PMA 2006: Nikon View Pro image management software is announced today. Available in May 2006 for £34.99 / €50.

Nikon Press Release

High Speed and Versatile Performance with Image Management and Browsing to speed up and improve the professional digital workflow – Compatible with Capture NX and other Software.

New performance includes: Faster loading of thumbnails, faster NEF preview plus exclusive high speed processing, Action Keys, High Speed Image Management, IPTC Editing Performance, Versatile Display Modes for Image Comparison, Image Marking and FTP Transfer Compatibility

TOKYO — Nikon Corporation is pleased to introduce the versatile new Nikon View Pro software. The new Nikon View Pro is designed to make viewing and handling of large quantities of images faster, and with versatility to make the professional workflow more productive. As digital files grow in size and quality, professional photographers will appreciate Nikon View Pro’s enhanced image display, faster browsing of NEF RAW files, and the ease of editing IPTC information, all in a conveniently fast workflow.

Nikon View Pro’s browser layout and “speed tools” make digital photography more efficient for high-speed image viewing and versatile image selection and handling.

Of special interest is Nikon View Pro’s ability to be used to quickly check image composition, focusing sharpness, exposure and other file characteristics. Nikon View Pro can also be used to assist in organizing and storing images, and can add IPTC (International Press Telecommunications Council) data to individual images and batches of images.

With the addition of Nikon View Pro, Nikon’s role in the professional workflow reaches new levels of convenience and high performance. Beginning with each photographer’s creative vision, the workflow moves through Camera to NEF*1 to Nikon View Pro to Capture NX. Nikon software and hardware products enhance each photographer’s personal creativity with performance that will enable higher productivity.

Blended into the professional workflow, Nikon View Pro can make the process of handling large quantities of images for selection and editing more seamless; this will be especially beneficial for photographers that shoot large quantities and need to quickly examine and organize selected images.

The familiar and user-friendly interface of Nikon View Pro

*1 NEF is the acronym for “Nikon Electronic Format” image file, a raw file format with versatile and reliable performance that inspires confidence and reliability.

Nikon View Pro Major Features

Fast image display

  * Nikon View Pro reduces the time it takes JPEG, TIFF and RAW NEF images to be displayed. High speed image display is possible for JPEG and NEF files; NEF file’s preview images appear quickly and an exclusive fast process for NEF further enhances high speed operation; Cache operation adds to overall high speed performance.

Speed up performance with multi-function “Action key”

  * Using a fast short-cut for multi-key operation, a user can choose and combine up to five individual actions and assign them to one action key. With a pre-arranged Action selected, operations that can include selecting FTP data transfer destination, moving and copying selected images to specified folders, and opening images for specific applications, can be activated with a single click.

IPTC data editing function

  * Users can edit IPTC (International Press Telecommunications Council) data as well as copy the data from one image into another; this performance is possible with JPEG, TIFF and NEF files. A convenient template facilitates the operation, and during the operation you can add a caption to the currently displayed image.
  * The IPTC data of an image can be placed into a template for application to other images.

Convenient display modes

  * Using a multi-view design, Nikon View Pro incorporates Five display modes, including Thumbnail Mode, Single Image Display Mode, Multi Image Display Mode (Vertical), Multi Image Display Mode (Horizontal), and Full Screen Display Mode — make it fast and easy to select and check image details and to update image data. Full-screen viewing with 100% resolution size provides still more convenience. Additionally, Nikon View Pro uses the computer’s operating system folder tree display to simplify search and navigate.
  * Single Image Display Mode enables a user to select between 100% and 50% scale.
  * Multi Image Display Mode (Vertical) and Multi Image Display Mode (Horizontal) make image comparisons easy, as both modes allow one window to be fixed and the other to be replaced.
  * Full Screen Display Mode makes maximum size display available with a frameless window option.

Marking

  * When images are marked, various operations, such as sorting, moving, copying and organizing can be done. Additionally, the Action operation can be applied to multiple images as well.

FTP* data transfer

  * Select the images within the Nikon View Pro window and use the program’s FTP transfer feature to transfer those selected images. During transfer it is possible to transfer selected images, marked images and even to assign the transferred images to an Action!

* FTP is a data transmission protocol performed between client and host computers. When using FTP operation on the internet it will be necessary to install (separately purchased) FTP software in your computer.
* Windows 2000 Professional, XP Home, XP Professional, and Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later version support this function. Installing Nikon View Pro in computers using Windows XP versions requires the addition of Microsoft Service Pack 2.

Nikon View Pro System Requirements

Windows
CPU 1.0 GHz Pentium III or better recommended
OS Windows XP Home Edition, Windows XP Professional, Windows 2000 Professional
RAM 512 MB or more (1024 MB recommended)
Hard disk 50 MB required for installation, with additional free disk space of 1 GB plus an amount available on system disk when Nikon View Pro is running.
Display 1024 x 768 pixels or more with 16-bit color (High Color / thousands of colors) or more
Others • CD-ROM drive required for installation
• Internet connection required for some options
Macintosh
CPU 1.0 GHz G4 or better recommended
OS Mac OS X (version 10.2.8, 10.3.9, 10.4.4)
RAM 512 MB or more (1024 MB recommended)
Hard disk 50 MB required for installation, with additional free disk space of 1 GB plus an amount available on system disk when Nikon View Pro is running.
Display 1024 × 768 pixels or more with 16-bit color (High Color / thousands of colors) or more
Others • CD-ROM drive required for installation
• Internet connection required for some options

Microsoftt® and Windows® are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
Macintosh® is a registered trademark or a trademark of Apple Computer Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.

Specifications and equipment are subject to change without any notice or obligation on the part of the manufacturer. February 2006