software » Echenique dot com

Adobe Releases Lightroom 3

Industry news, Photography, Software No Responses »

Jun 082010

SAN JOSE, Calif., – June 8, 2010 – Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced the immediate availability of Adobe(r) Photoshop(r)

Lightroom(r) 3 software for Windows(r) and Macintosh, the essential digital photography workflow solution that allows photographers to quickly organize, enhance and showcase their images from one application. First released as a public beta in October 2009, the final version of Lightroom 3 introduces a completely redesigned performance architecture that better handles growing image libraries and provides an unrivaled raw processing engine with noise reduction and sharpening tools to achieve the highest image quality. The 64-bit capable Lightroom 3 includes new features that optimize workflows and allow images to be shared in creative ways, including support for DSLR video files and tethered shooting on select cameras.

Hasselblad releases Phocus 2.5 for Mac

Cameras, Industry news, Software No Responses »

May 112010

In addition to a range of new photographer-oriented features, Phocus 2.5 for Apple computers allows users to import RAW files from more than 150 DSLR cameras, and features support for most standard image file formats, making Phocus more flexible and powerful than ever before.

Hasselblad today announced the release of Phocus 2.5 for Mac, breaking new ground by adding RAW support for more than 150 third party digital cameras, including cameras from Canon, Nikon, Leica, Sony, Fuji, Olympus, and more, as well as support for the most common file formats such as TIFF, JPEG, DNG, and PNG. This added file support results in a single, comprehensive – and free – solution that will enable all Hasselblad photographers to streamline their work process by working with both Hasselblad images and those captured with their 35mm DSLRs in one and the same application. Phocus 2.5 also contains a number of new and exciting features that improve workflow and image quality, in addition to further enhancing Phocus’s open environment by enabling the photographer to share keywords from Aperture and Lightroom. Photographers who use Leaf digital backs also benefit from this upgrade, with the inclusion of RAW support for Leaf digital backs.

Apple Releases Aperture 3

Industry news, Photography, Software, Technology 1 Response »

Feb 092010

CUPERTINO, Calif., Feb. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Apple® today introduced Aperture™ 3, the next major release of its powerful photo editing and management software, with over 200 new features including Faces, Places and Brushes. Building on the innovative Faces and Places features introduced in iPhoto® ’09, Aperture 3 makes it even easier and faster to organize large photo libraries. Aperture 3 introduces new tools to refine your photos including Brushes for painting image adjustments onto parts of your photo, and Adjustment Presets for applying professional photo effects with just one click. Stunning new slideshows let you share your work by weaving together photos, audio, text and HD video.

“Millions of people love using iPhoto to organize, edit and share their digital photos,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “Aperture 3 is designed for both professionals who edit and manage massive libraries of photos and iPhoto users who want to take their photos further with easy-to-use tools such as Brushes and Adjustment Presets.”

“Aperture 3 gets it right,” said National Geographic photographer, Jim Richardson. “The image editing tools are exactly what I have been asking for, they’re so easy to use and give me a level of control that I never even thought possible.”

“I chose Aperture because it was the most powerful archiving application around, but it’s now an unbelievable imaging tool as well,” said Bill Frakes, Sports Illustrated staff photographer. “I am beyond impressed with the massive changes made in Aperture 3.”

Bibble Labs Releases Bibble 5 Pro

Industry news, Photography, software, Technology 2 Responses »

Dec 302009

Fifteen months after it was announced, Bibble Labs has released its namesake Bibble 5 Pro. Bibble 5 Pro is the 5th generation of RAW conversion software from Bibble Labs. This version sports many new features including layers, digital asset management (DAM), and a whole new plug-in structure. versions are available for Windows, Mac and Linux. A free trial can be downloaded from Bibble Labs webpage.

Phase One Releases Capture One 5 PRO

Industry news, Photography, Technology No Responses »

Oct 282009

COPENHAGEN, October 28, 2009 — Phase One, the world’s leader in open-platform medium format camera systems and solutions, today released Capture One 5 PRO. Known for rendering superior quality images from a wide range of pro DSLR, Mamiya and Phase One medium format cameras, Capture One PRO is now enhanced with workflow accelerators to handle large volume shoots faster.

Capture One Pro 5 Box_600pixels_72dpi.jpg

Capture One 5 PRO is the RAW converter and workflow application with the broadest tethered shooting support, not only for Phase One digital backs, but also for DSLRs from Canon and Nikon. This version adds support for additional DSLR models and RAW file support for selected Leaf digital backs.

”Today’s pro photographers are shooting with both medium format and DSLR cameras, so having a truly professional quality digital darkroom, that can manage RAW files from both systems, makes life easier,” said Carsten H. Olsen, Phase One product manager for Capture One. “Capture PRO helps photographers reduce the time and effort required to deliver stunning ready-to-use images with excellent color and detail.”

About Capture One 5
Capture One 5’s simple, intuitive interface is designed to achieve superior image quality through easy-to-use tools that match a professional photographer’s daily workflow requirements. Now pros can:

Get an instant view of image focus with the Focus tool and use the Focus Mask for quick selection of images with correct focus;
Perfect the appearance of smooth, soft skin tones with the Skin Tone Enhancer;
Add vignettes to the edges of your images for artistic effect (follows crop);
Adjust individual color channels easily with RGB Levels and Curves;
Access and edit an expanded set of IPTC metadata fields.

For complete product details, please see www.phaseone.com/5.

Pricing and availability
Capture One 5 is available in three versions: Capture One 5, Capture One 5 DB and Capture One 5 PRO; each version is localized for Chinese (simplified), Czech, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish and Swedish.

Capture One 5 PRO is available via download for 399 USD and 299 EUR through Phase One’s Online Store www.phaseone.com/store and through leading professional photography dealers worldwide. Capture One 5 is available for 129 USD and 99 EUR.

Existing Capture One 4 PRO customers can upgrade to Capture One 5 PRO for 99 USD and 69 EUR. Existing Capture One 4 customers can upgrade to Capture One 5 PRO for 299 USD and 229 EUR. Please visit Phase One’s Online Store www.phaseone.com/store for other upgrade options and free trials.

For a comparison between Capture One and Capture One PRO please see: www.phaseone.com/comparison.

System Requirements
Capture One 5 for Microsoft® Windows® requires at least an Intel® Pentium® 4 processor, 2 GB of RAM and 10 GB of free hard disk space as well as Windows XP® SP3, Windows Vista® SP2 or Windows 7®.

Capture One 5 for Apple® Macintosh® requires at least an Intel-based Mac, 2 GB of RAM and 10 GB of free hard disk space as well as Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard or Mac OS X 10.5.8.

About Phase One

Phase One is the world’s leader in open-platform based medium format camera systems and solutions. Phase One medium format cameras, digital backs and lenses are designed to deliver superior quality image capture and investment value. Phase One’s Capture One software helps streamline capture and post-production processes for both medium format and DSLR cameras. Phase One products are known for their quality, flexibility and speed enabling pro photographers shooting in a wide range of formats to achieve their creative visions without compromise. For more information about the products, visit the Phase One web site on www.phaseone.com.

Phase One is an employee-owned company based in Copenhagen with offices in New York, London, Tokyo, Cologne and Shanghai.

Phase One and Capture One are registered trademarks of Phase One A/S. All other brand or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Macworld and the lack of Steve

Industry news, Technology No Responses »

Jan 062009

Wow. Just got through possibly the worst coverage of Macworld I have ever seen. One can see that Steve Jobs is truly the dynamic force behind the scenes in Cupertino.

To wit:

No Steve = No live video feed
No Steve = No Snow Leopard update
No Steve = No Blu-ray support announcement
No Steve = No Mac Mini refresh
No Steve = No netbook sized MacBook (MacBook Mini? MacNote?)
No Steve = No vid card refresh for Mac Pro
No Steve = No Cinema Display refresh

Top that all off with MacRumors’ live coverage getting hacked (“STEVE JOBS JUST DIED” was inserted into their comment stream by person(s) unknown) and then their site went down.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I know better than most people how dangerous anything happening to the pancreas is (I am a survivor of necrotizing pancreatitis – which has a 2% survival rate in 1 month vs, pancreatic cancer’s 20% the first year), and I do not begrudge Mr. Jobs looking after his health. It just without Steve, Apple loses quite a bit of its zing.

On a positive note, two new MacBook Pro models were introduced and the 17-inch unit looks amazing. I am going to have to head over to my favorite Apple store to get a gander at one. The thinness and high-gamut display bode well for photographers in the field, especially with photographer-centric Windows laptops already on the market (expect my review of the Lenovo W700 this week).

The new iLife and iWork are worthy upgrades considering the amount of utility people get for the price and I am glad to see that Apple finally realizes that there is more to the net than MobileMe.

Leica Updates M8 Firmware

Cameras No Responses »

Sep 202008

I was cruising through the newly revamped Leica website trawling for info on the last big announcement they are saving for Photokina when I came upon this little nugget:

Leica has updated the M8 Classic firmware to v2.0 which adds the following features to the original Leica digital rangefinder:

* Auto ISO – The M8 Classic can now automatically adjust ISO settings to maintain a minimum shutter speed. This is activated from the M8′s SET menu. Parameters are adjusted on the MENU menu which include making the Auto ISO parameters lens dependent.

* SDHC Support – Gone are the manacles of 2GB SD cards! The M8 Classic now supports higher capacity SDHC cards. I tested with a 4GB PNY SDHC card and reported space for 370 RAW images. Sweetness!

What’s not there (that requires upgrading to the M8.2):

* Hardware updates – No amount of firmware updates will replace the shutter mechanism, add sapphire glass, or provide a method to alter shutter cocking behaviors. That requires that new bits be installed in the camera.

The firmware update is a welcome bit of news to Leica M8 owners who have been complaining about lack of SDHC support and Auto ISO since Day One. It will also allow Leica M8 owners to make a better choice about upgrading to the new model by virtue of providing two of the major features of the new version for free to existing customers.

You can download the update from Leica here.
I have mirrored the update here.

UPDATE: Leica recommends that Lexar & Sandisk SDHC be used for maximum compatibility. I can report that PNY cards up to 8GB work just fine. 8GB PNY SDHC = 753 RAW images. All for $34.99 from Best Buy.

Interarchy and Iris: Two from Nolobe Software

Technology No Responses »

Sep 102008

nolobeheading.ayGMUNeTFWh6.jpg

Nolobe Software makes two applications for the Mac: Interarchy – a high performance file transfer program that supports mirroring, a boatload of protocols (12 in total including iDisk and Amazon S3), and can take advantage of everything that Mac OS X has to offer: Automator, Dashboard, Bonjour, iDisk, Spotlight, Address Book, AppleScript and a whole bunch more. The other application they make is Iris – an “easy to use” image editor built from the ground up to take advantage of the Mac environment.

interarchyapp.kgTXBKTiTdoh.jpg
Interarchy is one of the slickest file transfer programs I have ever had the pleasure of working with. Unlike most other file transfer application which use local and remote file viewing panes, Interarchy shows only the remote content, the local content is displayed in the Finder as usual. That’s right, the Interarchy window behaves as any other window on the Mac desktop. This ease of use can be an issue for veterans of classic file transfer applications (like me – something so obvious, isn’t).

While it gets top marks in protocol support, features and interface design, actual file transfers do not live up to the hype. File transfer speeds on this app are good, but not impressive. Nolobe claims that the only limit to this application’s transfer speed is the underlying speed of the hard drive and networking subsystems. I transferred a 700 MB AVI file from my desktop to a local FTP server over gigabit ethernet and it took 3:32s. The same file transferred using CuteFTP Mac Pro took only 2:24s.

irisapp.A29zARoUsMu7.jpg

Iris is Nolobe’s entry into the graphics market. Looking a bit like Photoshop Elements 3, the software promises to be light and fast with all the tools graphics artists need to get the job done. To bad it doesn’t. Iris looks good, but beyond that it is quite buggy and has several annoying habits. For example: all images are displayed full sized when opened. This is not an issue with most web images, but regularly deal with 10-12 Mpix files that are larger than my 30“ display.

Other functions do not work as advertised and the software has a rather odd tendency to not follow established interface and ”do things it’s own way“. The complete absence of help files does not make things better.

In conclusion, Interarchy has a rather good interface but its performance was not up to claims and Iris needs to be avoided at all costs.

Newer Entries