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6 Tips for a Faster Lightroom Workflow So You Can Get Back to Taking Photos!

20 Nov

The post 6 Tips for a Faster Lightroom Workflow So You Can Get Back to Taking Photos! appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Simon Ringsmuth.

Many photographers rely on Lightroom to organize, edit and share their photos. While this software has a vast array of tools to help people in several key areas, it has not always been known for speed. Recent updates and GPU acceleration have helped, but if you really want to have a faster Lightroom workflow, there are some simple things you can do to supercharge your post-processing. These aren’t hacks or plugins, but simple tweaks to Lightroom that can make your life a lot easier.

6 Tips for a Faster Lightroom Workflow So You Can Get Back to Taking Photos!

1. Apply a preset when importing images

The first thing you can do for a faster Lightroom workflow is to apply a preset when importing images.

Lightroom has a mind-boggling number of options and sliders to adjust when editing images. If you find yourself using the same types of edits on most of your pictures, you can use Presets to shave hours off your editing. Most people already know this, but you might not be aware that you can apply Presets when initially importing your files.

On the right side of the Import screen, there is an option for “Apply During Import.” Use this to select one of the many presets built into Lightroom (or select one of your own that you may have saved) and have it automatically applied to your pictures as you import them.

faster Lightroom workflow

In the screenshot above, you can also see an option called Nikon RAW import. That’s a custom preset I made that contains specific adjustments I like to apply to my Nikon RAW files, which gets me to a good starting point when editing. That alone has helped me with a faster Lightroom workflow, but applying it to a batch of photos on import is even more of a speed boost.

Don’t worry about messing anything up if you apply presets on import. Like everything else in Lightroom, they are non-destructive, meaning you can always go back and change things later.

2. Sync settings across multiple images

If you have spent any time editing multiple similar images in Lightroom, particularly from an event or photo session with clients, you have no doubt found the Copy/Paste Settings to be useful. Right-click on any image in the Develop module and choose “Develop Settings->Copy Settings…” Then check the boxes next to any (or all!) the settings you want to copy.

Finally, go to another photo, right-click, and choose “Develop Settings->Paste Settings.” Or better yet, use Ctrl+C (cmd+C on mac) and Ctrl+V (cmd+V on mac) like you would on any word processor.

I shot dozens of pictures of this wasp. The Sync Settings option let me instantly edit a single image and then apply those edits to all my other images in an instant.

This process works great, but what if you want to paste your settings on to five, ten, or a hundred images? Even the fast method of using Ctrl+V starts to feel like a chore.

Fortunately, there’s a better way.

Image 21 is selected, and Images 17-20 are also highlighted. After clicking the Sync… button, all the edits from 21 will be applied to 17-20.

In the Develop module, select a single picture in the filmstrip at the bottom of the screen. Then hold down the [shift] key and select more images. Finally, click the “Sync…” button to synchronize any (or all) of your edits on the original image to the rest that are selected.

When I discovered this trick, I almost fell out of my chair! I didn’t just speed up my Lightroom editing. It supercharged my editing.

3. Straighten your pictures with the Auto button

I’m always a little leery of anything that says Auto when I’m editing pictures. I don’t need my computer to do what it thinks is best – I want my computer to do what I think is best! At best, I use some Auto options, like when setting white balance on RAW files, as a rough draft that I go and refine.

However, there is one Auto setting that I have learned to use over and over again. Learning to embrace Auto for straightening my photos has saved me a lot of time and really led to an overall faster Lightroom workflow.

Image: The Auto button in the Crop & Straighten panel can really help make things go faster when...

The Auto button in the Crop & Straighten panel can really help make things go faster when you need to straighten your photos.

The reason Auto works so well for straightening images is that it doesn’t try to make a guess which affects the artistic goals of the photographer. It simply looks for straight lines such as light poles, buildings, or horizons, and then adjusts images accordingly. It works far more than I initially thought. Plus, it can really speed things up when editing in Lightroom.

My tripod was askew when I shot this, but Lightroom fixed it with a simple click of the Auto button.

4. Automatically organize with smart collections

Collections in Lightroom are an easy way to organize your images. You can create as many collections as you want, and one photo can exist in multiple collections. What you may not realize is that Lightroom lets you create Smart Collections, which are populated dynamically according to rules you specify.

To create a Smart Collection, choose the + button at the top-left of the Collections panel. Then select “Create Smart Collection…” and specify your parameters for the Smart Collection.

faster Lightroom workflow

As an example of how this can lead to a faster Lightroom workflow, I create Smart Collections to sort my photos by month for an entire year. I do this each January, and for the rest of the year my photos are automatically sorted month-by-month without me having to do anything.

Image: I create Smart Collections for my personal images at the beginning of each year. My images ar...

I create Smart Collections for my personal images at the beginning of each year. My images are then sorted automatically.

These Smart Collections also do not include any photos with the keyword “PhotoSession” which I apply to all images that I take for clients. Photos with that keyword go in another set of Smart Collections that I use to keep client images separate from personal photos.

Smart Collections can contain dozens of parameters including Rating, Pick Flag, Color Label, Keyword, even metadata such as camera model or focal length. They are an incredibly powerful but very simple way to make your day-to-day Lightroom editing significantly faster.

5. Multi-Batch Export

Lightroom has long offered customizable export presets. These allow you to export photos with certain parameters specified such as file type, image size, quality setting, and even specifying custom names.

faster Lightroom workflow

New in the November 2019 update to Lightroom Classic is the option to perform a single export operation that utilizes multiple Presets. This means you no longer have to do an export operation for full-size JPGs at 100% quality, another export for low-resolution proofs at 80% quality, and so on.

Just check any boxes in the Export dialog box for the presets you want, and Lightroom will take care of the rest!

Image: The November 2019 update to Lightroom Classic lets you select multiple presets for a single e...

The November 2019 update to Lightroom Classic lets you select multiple presets for a single export operation.

This is a great way to save time when you are ready to export your images. It’s not the kind of workflow addition that will change your life, but it’s another simple but highly effective process you can utilize to shave precious minutes from your editing. And as someone who exports a lot of photos regularly, those minutes add up.

6. Cull on Lightroom Mobile

One of my favorite aspects of the Adobe Creative Cloud Photography plan is the synchronization between Lightroom Classic and Lightroom Mobile. While the mobile version of Lightroom isn’t as full-featured as its desktop-based big brother, it does one thing incredibly well that has made a huge difference for me when editing photos for clients.

Click the checkbox next to any Collection to sync those photos with Lightroom CC. This means you can access low-resolution previews of all those images on the web, your phone, or tablet. (Note that this does not work with Smart Collections, only regular Collections.)

6 Tips for a Faster Lightroom Workflow So You Can Get Back to Taking Photos!

I don’t find Lightroom Mobile particularly useful for detailed editing, but it absolutely runs circles around the desktop version when it comes to culling operations. If you have an iPad, this could honestly change your entire approach to culling your images. It also works pretty well on other mobile devices too.

Load a picture in any collection that you have synced to Lightroom CC and then click the Star icon in the lower-right corner. This switches to a mode where you can quickly assign star ratings or flags to any picture. Tap one of the Flag or Star icons at the bottom of the screen to change the status of the image. A quick swipe of your finger will load the next image.

Tap the star icon in the lower-right corner of Lightroom Mobile to quickly assign Flags and Star Ratings with a swipe of your finger.

This is all well and good, but there’s one trick here that will send your culling into overdrive.

Slide a finger up or down on the right side of the photo to change the Flag status. Slide a finger up or down on the left side to assign a Star rating. Then swipe to the next image and repeat.

All your edits on Lightroom Mobile, including Star ratings and Flag statuses, are instantly synced back to Lightroom Classic on your computer.

I’m not kidding about the speed of this operation, either.

I used to dread the culling process, but now it takes a fraction of the time it used to. A few weeks ago, I returned from a photo session with over 1,100 images. In about an hour, I was able to cull them to a fraction of that amount, thanks to Lightroom Mobile.

Image: There were hundreds of images from this session that I had to sort through. Lightroom Desktop...

There were hundreds of images from this session that I had to sort through. Lightroom Desktop makes this a burden, but Lightroom Mobile makes it a breeze.

All six of these tips have saved me a huge amount of time over the years. I hope they are useful to you as well.

If you have any other tricks or suggestions for a faster Lightroom workflow, leave them in the comments below!

The post 6 Tips for a Faster Lightroom Workflow So You Can Get Back to Taking Photos! appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Simon Ringsmuth.

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Technical readouts reveal faster shutter speeds, improved ISO and more in iPhone 11 Pro

20 Sep

Like he did last year for the iPhone XS, Sebastiaan de With, co-founder of the iOS camera app Halide, has again made use his app’s technical readout feature to obtain additional camera specifications above and beyond what can be found in the official spec sheet. He’s broken down the data and compared the new iPhone 11 Pro to last year’s XS model. Let’s have a closer look at his findings:

The 11 Pro main camera comes with a 6-element lens that offers a 26mm equivalent focal length and F1.8 aperture. The chart below details the changes between the XS and the new model. As you can see the base ISO on all of the camera modules has increased by half a stop, the maximum shutter speed has been increased from 1/22,000 sec to a whopping 1/125,000 sec and the maximum ISO has been expanded to ISO 3072 vs the previous ISO 2304 limit, coinciding with the increased base ISO level.

It’s not quite clear at this point what the blisteringly fast shutter speeds could be used for. The increased maximum ISO doesn’t necessarily mean that the new iPhone will produce lower levels of image noise at a given ISO setting but it should be able to achieve better exposures in very dark settings.

Apple iPhone XS versus 11 Pro main camera comparison, source: Halide

As before, the telephoto cameras features a 52mm equivalent focal length but now comes with a faster F2.0 aperture. This should improve low light tele photos and should also produce a more visible ‘natural’ bokeh than on the iPhone XS.

Apple iPhone XS versus 11 Pro tele camera comparison, source: Halide

The iPhone XS did not come with an ultra-wide camera, so we can’t compare but the new camera offers a 13mm equivalent field-of-view, an F2.4 aperture lens and phase detection AF.

Apple iPhone 11 Pro ultra-wide camera specifications, source: Halide

The front camera has been updated, too. It now features faster shutter speeds, a higher maximum ISO, larger image output size and a wider field-of-view.

Apple iPhone XS versus 11 Pro front camera comparison, source: Halide

Overall the hardware changes don’t look too impressive on paper, but they are of course only a (small) part of the whole story as Sebastiaan points out in the blog post:

‘It’s kind of unbelievable that even with the glowing reviews out today, Apple has said that there’s more software processing yet to come. We’re told Deep Fusion is a very big leap in post-processing quality, but with the changes to Smart HDR, Semantic Mapping in the imaging pipeline and discrete situational processing like Night Mode, these specs are the furthest from the whole story on the new iPhone cameras yet.’

The Halide app is available from the iOS App Store for iPhone and Apple Watch and will set you back $ 6.

Image credits: Charts used with permission from Sebastiaan de With, developer of Halide.

Updated (September 19, 2019): Edited to clarify the increased ISO ratings and base ISO levels.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Hasselblad launches X1D II 50C with improved handling, faster responses and lower price

22 Jun

Hasselblad has released a new version of its X1D medium format digital camera that offers a range of upgraded features and a speedier operating system. With improvements based around user feedback, the X1D II 50C offers a larger rear screen, a higher resolution EVF, faster startup and reduced lag, as well as a collection of menu and interface changes. Hasselblad says the new camera offers a ‘quicker and more intuitive medium format experience’. Critically though, the new version will cost a good deal less than the original X1D, presumably to bring it closer to the price of the Fujifilm GFX 50R.

Using the same body and pixel-count as the original X1D 50C, the Mark II is clearly an upgrade rather than a completely new camera, a fact reflected in the naming convention. A new processor appears to have been used that speeds up the operating system so that the time it takes the camera to start up is cut by 46%, shutter lag is cut and the blackout time between frames is reduced.

Users will get an extra 0.4 fps on the maximum drive mode taking the frame rate to 2.7 fps, and the time it takes to preview and scroll through recorded images has been decreased. The new processor allows a 62% better refresh rate in the viewfinder too – it’s now 60 fps – and focus accuracy has been improved.

Hasselblad claims the 3.6″ rear screen is the largest available on a digital medium format camera, and has increased the resolution to 1024×768 pixels with the total number of dots standing at 2.36M compared to the 920,000 screen used on the original model. Likewise, the EVF resolution has jumped from 2.36M dots to 3.69M (1024×768 vs 1280×960), and the new 0.87x magnification gives users a bigger view.

Hasselblad says the camera’s menu system has been tweaked to make it more logical and to deliver easier access to the functions, while new icons and clearer language make finding what you are looking for more straightforward. The menu can now be displayed and operated in the viewfinder, while a new system for touch AF has been incorporated and the control screen will now display more information, including self-timer and a Balance Scale to indicate exposure adjustments.

JPEG users will be pleased to hear that the X1D ll 50C allows not only full sized JPEG images but that JPEGs can be recorded on their own with no Raw accompaniment. And, the company says the quality of its JPEG files has improved – though we don’t get to know how exactly.

The camera’s 24.7Wh battery can be charged either in an external charging block or in-camera via the USB socket. This also allows the battery to be charged via a powerbank when on the location. Another new feature is that a GPS module is now built into the body instead of being supplied as a hot shoe accessory. This saves the $ 175 that it costs for the hotshoe model used with the original body if one wasn’t supplied with your camera, while freeing up the hot shoe for a flash unit.

The Hasselblad X1D II 50C will be available in July 2019 and will cost $ 5750 (before tax) or €6000/£5400 (inc VAT). For more information see the Hasselblad website.

Phocus Mobile 2 allows Raw download and cabled connection

Hasselblad has also updated its Phocus Mobile iOS app so that now users can not only control the camera and rate images, but additionally download Raw and JPEG files to their iPad Pro and iPad Air (2019) devices. The app can connect to the X1D II 50C either via Wi-Fi as before or via the camera’s USB-C port, and will now support tethered shooting.
Phocus Mobile 2 is free, and will be available on Apple’s App Store.

Press release

X1D II 50C – AN EVOLVED MEDIUM FORMAT PHOTOGRAPHY EXPERIENCE

In the pursuit to continue the journey of taking medium format outside of the studio, Hasselblad is pleased to announce the next installment of the X System – the X1D II 50C Mirrorless Medium Format Digital Camera. Dedicated to optimising the X System for a wider audience of creatives, Hasselblad has listened to user feedback and improved upon the first generation with enhanced electronics for a quicker and more intuitive medium format experience.

Continuing in the legacy of being the most portable and lightweight digital medium format camera, the X1D II 50C lets you take the power of medium format in a footprint smaller than most full frame DSLRs in a beautifully designed, compact package. Its large, high resolution 50-megapixel CMOS sensor (43.8 x 32.9 mm) is 1.7 times larger than 35mm full format sensors, packing in huge pixels (5.3 x 5.3 nm) for capturing images with superb tonality. With outstanding colour depth and an impressive dynamic range of 14 stops, which allows for capturing immense details in both shadows and highlights, the photographer is left with plenty of room for adjustment in post-processing. With Hasselblad Natural Colour Solution (HNCS) technology integrated into the camera’s system, exceptional, true-to-life tones are delivered that match what the human eye sees.

Building upon the award-winning first generation, the X1D II 50C blends form and function with minimalistic, Scandinavian design aesthetics and a smooth handling experience with its ergonomic grip. The new X1D II 50C continues to provide creatives with incredible Hasselblad image quality, with 16-bit RAW images and now full resolution JPEGs, in a compact, lightweight design.

Developing upon the first generation of the X System, the X1D II 50C’s upgraded electronic platform includes a higher resolution 3.6-inch 2.36-million-dot touch display, which is physically the largest LCD display currently available on a digital medium format camera.

Additionally, the X1D II 50C features a higher resolution enhanced OLED electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 3.69-million dots and a high magnification of 0.87x, letting you see the bigger picture. The much higher resolution of the rear display screen (1024×768) gives a more vivid, true to life image viewing experience.

The X1D II 50C’s live view features a faster refresh rate, reduced shutter lag and black out time between frames, an improved continuous capture rate, and a startup time cut almost in half from the first generation. Building upon the highly-intuitive user interface of the previous model, further refinements have been made to the X1D II 50C to improve the camera’s handling experience, including the ability to access the menu system when looking in the EVF, giving greater usability in the sunniest conditions.

Enabling an even more portable medium format workflow, Hasselblad’s post production solutions now include the new Phocus Mobile 2. Connected via USB-C and Wi-Fi, photographers can transfer RAW and full quality JPEG files directly from the X1D II 50C and edit RAW images on their iPad Pro or iPad Air (2019) while out on the field.

PHOCUS MOBILE 2 TAKES IMAGE PROCESSING WORKFLOW TO A NEW PORTABLE LEVEL

Expanding the possibilities of the Hasselblad workflow, Phocus Mobile 2 takes the image editing process to a new, portable level. Compatible with the X1D II 50C via either USB-C or Wi-Fi, this application is currently supported on iPad Pro and iPad Air (2019) models, enabling the traveling photographer to have a quicker, more mobile workflow. With Phocus Mobile 2, users can import, edit and rate RAW images and import and rate full quality JPEG images directly on their portable device. In addition, Phocus Mobile 2 supports full quality image export, tethered shooting and direct camera control.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Hasselblad launches X1D ll 50C with improved handling, faster responses and lower price

19 Jun

Hasselblad has released a new version of its X1D medium format digital camera that offers a range of upgraded features and a speedier operating system. With improvements based around user feedback, the X1D ll 50C offers a larger rear screen, a higher resolution EVF, faster startup and reduced lag, as well as a collection of menu and interface changes. Hasselblad says the new camera offers a ‘quicker and more intuitive medium format experience’. Critically though, the new version will cost a good deal less than the original X1D, presumably to bring it closer to the price of the Fujifilm GFX 50R.

Using the same body and pixel-count as the original X1D 50C, the X1D ll 50C is clearly an upgrade rather than a completely new camera, a fact reflected in the naming convention. A new processor appears to have been used that speeds up the operating system so that the time it takes the camera to start up is cut by 46%, shutter lag is cut and the blackout time between frames is reduced.

Hasselblad claims the 3.6″ rear screen is the largest available on a digital medium format camera, and has increased the resolution to 1024×768 dots-per-inch with the total number of dots standing at 2.36 million compared to the 920,000 screen used on the original model. Likewise, the EVF resolution has jumped from 2.36 million dots to 3.69 million (1024×768 vs 1280×960), and the new 0.87x magnification gives users a bigger view.

The camera’s 3400 mAh battery can be charged either in an external charging block or in-camera via the USB socket. This also allows the battery to be charged via a powerbank when on the location. Another new feature is that a GPS module is now built into the body instead of being supplied as a hot shoe accessory. This saves the $ 175 that it costs for the hotshoe model used with the original body if one wasn’t supplied with your camera, while freeing up the hot shoe for a flash unit.

The Hasselblad X1D ll 50C will be available in July 2019 and will cost $ 5750/€5000/£4500. For more information see the Hasselblad website.

Phocus Mobile 2 allows Raw download and cabled connection

Hasselblad has also updated its Phocus Mobile iOS app so that now users can not only control the camera and rate images, but additionally download Raw and JPEG files to their iPad Pro and iPad Air (2019) devices. The app can connect to the X1D ll 50C either via Wi-Fi as before or via the camera’s USB-C port, and will now support tethered shooting.
Phocus Mobile 2 is free, and will be available on Apple’s App Store.

Press release

X1D II 50C – AN EVOLVED MEDIUM FORMAT PHOTOGRAPHY EXPERIENCE

PHOCUS MOBILE 2 TAKES IMAGE PROCESSING WORKFLOW TO A NEW PORTABLE LEVEL

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Canon’s new PIXMA G5020, G6020 MegaTank printers are faster, now available to pre-order

07 Jun

Canon has unveiled two new printer models in the PIXMA G-series MegaTank product line: the PIXMA G5020 MegaTank Single-Function Printer and the PIXMA G6020 All-In-One Printer. Both models feature the line’s continuous ink supply system, as well as support for automatic two-sided printing, faster printing speeds, and more.

Both the PIXMA G6020 and G5020 printers feature a combined 350-page front and rear paper tray capacity, as well as support for faster printing at 13 black and white impressions and 6.8 color impressions per minute. A single black ink bottle can produce up to 6,000 pages, and the color inks can produce up to a combined 7,000 pages. Both printer models likewise feature WiFi.

The new PIXMA printers can be used with the Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY app for accessing PIXMA Cloud Link and select popular platforms, including Photobucket, Flickr, and Google Drive. Only the PIXMA G6020 model supports Google Cloud Print and Apple AirPrint, however.

Canon starting selling both models on June 6 both models are currently available to pre-order; the PIXMA G5020 retails for $ 249.99 USD (B&H) and the G6020 for $ 299.99 USD (B&H).

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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ON1 launches faster, more comprehensive LR challenge with Photo RAW 2019.5

17 May

Photo software developer On1 has introduced an update to its Raw photo processing application that it claims is up to 50x faster than the previous version and which includes a host of new features. The company says that every feature added and each improvement made in Photo RAW 2019.5 is a direct result of customer feedback.

The greatest speed increases will be felt when exporting processed images, though preview images taking on the effects of pre-set adjustments and other exporting functions happen in less than half the time they did before, according to On1.

New features include an edit history that can be rolled back, the ability to run the edit and browse windows on different screens, as well as a new keyword system that allows creating keywords inside keywords to separate a collection even more.

The changes make the software quicker to use and easier to archive images so they can be search more thoroughly, making On1 Photo RAW a bit more of an alternative to Adobe’s Lightroom.

Compatibility with 21 additional cameras has also been included in the update with the company promising it is working on bringing support for Canon’s CR3 files to the application as soon as it can. Photo RAW 2019.5 also brings compatibility with 29 additional lenses.

Below is an introduction video from On1 that walks through On1 Photo Raw 2019.5 and its latest features:

On1 Photo Raw 2019.5 is available to download immediately and will cost from $ 63.99 for new users. The update is free for existing users of the current edition.

For more information see the On1 website.

Press release:

{pressrelease}

ON1 Photo RAW 2019.5 – Available Today

In April we announced the upcoming release of ON1 Photo RAW 2019.5 and today we are excited to announce it is officially available for the ON1 community. Since the first release of ON1 Photo RAW, we’ve given our community a say in the features and technologies they want in their photo editor of choice. Every feature and improvement we’ve made in the latest release is a result of community input through the ON1 Photo RAW Project. We want to take this chance to say, thank you. We’ve come a long way and are excited for what the future holds here at ON1.

One of the most significant improvements in the latest release is performance and speed in several areas. Some of these optimizations give customers up to a 50x improvement compared to the previous version. Here are a few of the areas where customers will notice a significant increase in speed.

Preset Previews — Up to 3x faster — When navigating through presets and previewing each effect on the photo
JPG to JPG Export — Up to 2.5x faster — This is an example of creating “proof” sized JPGs for a client and takes advantage of a new resizing algorithm
RAW to JPG Export — Up to 2.5x faster — This is an example of creating JPGs for social media with your watermark
Export in Edit — Up to 5x faster — This is an example of saving a full-sized file for sharing or editing in another app
Export Edited Photo — Up to 50x faster — This is an example of exporting a large JPG from a previously edited 45MP RAW photo

New Features in Version 2019.5

Dual Mode — Easily undock the Browse Module from the Edit Module, use a second display, or make sales or client presentations on a projector or TV. The dual mode allows photographers to customize how they want to work when browsing and editing photos.
Edit History — A full edit history is added when working on photos. Each editing step is viewable, along with the ability to roll-back and compare adjustments. Photographers can also revert to the beginning of the editing session.
Settings Applied Info — Photographers can now quickly view which modules, tools, and filters are applied to a photo. This non-linear approach also allows photographers to double-click on a setting and jump straight to it for further adjustments.
Selective Sync — Enhanced granularity in which settings to apply when syncing your settings (or pasting and saving a preset) has been added. For example, photographers can drill down and only apply a white balance adjustment. The ability to sync cropping, retouching and brush strokes between photos is also be included.
Hierarchical Keywords — The master keyword list now supports nesting keywords inside of other keywords. Nested keywords allow photographers to organize keywords as they see fit. Importing a list of nested keywords from other apps like Adobe Lightroom® is also supported.
Apple® Photos® Extension Enhancements — Integration with Apple Photos now supports the full raw data, improving adjustments to tone and color. It also supports re-editable non-destructive editing and more native ON1 Photo RAW features like layers, crop, and text.
First Launch Experience — If it is your first time using ON1 Photo RAW, there are new walkthroughs to help you learn the basics. This gives photographers a running start and directs them where to learn more.
Tool Tips — Tool tip animations are added to improve the usability and shorten the learning curve for each tool.

Additional Enhancements in Version 2019.5

Layers Enhancements — Create a new canvas of any size or change the size of the existing canvas.
Text Tool Enhancements — Add a background color to a text box and control its opacity. Easily control the character and line spacing. New options also allow photographers to duplicate and change the order of text boxes and automatically insert text from a photo’s metadata.
Performance Improvements — Zooming, panning, and brushing are now much faster. A new preview quality option can help increase performance on lower-end and integrated video cards as well. Export is now up to 10x faster when resizing or exporting a photo or photos already edited.
Local Adjustments — The Local Adjustments tools are faster to brush and adjust.
Windows High-DPI — Support for high-dpi displays on Windows is dramatically improved. The scaling of the fonts and controls work much better, especially on 4k displays and laptops.
Keywording — Keywords are now easier to search, add, delete, and modify. Also, keywords are now case sensitive.
Soft Proofing in Resize — The soft-proofing feature is also be available in ON1 Resize (Genuine Fractals®).
Drag and Drop from Film Strip — Drag and drop photos from the film strip to add them as new layers.
Increased Thumbnail Size Range — The range of thumbnail size is increased, so photographers can go all the way up to two giant thumbnails or down to tiny thumbnails to survey an entire folder.
Default Photo Location — Now control the default photo location in Browse. This is where ON1 Photo RAW looks to find photos instead of the Pictures folder.
Preview the Resize Algorithm — When using the Genuine Fractals algorithm, photographers can preview the resulting quality at 100% zoom to more accurately adjust the options and sharpening.
Persistent Crop Preset State — The crop tool settings are persistent and remembered across photos.
Search by Adjustments Added — Search for photos based on specific adjustments applied such as cropped, retouched, etc.
Update to Lightroom Migration — The Lightroom Migration tool now migrates the pick and reject flags.

Added support for these cameras

Sony SLT-A55V, A33, A6400, RX100VA, Olympus OM-D E-M1X, Panasonic FZ1000 M2, TZ95 (ZS80, TZ96, TZ97), S1, S1R, Ricoh GR III. Note: we are still working on Canon CR3 support and it is a high priority to come in the next free update to ON1 Photo RAW

Added lens profiles for the following lenses or non-interchangeable lens cameras

Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM, Canon EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 IS STM, Canon FD 200mm f/2.8 SSC, Canon PowerShot A1200 & compatibles, Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III & compatibles, Canon PowerShot G3 X & compatibles, DJI FC2103 & compatibles, Hasselblad L1D-20c & compatibles, Huawei Huawei P10 Lite & compatibles, Huawei Huawei P20 Pro & compatibles, Leica DMC-LX10 & compatibles, Leica X Vario 18.0-46.0 mm f/3.5-6.4, Leica Camera AG Summicron TL 1:2 23 ASPH, Minolta Minolta AF 85mm f/1.4G (D), Nikon AF-P Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR, Nikon Nikkor AI-S 85mm f/2.0, Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S, Nikon AF Nikkor 24mm f/2.8D 54, Nikon AF-S Nikkor 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5G ED, Nikon AI 80-200mm f/4.5 Zoom, OLYMPUS M.12-200mm F3.5-6.3, Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-150mm f/4.0-5.6 II, Opteka 15mm f/4 Wide Macro 1:1, Panasonic DC-ZS200 & compatibles, Pentax smc Pentax-A 50mm f/1.4, Pentax smc Pentax-F 28mm f/2.8, Samyang 10mm f/2.8 ED AS NCS CS, Samyang AF 35mm f/2.8, Sigma 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM | A, Sigma 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM, Sony DSC-RX100 VI & compatibles, Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS, Sony FE 35mm f/2.8 ZA, Sony 35mm F1.4 G (SAL35F14G), Sony Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50mm F1.4 ZA SSM (SALF0F14Z), Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di USD, Venus Laowa 60mm f/2.8 2X Ultra-Macro, Venus Laowa 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D, Voigtländer Super Wide-Heliar 15mm f/4.5 III, Zeiss Milvus 1.4/50.

{/pressrelease}

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Photo Mechanic 6 will launch March 25 with faster speeds, new UI and 64-bit support

19 Mar

Photo ingesting software Photo Mechanic is about to receive a major update in the form of Photo Mechanic 6. This update follows the last major update, version 5, released way back in 2012.

According to Camera Bits, the company behind the software, Photo Mechanic 6 will be faster, offer 64-bit compatibility, have an ‘intuitive and compact’ user interface and support for selecting specific images to ingest.

Photo Mechanic is billed as a faster alternative to catalogue-based software like Lightroom, enabling photographers to quickly ingest, tag, cull, view, oragnize, and export images. Among the product’s features is support for ingesting images while shooting with a tethered camera, copying files from more than one card simultaneously, using saved GPS tracking logs to geotag photos and more.

Photo Mechanic 6 will be released on March 25. Existing customers who are eligible for an update will be able to purchase the new version for $ 89 USD; a new product license will cost $ 139 USD.

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10 Tips to Make Lightroom Classic CC Run Faster

08 Jan

The post 10 Tips to Make Lightroom Classic CC Run Faster appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Darina Kopcok.

Making Lightroom Run Faster-Darina kopcok-DPS

Lightroom is an excellent program editing and managing your image files. When it comes to organizing and developing your photos, Lightroom can’t be beaten. However, there are times when it slows down; like when it renders previews. To address this, here are ten tips that will make Lightroom Classic CC run faster.

10 Tips to Help Lightroom Classic CC Run Faster-Darina Kopcok-DPS

Update Lightroom regularly

Let’s start with the simplest tip: update Lightroom regularly.

Word is that Adobe has been working diligently behind the scenes on improving the performance of Lightroom, so it’s important to keep it updated.

To check for updates, click on -> Help in the top menu bar in Lightroom and then click on -> Updates to install them.

Help-Updates-Lightroom-DPS

Optimize your Catalog

Lightroom continually updates the catalog file, but eventually, the data structure can become less optimal.

Lightroom has an “optimize catalog” option you can enable to improve performance.

To access this option, go to Lightroom -> Preferences and click on -> Performance.

Then click on -> Optimize Performance.

Set up Lightroom to back up on a regular schedule, and set it to optimize the catalog following the backup.

You can backup as often as you like. Ensure you always have the latest backup in case your Lightroom catalog becomes corrupt.

Be sure to discard previous backups to keep them from slowing down your computer.

Store your Lightroom Catalog and Previews on your main hard drive

Lightroom stores your catalog and preview files on your main hard drive by default.

To check where the catalog and previews files are stored, go to Lightroom -> Catalog Setting (Mac) or -> Edit -> Catalog Settings (PC).

The Catalog name is an .lrcat file and its location can be found under the -> General tab.

The preview file is an .lrdata file and it is stored in the same location.

Lightroom Catalog Location-DPS

Check your hard drive space

If your computer’s main hard drive is running low on space, Lightroom will slow down, as will any other programs that you’re running simultaneously, like Photoshop.

Your main hard drive needs at least 20% free space for Lightroom to run optimally.

Keep in mind that Lightroom can actually be one of the reasons you’re running low on space!

If you have Lightroom set to back up your catalog every day or every time you close it down, that can result in a lot of space being taken up by backup files.

Delete all of these backup files except the last couple of backups you have made.

It’s important to have the latest backup in case your Lightroom catalog becomes corrupt, but that is all you really need.

Convert your images to DNG when importing into Lightroom

DNG is short for Digital Negative. It’s a RAW file format created by Adobe.

When you convert a file into DNG, Lightroom ads Fast Load Data to the file, which results in a partially processed preview that allows Lightroom to render faster previews in the Develop module.

Adobe claims that a DNG file with Fast Load Data can load up to eight times faster.

Another benefit of converting to DNG files is that they are smaller files than other RAW formats and take up 20% less space on your hard drive.

You must enable this Fast Load Data under your Lightroom Preferences tab.

Go to -> File Handling and check off Embed Fast Load Data. Make sure you have DNG selected as the file extension.

Fast Load Data-Lightroom-DPS

Edit your images using Adobe’s recommended Adjustment Steps

The panels in the Develop module are organized according to a suggested workflow.

Adobe also recommends that adjustments in Lightroom follow a certain order to maximize performance. They are as follows:

Spot Healing
Lens Correction
Transformations
Global Adjustments
Local Adjustments
Sharpening
Noise Reduction

Whenever you make an edit, Lightroom applies it and calculates the previous adjustments that have been made. The more adjustments you apply, the more Lightroom slows down.

This helps keep track of your edits but slows down your system because Lightroom is calculating adjustments as you edit.

I personally stick to this order, except that I start by adjusting my white balance.

I also leave detailed edits for Photoshop. For example, as using the spot healing brush repeatedly can slow Lightroom down significantly. You are better off using this tool in Photoshop, which is also more precise.

Also, editing your images in the order they appear in your Lightroom filmstrip can have an impact on speed.

Lightroom caches images for faster performance in the Develop module.

It will automatically load the next and previous images in the filmstrip below your photos in the memory.

In the screenshot below, the active image is highlighted with a lighter grey background. The images on either side have also been loaded into memory for quick access.

LR Edit Order-Darina Kopcok-EP

Build standard previews on Import

Lightroom offers several preview settings for your images.

Although there are differing opinions as to which is the optimal preview setting, I suggest building standard previews on import.

This will slow down the import process, but it will make the Library module more responsive when you review the imported images. Lightroom renders the previews from your SSD, rather than building them from the RAW files.

Make sure your previews are set close to the width of your screen.

For example, I work on a 27-inch iMac with a 5120 x 2880 built-in retina display. This means my display should be set at 5120 pixels.

To make this adjustment, go to the -> Catalog Settings and choose -> File Handling.

Choose the previews size under -> Standard Preview Size.

Display-Lightroom-DPS

Make your Camera RAW cache larger

Lightroom has a Preview Cache, which is stored with your Catalog file and used in the Library view.

It also has a Camera RAW cache, which loads the image date when you’re in the Develop module.

The default size for this is 1GB, which slows down performance due to Lightroom swapping images in and out of its cache while you’re editing.

I suggest setting the Camera RAW cache to 20 or 30GB.

To set this option go to your Lightroom -> Preferences and click -> Performance.

Set your desired maximum size RAW cache Settings.

Disable XMP Writing

Lightroom keeps track of the edits you make in the Develop module in its catalog. If something happens to this catalog, you can lose all your data.

Lightroom can be configured to write the develop setting data into an XMP file. This a small file that contains the edit information and is written to your computer’s hard drive in the same place as your original RAW file.

The problem is that writing changes into this file can really slow your computer down.

I suggest disabling this feature and make sure that you always have a current backup instead.

Pause Address and Face Lookup features

Lightroom allows you to look up image address based on the GPS data, or the ability to search for faces.

However, allowing these options to run in the background can slow Lightroom down. So it’s best to pause them while you’re actually editing your photos.

You can start them up again if they’re relevant to your editing process.

For example, as a food photographer, I don’t use these features so I have mine set permanently on “pause”.

To access these features, go to where your name appears in the top left-hand corner of the Lightroom interface and click on the arrow beside it to access the drop-down menu. Choose -> Pause.

In Conclusion

When it comes to archiving, organizing and all-around management of your photos, Lightroom is an amazing program.

Hopefully, these tips help you get the most out of the program and speed up its performance so you can spend less time editing and more time shooting!

The post 10 Tips to Make Lightroom Classic CC Run Faster appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Darina Kopcok.

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Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 855 chipset offers faster depth sensing, 4K HDR video at 60fps

06 Dec

Qualcomm has announced its new flagship mobile chipset that we should expect to see in most 2019 high-end Android smartphones, including the Samsung Galaxy S10.

From an imaging point of view the most interesting news is an upgraded Spectra image signal processor (ISP) that is taking over some tasks that previously have been performed by CPU, GPU and DSP in conjunction. For example, the ISP can process depth mapping at a frequency of 60 frames per second. This should be useful for real-time object attenuation applications but could also help improve simulated bokeh effects in video footage.

In addition the new ISP enables 4K HDR video capture at 60 fps and Qualcomm also claims the processor generally needs only about 25 percent of the power for the same task than previous variants.

For general computing the new chipset’s 7nm process is expected to deliver improved performance while yielding noticeably better battery life then the current Snapdragon 845. The Snapdragon 855 should also bring performance improvements to AI-applications. Qualcomm says the new chipset delivers “up to three times the AI performance compared to the previous generation mobile platform”.

In terms of connectivity the 855 won’t come with 5G but instead use Qualcomm’s new X24 LTE modem which is capable of theoretical download speeds up of to 2Gbps. However, device manufacturers will have the option to add an X50 5G modem to their packages if they they want to include 5G connectivity in their Snapdragon 855-powered products.

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Sony reveals faster, higher-res OLED viewfinder display

30 May

Sony has unveiled a faster, higher-resolution OLED panel for use as an electronic viewfinder. The UXGA panel gives a 1600 x 1200 pixel resolution (5.76m dots) for those of you who don’t still think in terms of 1980s PC monitors. This is a 25% increase in each direction, compared with the panel used in the likes of the Panasonic GH5 and Sony a7R III. Despite the resolution increase, Sony says the panel uses the same amount of power.

The panel can be run either progressively (with one row being shown after another), at 120 fps or in a dual-line progressive mode that we expect to halve the vertical resolution in return for a 240 fps mode to give a more lifelike preview.

A redesigned structure places the color filter array directly on the light-emitting silicon, maintaining the angle of view, despite the move to smaller pixels. Sony says it has also designed a circuit to mitigate some of the voltage and consistency drawbacks of the move to finer pixels.

Unusually, Sony specifies a sample price for the panel: ¥ 50,000 (~$ 460). We suspect this price will come down once production ramps up, especially for orders of tens or hundreds of thousands of panels, but it hints at the costs of including a high-res viewfinder in a camera, and why the a7 III misses out on the 3.69m dot display used in the more expensive a7R III.

Sony Releases 0.5-type OLED Microdisplay with Top-of-Class UXGA Resolution, Featuring the World’s Smallest Pixel Pitch of 6.3µm

Tokyo, Japan—Sony Corporation today announced the upcoming release of the ECX339A OLED Microdisplay featuring UXGA (1600 x 1200 resolution), the highest in class for a 0.5-type. This product achieves the world’s smallest pixel pitch of 6.3?m by leveraging Sony’s OLED display technology and miniaturization technology, enabling a resolution 1.6x higher than the previous model^*1. By employing a new drive circuit design that operates on half the voltage of the previous model^*1, the new product achieves the same level of low-power operation as its predecessor but with much higher resolution. When paired with Sony’s original driving system^*2, a frame rate up to 240 fps is supported—double that of previous product^*1.

0.5-type OLED Microdisplay ECX339A

Model name	Sample shipment date	Mass-production shipment date (planned)	Sample price (excluding tax)
ECX339A 0.5-type OLED Microdisplay	January 2018	November 2018	50,000 JPY

Enhancing the resolution on microdisplays has traditionally presented problems such as deteriorating image quality due to decreased pixel pitch and inferior viewing angle properties. The new product features optimized transistors layout and process to address uneven characteristics and loss of withstand voltage, the issues associated with transistor miniaturization. The Sony original variation compensation circuit also enhances picture quality. Additionally, the color filter is deposited directly on the silicon substrate, reducing its distance from the light emitting layer, and the filter’s color array has been modified. This helps to secure the viewing angle properties while achieving high resolution.

OLED Microdisplays are widely used in digital camera electronic viewfinders (EVF) for their superior high contrast, high color gamut, and high-speed responsiveness. Sony, having achieved this high resolution and high frame rate, now offers even more realistic image display and accurate capture of subjects for use in high-end cameras that demand extremely high image quality.

Going forward, Sony expects this high-definition OLED Microdisplay to be employed in a diverse range of fields and applications such as AR (augmented reality) and VR (virtual reality) head-mounted displays.

Comparison of images on OLED Microdisplays. New product (UXGA, left) and previous product (QVGA, right)

Main Features

1.High-resolution UXGA in a 0.5-type
The new product has achieved the world’s smallest pixel pitch of 6.3?m by leveraging Sony’s proprietary OLED display technology and miniaturization technology, and has superior resolution 1.6x higher than the previous model^*1. Generally, transistor miniaturization results in characteristic variation and reduced withstand voltage. This product uses a Sony original compensation circuit and optimized layouts and process for each individual transistor to address these adverse effects. Furthermore, the color filter is deposited directly on the silicon substrate, reducing its distance from the light emitting layer, and the filter’s color array has been modified to secure the viewing angle properties while achieving high resolution.

Measures to secure viewing angle even with smaller pixel pitch
New product (UXGA, left) and previous product (QVGA, right)

2.High-speed frame rate
A new drive circuit design supports a high frame rate of up to 240 fps^*2, nearly double that of its predecessor^*1. This has made it possible to capture fast-moving subjects in the viewfinder with higher accuracy, so users will not miss a photo opportunity, delivering a more comfortable shooting experience. In head-mounted display devices, this will help to improve image delay issue for items superimposed on real-world vision of AR and to avoid motion sickness during usage of these kinds of devices.
3.Low power consumption
By employing newly-designed peripheral circuits that operate on half the voltage of previous model^*1, the new product delivers the same low-power operation as its predecessor when operating at the same frame rate, despite the nearly 1.6x increase in the number of pixels.

Key Specifications

Name	ECX339A
Display Size	0.5 type (12.6 mm Diagonal length)
Resolution	UXGA?1600×RGB×1200?
Pixel pitch	6.3?m
Max. frame rate	120 fps (progressive) / 240 fps (dual-line progressive)
Power consumption (200cd/m2)	310 mW @ 60 fps (progressive) / 120 fps (dual-line progressive)
Video interface	LVDS/Sub-LVDS
Max. luminance	1,000cd/m2
Contrast	100,000:1 or higher
Color gamut (u’v’)	sRGB ratio: 110%

Footnotes

*1 Compared with the Sony OLED Microdisplay ECX337A (0.5-type QVGA (1280×960)).
*2 Driving method of dual vertical line simultaneously (“Dual-line progressive” driving technique)

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