibrant colorful photos from imperfectly lit images. Automatic Red-Eye Reduction can simultaneously find red eyes on multiple faces in your photos. FaceFilter Studio 2.0 will be available in April for £29.99.

PMA 2007: muveeNow 2.0 is a new entry-level software program aimed at point-and-shoot digital camera owners. It allows users to quickly create and share videos and moving photo shows that are cut to music in 3 easy steps. muveeNow 2.0 will retail at $49.95 and be available in 13 languages from mid-March at www.muvee.com.

PMA 2007: ExpressDigital Darkroom 8.8 includes connected pro services, enhanced template making elements, and new retouch tools. Darkroom Version 8.8 is expected to ship at the end of March 2007.

Just Resize My Photos 1.1.0 increases the number of editing features available when processing large number of digital images. Just Resize My Photos resizes your photos in bulk and allows you to add a text watermark, border, drop shadow or rotation. A trial version of Just Resize My Photos is immediately available for download. The purchase price for one user licence is $19.99.

PMA 2007: Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended is a completely new edition of Photoshop which adds integration of 3-D and motion graphics, image measurement and analysis. Photoshop CS3 Extended also enables users to extract valuable quantitative and qualitative data from images. Both Photoshop CS3 and Photoshop CS3 Extended will be launched on March 27th 2007.

Nikon have cancelled the release of Nikon View Pro, an image management software application first announced in February 2006. Nikon “felt that the new software’s performance would not be optimal within… the environment surrounding image handling”. Which sounds very much like Nikon View Pro not being able to compete with the likes of Apple Aperture and Adobe Lightroom. Instead of Nikon View Pro, a new product is in the pipeline, scheduled for release before the end of 2007.

PMA 2007: Shutterfly announces an expanded version of its free Shutterfly Studio desktop photo management software, which now includes personalized screen saver options, 20 photo editing tools with a new close up preview, templates for composing elegant picture collages, and new desktop “Picture Frames”. Users can also select from more than 140 collage templates in various sizes, or they can use the “Composer” feature to design their own collage layouts.The free software download is now available to Windows users at http://www.shutterfly.com/studio .

PMA 2007: DxO Optics Pro 4.2 adds SmartVibrancy, a new intelligent color feature which selectively intensifies the colors in an image. This free upgrade for all existing version 4 users also includes Flickr connectivity (available in the near future), Windows VISTA support and more. Pricing of full versions of DxO Optics Pro v4.2 remains unchanged.

PMA 2007: DxO FilmPack 1.1 simulates the grain and color of popular films and includes new “toning” options. It’s now also available as a stand-alone application, Adobe Photoshop plug-in, as well as add-on to DxO Optics Pro. DxO FilmPack v1.1 is available immediately at the introductory price of £45 until May 31, 2007.

Nik Software’s noise reduction tool Dfine 2.0 now includes the company’s patented U Point technology for selective editing control and a completely new user interface. Dfine 2.0 addresses the issue of digital image noise with unprecedented selective control and a revamped image processing core, which provide superior noise reduction while maintaining detail and sharpness in an image. Dfine 2.0 will be available in Q2, 2007 for $99.95.

PMA 2007: PhotoPresets for Adobe Photoshop Lightroom are a free collection of 20 custom presets developed by Jack Davis that allow photographers who use Adobe Photoshop Lightroom to instantly apply various adjustment settings. “These presets were designed for onOne Software by Jack Davis to further simplify a photographer’s workflow allowing them to spend more time taking pictures. These will be a perfect addition to any photographer’s toolbox” said Craig Keudell, president of onOne Software. PhotoPresets for Adobe Photoshop Lightroom are free of charge and are immediately available from onOne Software’s website (www.ononesoftware.com).

PMA 2007: Essentials for Adobe Photoshop Elements includes technology from onOne Software’s highly acclaimed Intellihance Pro, Mask Pro, PhotoFrame Pro, and Genuine Fractals software products fine-tuned specifically for Adobe Photoshop Elements. Users can easily correct the color of their photos, cut out and separate foreground and background objects, add a unique border and edge around their photos and increase the size and resolution of their photos. onOne Software’s Essentials for Adobe Photoshop Elements is available for $59.95 in the first week of April 2007.

PMA 2007: The Mask Pro 4.1 beta release includes support for 16-bit images and the Macintosh version is a Universal Binary. The final version will be Photoshop CS3 compatible. Mask Pro 4 provides a complete collection of Photoshop plug-in tools for image masking jobs. Mask Pro 4.1 will be available as a free download to all registered owners of Mask Pro 4.0.

PMA 2007: Image Trends DustKleen simplifies the removal of dirt and dust from scanned images, whilst Image Trends SensorKleen removes dust from DSLR camera images with SensorKleen. Both DustKleen and SensorKleen will be Windows based stand alone applications initially and cost $49.95 US each. They are also available now for a free trial download. Also announced is the fully automatic SensorKleen Pro, which will follow later in 2007. Initial purchasers of SensorKleen will receive a credit of their original purchase price toward the purchase of SensorKleen Pro.

PMA 2007: SeeFile 3, a web-based creative collaboration tool, allows the individual lab owner or professional photographer to take control of their online sales. SeeFile 3 introduces side-by-side image comparisons, onscreen annotations, and color-coded collections for each user. This is a free release for owners of earlier versions of the software with an annual upgrade contract.