ACDSee Pro Photo Manager 3 enters 2nd beta testing phase from August 11 to October 30 according to the press release. Stability and performance are the focus of the 2nd beta improvements based on user feedback from Beta 1. This new beta is for Windows only. Mac users currently have the ACDSee Pro 1.1 Beta (released on August 6, 2009) to test out.
Be sure to review the Beta Release Notes and System Requirements before trying ACDSee Pro 3 Beta. It is always wise to test beta software on non-critical or redundant copy of your photos.
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Posted in
News,
Software on August 12th, 2009.
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Previously, I wrote a tutorial about a quick and easy landscape enhancement workflow in Nikon Capture NX using a snowy landscape photo as an example. The tutorial demonstrated the use of Black and White Control Points, Color Control Points (CCP), and Selection Brushes. With the release of Nikon Capture NX2, there has been a very important addition to control point tools: the Selection Control Point (SCP). In this tutorial, I will show you a very simple but effective landscape workflow that can save a dull image within minutes. Instead of CCP, I will use SCP to selectively enhance the sky without affecting the rest of the image so there is no more need to use Selection Brush to remove the effect from unwanted area. Read More…
The new release adds the support for the two high pixel density full frame DSLRs Nikon D3X and Sony A-900 (DxO Optics Pro Elite Edition required). 43 new DxO Optics Correction Modules are now available for a variety of cameras including the Sony Alpha DSLR A700 and A900, the Nikon D40x, D80, D90, D300, D700, D3, D3x and the Canon 400D/DIGITAL REBEL XTi/Kiss Digital X, 450D/DIGITAL REBEL XSi/Kiss X2, 50D and 5D Mark II. The complete list of changes can be found in the release note (PDF).
For readers who are not familiar with DxO Optics Pro, it is a unique RAW converter/workflow software that can automatically correct lens faults such as distortion, vignetting, softness and aberrations. DxO Optics Pro provides correction module for each specific lens/camera combination, ensuring laboratory-grade precision without user intervention. Other features of the software include high ISO optimized RAW conversion technology, batch processing, custom presets, and simulating color characteristics of other camera or films.
Adobe has announced version 2 of its raw processing and work flow tool, the Photoshop Lightroom. Enhancements include the support of localized adjustments (similar to Capture NX’s selection brush and gradient tools), dual monitor workspace, better photo management and organization tools, third party plug-in development, flexible and customizable print packages, and more.
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 costs $299 for a new license and $99 for existing users to upgrade. A free trial is available (Adobe account is required).
There are some people who claim the Capture NX is slow, buggy, and don’t ever want to touch the software even though it comes with the new D300 and D3 free. How wrong is that?! There may be some truth about the slowness if you have an old computer or do not have sufficient memory. However the program is a great piece of software that consistently bring out the best from NEF raw images effortlessly. Here I am going to illustrate the unique control point and selection brush features in Capture NX and show you how easy it is to touch up a landscape photo in a couple of simple steps. Read More…
Posted in
Photo editing,
Tutorials on December 9th, 2007.
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