Canon have announced the development of the EOS E1 video plug-in for Apple’s Final Cut Pro. This new plug-in allows simple and easy transfer of video content from Canon’s EOS DSLR cameras directly into Final Cut Pro.

Topaz Labs have released the Topaz Detail 2 Photoshop plug-in, which features a user-requested speed boost versus Detail 1, a totally redesigned user interface, and more detail enhancement tools and presets. Topaz Detail’s underlying algorithm employs the most recent advances in detail enhancement technology. This new technology provides the unique ability to enhance detail and micro-contrast, with no over-sharpening, edge artifacts or halos, which often occur with other sharpening tools. Topaz Detail features three levels of detail control, high-quality image sharpening, natural feature enhancement, and black and white conversion. Topaz Detail 2 is a free upgrade for existing customers and retails for $39.99. It is compatible with Windows and Intel-based Macs.

Microstock entrepreneurs Lee Torrens and Amos Struck, teamed up to launch the Microstock Photo Plugin for WordPress. Based on Fotolia’s most powerful API, bloggers can now instantly search from 8-million royalty-free images on Fotolia and add them to their posts without leaving WordPress. Writers can use the images for as long as they need to because when they purchase images, for as low as $1, from Fotolia, it includes a standard-use licence. To get started with the new WordPress plug-in, visit the website below.

Website: Microstock Photo Plugin

Zoner Software has just released its flagship product, Zoner Photo Studio 12, in four additional languages. Zoner Photo Studio is now available in the German, French, Italian and Russian. The English version was launched, alongside a Czech variant, back in 2009. The product is available in two editions: Zoner Photo Studio 12 Home is handy for point-and-shoot photographers looking for flexibility and one-click editing, but also a way to creatively share photos — to present them using calendars, panoramas, and more. Zoner Photo Studio 12 Professional offers advanced photographers and avid hobbyists a broad selection of features designed for the way they work, covering everything from organising to editing to publishing. Get your free trial at the website below.

Website: Zoner Software

Unified Color Technologies today announced that its hallmark software application, HDR PhotoStudio, is now also available for Mac operating systems. HDR PhotoStudio provides photographers with complete control over the colors within an image and a comprehensive toolbox to address the effects of merging multiple exposures, while simultaneously improving workflow. Available for immediate download, the Mac version of HDR PhotoStudio is being offered for an introductory price of $99 throughout the month of February, which represents a savings of over $50. System requirements include an Intel Macintosh 2.5 GHz dual core CPU with 2GB minimum RAM (4GB is recommended) running Mac OS 10.5.x (Leopard) or Mac OS 10.6.2 (Snow Leopard).

Website: Unified Color Technologies

Liquid Scale, a highly polished, content-aware image resizing application for the Apple iPhone, is now available from the App Store. The program resizes pictures without deforming or cropping the content. Pictures can be transformed to a new aspect ratio in a fast and intuitive way. Plus the intelligent app automatically analyses the important area of an image and recognises the real motif as compared to the background. Images processed by Liquid Scale can be stored in an album on the iPhone or they can be sent by e-mail. Liquid Scale for iPhone is available now for €1.59 through the App Store.

Website: Liquid Scale

STOIK today announced the availability of the final release of PanoramaMaker for Mac. STOIK PanoramaMaker is automatic panorama software that turns any group of overlapping photos into high quality panoramic image. You can create panoramas either automatically with just few clicks, or assemble and stitch pictures manually if the automatic procedure fails to perfectly match images in complicated cases. Also, STOIK PanoramaMaker for Mac has a special algorithm (Object-Preserving Blending) to tackle any problems with moving subjects that appear in multiple images. Priced at $39, STOIK PanoramaMaker for Mac OS X 10.4 and higher is available now from the website below.

Website: STOIK PanoramaMaker for Mac

Continuing the series of free Photoshop plugins, Filter Forge has released Filter Forge Freepack 3 - Frames for Mac OS X. As its name suggests the theme of the third Filter Forge freepack is frames—the plugin comprises seven effect filters, each capable of framing any photo in a creative way. All Filter Forge freepacks, both for Windows and Mac OS X, are available for download at the website below. Also, the company’s flagship product, Filter Forge, is currently available at a time-limited 50% discount. The offer ends on 4 February.

Website: Filter Forge Downloads

Bibble Pro 5.0.1 includes support for the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV and Olympus E-P2 cameras and 13 calibrated lenses. Version 5.0.1 also adds a one-click tool to set black / gray / white points, and includes Andrea, the Film Simulation plug-in. Version 5.0.1 is a free upgrade for all Bibble 5 customers.

ColoRotate is a 3D colour picker and editor plug-in for Adobe Photoshop CS4, which aligns with the way our minds process colour. “Some of the features that make ColoRotate especially appealing are new ways to view and edit foreground and background colors in 3D, fine-tuning with joysticks and sliders, and saving and sharing palettes,” says ColoRotate developer Michael Douma. If interested, check out his quick tutorial of ColoRotate at the colorotate.org website.

Adobe has just released an update to Lightroom. Version 2.6.1 includes one important correction that is only relevant for Leica M9 users. This release of Lightroom fixes a bug that caused Lightroom 2.6 to crash when processing certain M9 images. The bug was introduced in the final version of Lightroom 2.6 in the course of making image quality improvements to Leica M9 processing based on customer feedback. There is no need to update to 2.6.1 if you aren’t a Leica M9 user.

Website: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom for Mac OS
Website: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2.6.1 for Windows

Picmeta Systems have released a new version of Picture Information Extractor (PIE), as well as a new, free application called PhotoTracker, which allows track-based geotagging. Version 5.5 of PIE adds geotagging with an interactive map and full batch capabilities. Reading and writing of EXIF and IPTC metadata is faster, a search function has been added and the import feature includes a browsable summary of created folders and transferred files. The makernote database has been updated to support the current line of digital cameras. And while Picture Information Extractor 5.5 allows viewing and manually setting the photo coordinates in a map, the new Picmeta PhotoTracker automatically geotags photos based on track data from GPS exchange files. PIE 5.5 and PhotoTracker can be downloaded from the Picmeta website. Both run on Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000, XP, Vista and Windows 7. The update to PIE 5.5 is free for all registered users. The full version of PIE costs US$ 35, Picmeta PhotoTracker is free.

Website: Picmeta

Uzair Kharawala has announced the release of Foto SF Lite, as well as that of a new version of Foto SF Pro. The new version comes with a brand new sleek interface and with new features such as SMS messaging, improved mail merge, email management, better workflow module, sales lead generation tracking and conversion reports. As far as Foto SF Lite is concerned, it is aimed at the single-user business without any need of hosting over a network. This stand-alone software has all the features of the Pro version and is priced at £125 + VAT. For a free trial and full features list, visti the website below.

Website: Foto SF

DxO Labs today released DxO Optics Pro v6.1.2 for Windows that adds raw support for the Pentax K-7 and the Sony A500 & A550 DSLRs as well as the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 and GH1 cameras. This release also improves stability and removes a colour cast at very high ISO for Nikon and Pentax cameras. Furthermore, 81 new DxO Optics Modules are now available to DxO Optics Pro users, covering the Canon 7D, 20D, 30D, 40D, 50D, REBEL XTi/400D, DIGITAL REBEL XSi/450D and REBEL T1i/500D; Fuji S5; Nikon D200, D300, D300s, D50, D3000, D5000 and D80; Panasonic LX3 and GH1; Pentax K-7; and Sony A230, A330, A500 and A550. DxO Optics Pro v6.1.2 for Windows, both Standard ($169/€149/£99) and Elite ($299/€299/£199) editions, is immediately available from both DxO Labs’ e-store and selected resellers. DxO Optics Pro 6 for Mac is scheduled for release during the first quarter of 2010 and will be available as a free upgrade to customers who have purchased version 5 or higher after June 1, 2009.

Website: DxO Labs

Corel has launched a new and enhanced version of its consumer video editing software, Corel VideoStudio Pro X3. Priced at £79, Corel VideoStudio Pro X3 combines video editing, media authoring, real-time effects and DVD and Blu-ray burning, enabling video enthusiasts to create professional-looking productions in a simplified and streamlined environment. Optimised for new, high-powered chipsets including the Intel Core i7, the new version performs many common tasks more than twice as fast as its forebear, and also offers multi-core and GPU parallel processing with support for new technology including NVIDIA CUDA. “Today, video is everywhere. The NVIDIA CUDA architecture is a critical technology in helping vendors like Corel unlock video for the masses,” said Michael Steele, General Manager of Visual Consumer Solutions at NVIDIA, “The dramatic speed increases in Corel VideoStudio Pro X3 show how CUDA helps developers give their users record-setting performance, even during the most processor-intensive activities like video editing.” Corel VideoStudio Pro X3, which includes Corel DVD Factory Pro, is now available at a suggested retail price of just £79 for the full version or £59 for the upgrade.

Website: Corel Videostudio Pro X3

Corel has just announced Corel PaintShop Photo Pro X3, which brings advanced photo management, editing and creative tools together to deliver everything the photo enthusiast needs in one package. Highlights of the new version include an all-new Organiser, batch photo editing, Smart Carver technology for seamlessly and realistically removing objects and scaling without distorting the image, new additions to the Express Lab, an Object Extractor tool to quickly, easily and precisely mask fine image details that are otherwise difficult to preserve, and a Project Creator that lets users produce photo books, collages, cards, calendars and photo slideshows including HD video in a few clicks. In addition to these new and enhanced features, Corel PaintShop Photo Pro X3 continues to offer the advanced photo editing power of favourite features including HDR Photo Merge, Local Tone Mapping, Curves and Levels adjustments and Perspective Correction. Corel PaintShop Photo Pro X3 also includes Corel Painter Photo Essentials 4 to get started with digital art. Corel PaintShop Photo Pro X3 is now available at a suggested retail price of £79 for the full version or £59 for the upgrade. The product can be purchased as an electronic software download today. Boxed software will be shipping across Europe, Middle East and African retailers in February.

Website: Corel PaintShop Photo Pro X3

Adobe today announced the immediate availability of Photoshop.com Mobile for iPhone 1.1. This update adds a video playback feature for users who host videos on Photoshop.com, and a new Sharpen tool that makes refining details in photos as simple as dragging a finger across the image to increase or reduce sharpness. Also with just one touch, users have their choice of eight new artistic borders that add creative punch to their photos. The Adobe Photoshop.com Mobile for iPhone 1.1 application is available worldwide as a free download from Apple’s App Store on iPhone and iPod touch. Current Photoshop.com Mobile for iPhone users will have access to version 1.1 by checking for updates in Apple’s App Store.

Website: Photoshop.com Mobile for iPhone

Iridient Digital have released RAW Developer 1.8.8, which brings support for two the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and the Fujifilm Finepix S200EXR. It also comes with an improved default camera ICC profile for the Canon EOS 1D Mark III, and fixes a bug related to the Canon EOS 20D. This release is a free update for all currently registered users and should automatically recognise your existing registration information. New licenses can be purchased for $125.

Website: Iridient RAW Developer 1.8.8

Almost exactly one month after the announcement of the Windows version, Nikon has released Capture NX 2.2.4 for Macintosh. The new version adds compatibility with Mac OS X version 10.6.2, and fixes a few bugs.

Windows Nikon Capture NX 2.2.4 for Macintosh

Hamrick Software has released VueScan 8.6 - with support for Windows 7 & Mac OS X 10.6 and more than 65 improvements / features added, 110 problems fixed and 80 additional scanners supported. VueScan 0.1 was first released in 1998 with support for a single scanner on Windows only. Within 5 years VueScan supported more than 400 scanners, and had acquired a good reputation through word of mouth. After 11 years of development, VueScan now supports over 1200 scanners on 3 operating systems. Available for Linux as well as Windoes and Mac OS, VueScan offers a full range of advanced features; including options for scanning faded slides and prints and automatically adjusting images to optimum colour balance that reduces the need to manually do it in Photoshop. It includes built-in IT8 colour calibration of scanners, batch scanning and other advanced and powerful scanning and productivity features. VueScan is available in two editions, Standard Edition ($39.95) and Professional Edition ($79.95).

Website: Hamrick Software