Adobe Releases Lightroom 3.2 and ACR 6.2

Adobe has released final versions of Lightroom 3.2 and Camera RAW 6.2. You might remember that these were released in “Release Candidate” form earlier last month. The updates address a number of bug fixes, but more significantly add support for the following cameras:

• Canon EOS 60D
• Casio EXILIM EX-FH100
• Fuji  FinePix HS10
• Leica S2 (DNG*)
• Panasonic  DMC-FZ100
• Panasonic DMC-FZ40 (FZ45)
• Panasonic DMC-LX5
• Pentax 645D
• Samsung NX10
• Samsung TL500 (EX1)
• Sony A290
• Sony A390
• Sony Alpha NEX-3
• Sony Alpha NEX-5
• Sony SLT-A33
• Sony SLT-A55V

You can grab the downloads directly from Adobe’s website: LR 3.2 Windows | L3 3.2 Mac and ACR 6.2 Windows | ACR 6.2 Mac

Nik Software Introduces HDR Efex Pro with U Point Technology

Nik software has announced a new plugin for Adobe Photoshop specifically for HDR images. HDR Efex Pro brings users the ability to tone map, handle ghost reduction, access shadow and highlight detail, and control color contrast and vignette attributes, all enhanced with Nik’s super intuitive and simple U Point Technology.

HDR Efex Pro will be available in the fourth quarter of this year for a price of $159.95. More details in the press release that follows.

Press Release

New High Dynamic Range software offers photographers a wider range of possibilities and controls

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Aug. 25 — Nik Software (http://www.niksoftware.com) today announced HDR Efex Pro, a completely new HDR imaging toolkit designed to help photographers quickly and easily achieve the full spectrum of HDR enhancements from the realistic to artistic.

High dynamic range photography is a process in which multiple exposures are captured, aligned and merged to generate a single image that enables a much wider range of colors, highlights and shadows. HDR techniques are typically used to enhance landscape, architectural, nighttime and artistic photography. New HDR Efex Pro overcomes limitations in other software tools with a revolutionary all-in-one approach that enables both realistic and artistic effects to be applied within a single tool.

“HDR is one area of innovation in the evolution of photography and an area that we have been dedicated to from a research perspective for quite some time.” said Michael J. Slater, President and CEO of Nik Software. “Our focus with HDR Efex Pro has been to bring innovative and best-in-class technologies to HDR, including our unrivaled tone mapping, our proprietary U Point technology and powerful ghost reduction, all of which have been developed specifically in response to our customers’ requests.”

Ideal for professional and amateur photographers, HDR Efex Pro provides an amazingly simple yet powerful workflow. Photographers will enjoy single-click HDR imaging with categorized style presets, precise selective fine-tuning using Nik Software’s proprietary U Point technology, advanced alignment and ghost reduction, full access to shadow and highlight details and new best-in-class tone mapping algorithms. Color, contrast and vignette controls enable photographers to further enhance their images to create amazing results. Users experienced with HDR will find that HDR Efex Pro offers a complete solution that takes the genre to new levels and offers new possibilities.

With HDR Efex Pro, photographers can also create the popular and dramatic HDR look from a single image. This feature enables photographers to reprocess images in which either an exposure series was not previously shot or for subject matter that does not lend itself to multiple exposures.

A streamlined workflow and tight integration with Adobe Photoshop, Photoshop Lightroom and Apple ApertureTM, enables the creation of spectacular HDR images quickly and easily within the software tools photographers already use. HDR Efex Pro has been designed with the power and control to empower those experienced with HDR photography as well as those just entering the realm of HDR.

Key Features

* U Point powered selective tools for fast precise enhancements of contrast, shadow, structure and saturation adjustments
* Proprietary tone mapping technology enabling a wide range of HDR styles and capabilities
* Powerful adjustment controls that yield multiple HDR styles from photo realistic to creative
* Standard and custom presets organized into categories for single-click HDR imaging
* Multiple or single exposure HDR
* Advanced technology for automatic image alignment and reduction of subject motion artifacts known as “ghosts”
* Integrated video-based help system including education on HDR photography techniques

Pricing and Availability

HDR Efex Pro will be available in the fourth quarter of 2010 for electronic and boxed delivery directly from Nik Software (http://www.niksoftware.com), through specialty camera retailers and through online and national resellers. A complete list of Nik Software resellers may be found at http://www.niksoftware.com/resellers.

The suggested retail price of HDR Efex Pro is $159.95. The software will be available as a free update to those that have purchased the Nik Software Complete Collection after July 25. HDR Efex Pro installs as a 32-bit or 64-bit plug-in for Adobe Photoshop CS3 through CS5, Lightroom 2.3 (or later) or Apple Aperture 2.1 (or later) and will be available for both Windows and Macintosh operating systems. For more information about HDR Efex Pro, including a detailed product video and image gallery, please visit http://www.niksoftware.com/hdr.

Nik Software’s 64-bit Viveza 2 Update Now Available

Nik Software has now added 64-bit compatibility to Viveza 2 in a new update, and it is available as a free download for all current Viveza 2 owners. Viveza 2.003 can be downloaded by Windows and Mac users running relevant 64-bit environments, i.e. Photoshop CS5. You can get the update directly from Nik Software’s website, here.

Nik Software’s Viveza 2 Color/Light Control Plug-In at B&H Photo Get Nik Software’s Viveza 2 Color/Light Control Plug-In and support this site at the same time, by making your purchase through the link above at B&H Photo Video.

Adobe Releases Lightroom 3.2 and Camera RAW 6.2 Release Candidates

Adobe has now made available “Release Candidate” versions of both Lightroom 3.2 and Camera RAW 6.2. These release candidates are “well tested” but still not quite ready to be finalized, though typically they are quite stable. The new updates add support for several cameras:

• Casio EXILIM EX-FH100 (DNG^*)
• Leica S2 (DNG^*)
• Panasonic DMC-FZ100
• Panasonic DMC-FZ40 (FZ45)
• Panasonic DMC-LX5
• Pentax 645D
• Samsung NX10
• Samsung TL500 (EX1)
• Sony A290
• Sony A390
• Sony Alpha NEX-3
• Sony Alpha NEX-5

Additionally the updates add a quite a number of lens profiles to the lens correction feature, as well correcting or addressing a whole host of bugs and glitches.

You can grab the updates directly from Adobe’s website: Lightroom 3.2 | ACR 6.2

Topaz Labs Announces DeNoise 5: Twice as Fast as Predecessor

Topaz Labs has announced their latest generation of noise removal software, DeNoise 5. DeNoise 5 is claimed to be twice as fast as the previous iteration, and has new capabilitites like a “Correct Black Levels” parameter that removes color casts in shadow areas, in addition to now being more adept at removing both horizontal and vertical banding from very ISO shots.

DeNoise 5 is a free upgrade for existing DeNoise owners or retails for $79.99. You can also get a free 30 day trial from their website here.

Press Release

Topaz Labs Announces Major Upgrade in Image Noise Reduction Software

Topaz Labs Releases Topaz DeNoise 5, Twice the Speed

DALLAS – Topaz Labs announces a major upgrade of the Topaz DeNoise plug-in, which features a double increase in speed, double the maximum image size and many additional noise reduction capabilities. Powered by unique Intellinoise technology, Topaz DeNoise 5 specializes in quickly reducing heavy noise while preserving detail in high-ISO images.

“DeNoise 5 is twice as fast as its predecessor. It also introduces unique shadow tone restoration and dual-directional debanding capabilities, which enable photographers to solve additional problems caused by heavy noise,” said Dr. Albert Yang, President of Topaz Labs. “We’re very pleased to be able to offer these new noise reduction features to our customers.”

Nichole Paschal, photographer and Marketing Specialist for Topaz Labs, explains, “The new Correct Black Level parameter in Topaz DeNoise 5 restores image richness by removing hazy color casts that appear in shadow areas. It also eliminates both horizontal and vertical banding noise, often visible as lines that extend across high ISO images. With these two new features, DeNoise 5 now offers users the ability to solve more noise reduction issues than ever before.”

The new Topaz DeNoise 5 plug-in is the only commercial noise reduction software to remove high ISO noise while simultaneously recovering details, and now processes at twice the speed of earlier versions. It is a plug-in that works with a variety of host programs including Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Aperture, iPhoto and Lightroom. Topaz DeNoise 5 is a free upgrade for existing DeNoise customers and retails for $79.99. For more information about Topaz DeNoise 5, visit the homepage at http://www.topazlabs.com/denoise.

Oloneo Launches PhotoEngine Beta 1

French software developer Oloneo announced that they’ve released a public beta of their PhotoEngine software, a non-destructive image editing program that provides photographers powerful tool for developing HDR images. PhotoEngine includes a RAW developer, HDR tone mapping and noise removal, and a feature that Oloneo dubs “HDR ReLight”, which allows for the control of individual light sources in merged photos.

The PhotoEngine Beta I is available now at their website, www.oloneo.com, but with one crucial catch: it isn’t available for Mac users…yet.

More details in the press release below.

Press Release

Oloneo Launches PhotoEngine Beta 1
Photographers To Benefit From The Latest Advances In Computational Photography
With Image-Based Relighting & Full Real-Time High Dynamic Range (HDR) Re-Exposure

Paris, France – July 13, 2010 – Oloneo today launched the first public beta version of Oloneo PhotoEngine for Windows, the only high dynamic software offering photographers full control over light and exposure in real-time, as if they were still behind the lens. Turn on and off light sources, deeply re-expose pictures in full 32-bit per channel without compromising details and color appearance. Oloneo invites photographers to take an active part in the final development stage of Oloneo PhotoEngine for Windows by downloading the beta version at www.oloneo.com.

While taking pictures, photographers need not to worry anymore about potentially incorrect exposures, white balances or lighting set-ups. It is now a fast and easy process to modify lighting or to recover details in deeply under- or overexposed pictures. By merging multiple photos of the same scene, Oloneo PhotoEngine not only offers an almost unlimited control over exposure and lighting but also provides a new level of creativity in digital photography.

At the core of Oloneo PhotoEngine is a fully real-time, 32-bit floating-point per channel (96-bit per pixel), ultra-wide gamut, full resolution and non-destructive image-editing engine. Oloneo’s color model handles a range of colors that largely surpasses what printers or screens are capable of displaying today. Combined with the suppression of any color shifting and clipping, it guarantees photographers against any loss of image data during the HDR process. With a simple, intuitive and responsive user interface, all image controls work in full real-time at a rate of 1/20 second or less on a general-purpose desktop or laptop computer.

“PhotoEngine is a completely new way to interact with lighting and exposure after photos are taken,” said Antoine Clappier, President of Oloneo and developer of PhotoEngine. “And because PhotoEngine works in real time, it is the first high dynamic software that is truly practical and productive: PhotoEngine users can now devote their entire time being creative instead of spending hours mostly waiting for an unresponsive product to refresh images on screen”.

Oloneo PhotoEngine Main Features

HDR ReLight™: take pictures then set-up lighting
An image-based relighting tool using merged RAWs or JPEGs to control in real-time the settings of individual light sources after the photos are taken. For each light source, parameters include white balance, brightness, temperature, tint and color. Other features are the auto-detection of ambient light and each light source’s color temperature.

Example uses:

• Set the white balance of each light source separately and independently.
• Switch on and off light sources in a picture.
• Create a realistic night view based on daylight photos.
• Take studio-quality pictures with a basic lighting set-up.

“Can you imagine how revolutionary it is to have the ability to change the settings of every single light source in your scene, including individual white balances, AFTER the shooting?” said Andreas Pfeiffer, professional photographer, expert and consultant in computer-based publishing and new media, and author of the Pfeiffer Report. “PhotoEngine with its HDR ReLight feature is a unique and productive software!”

HDR ToneMap™: high dynamic re-exposure in real-time
A full real-time, high dynamic re-exposure module to merge and edit multiple RAWs or JPEGs. Included are four tone mapping engines, auto-exposure correction with fine-tuning, auto-contrast, detail size and threshold controls, halo control, edge sharpening, auto-align, auto-orientation and more. Users also have the possibility to modify exposure the traditional way by turning off tone mapping while still benefiting from a 32-bit, ultra-wide gamut and full resolution environment.

Example uses:

• Completely recover details in overexposed areas in a photo, automatically or manually.
• Fully restore low-light areas in underexposed photos while removing noise, automatically or manually.
• Create infinite variations of an image, from the most realistic look to the utmost creative tone-mapping style.

HDR DeNoise™: remove noise and keep details
A powerful image noise and grain reduction tool using stacked RAWs or JPEGs, with the added benefits of full detail preservation, no smoothing and no artifacts, even with low-contrast and low-light photos.

Complete, high-end RAW photo processing
Oloneo PhotoEngine also comes with a complete RAW and image processing module including a customizable Color Curve Equalizer™ with hue/saturation, hue/luminance and hue/hue curves, a brightness curve, a unique color saturation curve, a color toning tool, an advanced white balance control and more. PhotoEngine handles most RAW photo formats, with thumbnail and metadata support.

Availability
The English/International version of Oloneo PhotoEngine Beta 1 for Windows is available immediately as a free download at www.oloneo.com.

About Oloneo
Founded by three veterans of the computer graphics industry, Oloneo provides digital photographers with tools that bring together flexibility, creativity and speed.

Sigma Updates Photo Pro Software

Sigma has released an update to its Photo Pro image processing software. Photo Pro 4.1 now provides support for Sigma’s newly available SD15 DSLR camera, in addition to bringing compatibility to 64-bit Windows and a few bug fixes as well. Use the links below to grab the correct version for yourself.

• Sigma DP2s
• Sigma DP2
• Sigma DP1
• Sigma SDxx

Alien Skin Software’s Exposure 3 Photoshop Plugin Now Available

Alien Skin Software has announced that its Exposure 3 plugin is now available, with full support for 64-bit Photoshop CS5 users. The latest iteration of Exposure not only brings 64-bit support, but Lightroom integration, vintage and aged film looks, new interface improvements, Lo-fi toy camera looks, and more user control and customization.

Exposure 3 will cost $249, or $99 for upgrading customers. It can be downloaded and purchased now at Alien Skin’s website.

Press Release

Alien Skin Software Announces Exposure 3 Plug-in for Adobe Photoshop CS5 Software

Adobe Photoshop CS5 64-bit support on Mac and Windows. Tight Adobe Lightroom integration. Hundreds of new presets including aged film and funky toy camera effects.

Raleigh, North Carolina – June 22, 2010 – Alien Skin Software today announces the immediate availability of Exposure® 3, the new version of its photography effects plug-in for Adobe® Photoshop®. Exposure provides accurate film simulation and a wide range of creative effects in a simple interface.

“Exposure has grown beyond film simulation into a creativity tool, especially with the addition of Lo-Fi and vintage effects,” said Tom Welsh, the architect of Exposure. “There is carefully researched science under the hood, but we keep the controls simple so photographers can focus on their art.”

“Alien Skin Software is helping Exposure users get the most out of Photoshop CS5 by quickly adopting 64-bit support”, said Bryan O’Neil Hughes, product manager for Photoshop at Adobe.

The most significant new features in Exposure 3 are:

• 64-bit support for Photoshop CS5 on both Macintosh and Windows
• Tight Lightroom® integration that does not require Photoshop
• Aging effects and vintage films such as Technicolor and old Kodachrome
• Simulation of Lo-Fi toy camera photography
• Hundreds of new settings in all categories, including more films, color toning, and aging
• User interface improvements such as a much faster preview and hover help

Tight Integration with Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom
Exposure 3 now works in Lightroom 2, including batch processing, and does not require Photoshop to be installed. Exposure 3 is one of the first plug-ins to work with the 64-bit version of Photoshop CS5 on both the Macintosh and Windows platforms. Exposure provides multiple techniques for non-destructive editing in Photoshop, including Smart Filter support and rendering effects on a duplicate of the original layer.

Creative Effects

Exposure brings all of the creative tools of film photography to the world of digital, such as discontinued films, dark room tricks, and lo-fi camera quirks. New in version 3 are vintage looks like Technicolor movie film and old Kodachrome that are distressed with dust, scratches, and vignettes to complete the illusion of age. Lo-Fi cameras like Holga and Lomo are simulated with lens blur, warped vignettes, and funky colors from cross processing.

Realistic Film Simulation
Exposure was developed through careful measurements of film grain and color both in the lab and in film archives. The result is grain that clumps realistically, unlike the uniform digital noise generated by other software. The color transformations of particular film stocks are done so well that Exposure can make your digital shots look exactly like stills from a vintage movie or snapshots in an old family album.

Ease of Use
Exposure 3 has over 500 presets that provide complex looks with a single click. To help get started and for advanced techniques, the Web site has a large library of tutorial videos and example images.

Pricing and Availability
Exposure 3 sells for $249 USD. Owners of any version of Exposure may upgrade for $99 USD. Online or physical delivery is available through the Alien Skin website at www.alienskin.com. Free upgrades will be automatically sent to purchasers of Exposure 2 who purchased in April 2010 or later.

Host Requirements
Exposure 3 is a plug-in and requires one of the following host applications:

• Adobe Photoshop CS3 or later
• Adobe Lightroom 2 or later
• Adobe Photoshop Elements 7 or later
• Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X3

System Requirements
Microsoft Windows users must have at least a Pentium 4 processor or compatible and Windows XP SP3 or later. Apple Macintosh users must have an Intel processor and Mac OS X 10.5 or later. A monitor with 1024×768 resolution or greater is required.

About Alien Skin Software
Alien Skin Software makes Photoshop plug-ins for photographers and graphic designers. We distill advanced math and cutting edge research into simple tools that render beautiful pictures. Our reputation for bug-free software and fast, friendly tech support has grown worldwide since 1993. For more information, visit our website at www.alienskin.com.

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Exposure, Alien Skin Software, and the Alien Skin Software logo are registered trademarks of Alien Skin Software, LLC. Adobe, Lightroom, and Photoshop are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.