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Posts Tagged ‘macOS’

PhotoStatistica is a macOS app for visualizing the EXIF data of your photos

09 Jun

Looking at the metadata for a single image can be helpful, but sometimes you need to get a more macro-level view of your work. Enter PhotoStatistica, a new macOS app that parses through the EXIF data of your photos and breaks it down into infographics and statistical analyses.

The app is developed by Bristol Bay Code Factory and is designed to offer a more visual representation of how you shoot. This information can be used to not only improve your photography and better know what settings you might need to gravitate towards (or avoid), but to also guide you in purchasing future gear. If you find out you tend to shoot around 135mm with your long-range kit lens, it might be worth picking up a 135mm prime; if you tend to shoot at high ISO ratings, maybe you should prioritize low-light capabilities with your next camera or pick up an F1.8 or F1.4 lens.

PhotoStatistica supports JPEGs, TIFFs, DNGs and most proprietary Raw formats. It can sort through nested directories and seek out images or directly look through Capture One Pro libraries or Apple’s Photos app libraries. Once PhotoStatistica sorts through the EXIF data of the images you’ve selected, you can use the options at the top of the app to visualize the results using bar, pie and pivot charts. You can even export all of the data in CSV format for save the current EXIF set for analyzing at a later date.

PhotoStatistica is currently available to purchase in the macOS App Store for $ 2.99 / £2.99 / €3.49.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Canon brings its EOS Webcam Utility Beta to macOS

28 May

Last month, Canon released the EOS Webcam Utility Beta for Windows that enabled PC owners to turn their compatible EOS and PowerShot cameras into webcams for use in video conferencing apps such as Skype and Zoom.

Now, Canon has announced the same utility is now available for macOS users, bringing the functionality to Apple owners wanting to up their video conferencing game. According to Canon, ‘tens of thousands’ of downloads were made for the Windows version and the most-requested feature was support for macOS computers.

A list of cameras currently compatible with the EOS Webcam Utility Beta for macOS and Windows computers.

The macOS version works identical to the Windows version and requires little more than one of the above compatible cameras and a USB cable for your specific camera model. Canon is requesting feedback on its forums if you encounter any problems or have a feature request.

If you’re wondering how well the EOS Webcam Utility Beta works, check out our rather unnecessary and absolutely overkill of a test went. You can download both the macOS and Windows versions on Canon’s website.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Video: Turn almost any mirrorless or DSLR camera into a high-end Zoom webcam on macOS

13 May

Fuji X-Photographer Kim Farrelly recently published a video explaining how to use a mirrorless or DSLR camera as a webcam with Zoom without using a capture card. The tutorial is only applicable to macOS, enabling photographers who are now working from home to utilize the camera hardware they already own rather than having to purchase a standalone webcam, which are increasingly hard to find.

Though the tutorial may seem a bit intimidating to users who are less tech-savvy, it’s fairly simple. Firstly, users are advised to check whether their camera supports tethering and live view, something that can be done on the Capture One website.

Assuming the camera does support these functions, the user must first download Zoom followed by XCODE from Apple onto their computer using the following command in the Terminal application:

  • xcode-select –install

After Xcode is installed, use the following command in terminal to open up access to use external cameras with Zoom:

  • sudo codesign –remove-signature /Applications/zoom.us.app/

The path in the second line of code must be the same as the path where Zoom is installed on the Mac. By installing Xcode and executing these two lines of code, Farrelly explains that Zoom will be able to use external webcams — or, in this case, a mirrorless or DSLR camera.

The process requires two additional applications called Camera Live and CamTwist, in that order, as well as a USB cable for tethering the camera to the computer. Farrelly explains that Camera Live version 13 works “100%” with his Fuji X-T2, but it’s unclear whether this version is needed for every camera model.

Farrelly walks viewers through this entire process, including some notes and links in the video’s description on the processes that will ‘piggyback’ each application so that the camera can ultimately be used as a webcam for Zoom video calls. Viewers who experimented with the process also dropped some additional tips, such as adding a zoom effect in CamTwist in order to remove the black bars from the video feed.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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AVID Media Composer 2020.4 update moves to 64-bit, delivering support for latest macOS and Mac Pro

05 May

AVID has released a new update for AVID Media Composer, its popular video editing software. The new version, AVID Media Composer 2020.4, includes numerous new features, but the biggest one for Mac users is that the software is finally 64-bit.

Apple’s macOS Mojave was the last version of Apple’s operating system to support 32-bit apps. Apple warned software developers for a couple of years that 32-bit apps would no longer be supported with macOS Catalina. As photographers and videographers alike have upgraded to macOS Catalina or purchased new computers such as Apple’s latest Mac Pro which ships with Catalina, they have had to deal with outdated software no longer being supported. Until AVID Media Composer 2020.4, that list of inoperable software included Media Composer.

In addition to being 64-bit, AVID Media Composer 2020.4 also includes a new Universal Media Engine (UME). This new UME speeds up the entire workflow, right from file ingest, by removing reliance on QuickTime. AVID promises that the new UME will be felt via improved performance during importing, playback, editing and exporting files.

Windows users can now create, edit, collaborate on and export Apple ProRes media natively. This includes full encoding and decoding support. However, per Cinema5D, it appears that this may not include support for ProRes RAW files. On AVID’s latest blog post detailing Media Composer 2020.4, there is no mention of ProRes RAW.

“Get a birds-eye view of an entire 128-track sequence with the Timeline Sequence Map, enabling faster navigation without scrolling or changing the view size.” Image and text credit: AVID

The updates in AVID Media Composer 2020.4 are not limited to under-the-hood improvements, the team has also worked on improving the user interface and making the software more efficient. Additions and improvements include a Timeline Sequence Map, which allows for a full view of 128-track sequence, color coding for bin tabs, Titler+ improvements, bulk editing capabilities, multi-select tools, faster sound separation, new 9×16 and 1:1 aspect ratio mask margins, new color space support, additional workspace customization options and much more.

AVID Media Composer 2020.4 includes new bulk edit capabilities. Image credit: AVID

AVID Media Composer 2020.4 is a free update for all existing Media Composer users. If you are a first-time user, perhaps someone who is looking for video editing software for your new macOS Catalina machine, the software is available via a subscription model. You can subscribe on a per-month basis for $ 23.99/month or for a full year for $ 239.00. By opting for an annual subscription, you save just under $ 50. For more information on AVID Media Composer, click here.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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MacOS beta reveals ‘Pro Mode’ code, teasing a high-performance mode for MacBook Pros

16 Jan

Apple may be preparing to release a new macOS feature called ‘Pro Mode,’ according to a recent report from 9to5Mac. Evidence of the feature was found nestled within macOS Catalina 10.15.3 beta code alongside strings of text. Based on the text, it seems ‘Pro Mode’ will be a manual feature that enables users to temporarily boost a Mac’s performance.

Apple releases beta versions of its macOS operating system for developers to test before the updates are made available to casual users. Teardowns of these updates may reveal the presence of unannounced features that are hidden in the code, the latest example being this newly detailed ‘Pro Mode.’

Strings of text listed as descriptions of the feature state that enabling Pro Mode may make apps ‘run faster, but battery life may decrease and fan noise may increase.’ As well, a string of text reveals that ‘fan speed limit [is] overridden’ when Pro Mode is active.

The report indicates that users may be able to turn Pro Mode on manually and that the system will automatically disable it by the next day in a way similar to the existing Do Not Disturb feature. The feature is expected to be made available on MacBook laptops, making it possible for users to temporarily boost performance while editing images, processing videos or other tasks with more demanding requirements.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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VueScan application makes thousands of old scanners compatible with macOS Catalina

06 Nov

Apple’s latest desktop operating system, macOS Catalina, dropped support for 32-bit applications. As a result, many older scanners lost native support for the operating system, forcing owners to upgrade to newer hardware or use a different computer that retained compatibility. Third-party scanning software VueScan offers a different solution, namely support for around 6,000 older scanner models.

VueScan was upgraded this week to version 9.7. With it, Mac users can use their older 32-bit scanner with their Apple desktop or laptop even if they’re running macOS Catalina. The third-party software is made possible by reverse-engineering drivers for more than 6,000 older scanners from 42 manufacturers, including film scanner and flatbed models.

Manufacturers include Ricoh, Canon, Fujitsu, Kodak, Nikon, Panasonic, Polaroid, Samsung, Mitsubishi, and Epson, among others; a full list of supported models can be found here. Overall, VueScan supports around 2,400 scanner models on Windows, 2,100 models on Mac, and 1,900 models on Linux.

The software is available for $ 49.95 USD (Standard Edition) and $ 99.95 USD (Professional Edition), the latter of which includes support for film and slide scanning, among other things.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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This app can modify Aperture and iPhoto so they will continue to work with macOS Catalina

30 Oct

Apple’s new macOS Catalina operating system added plenty of new features, functionality and performance improvements, but in streamlining the experience, Apple also killed off a number of apps. While plenty more apps (including all 32-bit apps) were killed off, two photo-specific apps macOS Catalina can no longer run include Aperture and iPhoto.

Thankfully, there are determined developers and programmers who are always looking for the next problem to solve. Tyshawn Cormier is one of those programmers who has created an app called Retroactive that modifies both Aperture and iPhoto so the apps are usable on Apple computers running macOS Catalina.

Aperture was effectively neutered back in 2014 when Apple announced it was ceasing development of the pro-oriented photo management and editing application. Despite this, many clung on to the last update, which worked until macOS Catalina. If you’re one of those photographers who has loyally clung to Aperture, Retroactive should ensure you can continue to use the app without having to avoid the latest macOS update.

Likewise, Apple’s iPhoto app can also be modified to run in macOS Catalina with Retroactive. The app has since been replaced with Apple’s Photos app, but whether for nostalgia purposes or something else, you can now run iPhoto.

In order to use Retroactive, you’ll need to make sure you still have a copy of Aperture or iPhoto still on your computer. If you do, it’s simply a matter of downloading Retroactive from GitHub, giving it the required permissions to alter the apps and letting it do its thing.

Not all functionality is salvaged, but by and large the apps still run without much issue. Specifically, neither Aperture nor iPhoto are able to play videos or export slideshows, but aside from that all former functionality remains.

You can download Retroactive from GitHub and read through a wonderfully detailed guide on how to install and run Retroactive on macOS Catalina.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Datacolor adds 64-bit support to Spyder5 calibrator for compatibility with macOS Catalina

18 Oct

Color calibration company Datacolor has announced a 64-bit update for its Spyder5 calibration sensor (Adorama, B&H) that will ensure the device is compatible with Apple’s latest macOS Catalina update.

The update, which was required due to the lack of 32-bit application support macOS Catalina, is available as a free software upgrade for all Spyder5 owners.

Datacolor’s newest calibration sensor, the SpyderX, is already 64-bit computable, so if you have the Spyder, there’s no need to update. You can find out more information by visiting Datacolor’s product page.

Press Release:

{pressrelease}

Datacolor Releases 64-Bit Upgrade for Spyder5 Software

Lawrenceville, NJ – October 17, 2019 – Datacolor®, a global leader in color management solutions, is providing all Spyder5 users with an upgrade of their software for monitor calibration. Datacolor will continue to ensure full compatibility with the latest operating systems for customers using the Spyder5 sensor. This is in compliance of new industry standards with the Apple operating system, which will no longer support 32-bit applications with the Catalina macOS 10.15 version.

The Spyder5 software upgrade is free for all users and can be downloaded from the Datacolor website.

Datacolor’s current monitor calibration solution – SpyderX, is 64-bit compatible. SpyderX is Datacolor’s fastest, most accurate and easy-to-use color calibration sensor, providing photographers, designers and videographers with the ultimate confidence and control over their creative vision.

More information about the SpyderX can be found at spyderx.datacolor.com. {/pressrelease}

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Pixelmator Pro ‘Avalon’ update brings macOS Catalina support and more

12 Oct

The latest Pixelmator Pro version 1.5 Avalon comes with a number of updates, including support for macOS Catalina, the Mac Pro, Pro Display XDR, machine-learning powered noise reduction and improved performance.

The Mac image editing package is now fully compatible with macOS 10.15 Catalina, including support for Sidecar and Apple Pencil. Pixelmator Pro users running Apple’s latest OS can now extend their desktop workspace with an iPad and use the Apple Pencil for painting, retouching and illustration tasks. This includes the Pencil’s double-tap gesture for undoing and redoing, switching between Paint and Erase tools, or showing the Apple Colors window.

In addition the software’s editing engine has been optimized to take full advantage of the new Mac Pro’s power reserves. Pixalmator says that thanks to multi-GPU processing, the new Core ML-powered ML Denoise is applied up to 2.5 times faster on a Mac Pro with 2 GPUs compared to and iMac Pro.

The Apple Pro Display XDR’s 10-bit color depth and P3 wide color gamut are supported as well and the Pixelmator claims the new Extended Dynamic Range Mode lets you see previously invisible detail when editing RAW image files.

ML Denoise is a new noise reduction tools based on machine-learning. It is designed to remove luminance and color noise and can reduce compression artifacts. Pixelmator says the tool has been trained to intelligently preserve details, avoiding the blurring effect of simpler denoising tools.

Performance improvements include 10 times faster zooming and scrolling, up to 2.4 times faster painting and up to 2.7 times faster effect rendering.

Pixelmator Pro 1.5 Avalon is available today on the Mac App Store as a free update for existing users. New customers will have to invest $ 39.99 and am upgrade discount is available for users of the original Pixelmator app. More information is available on the Pixelmator website.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Video: Taking photos across California to recreate Apple’s macOS wallpapers

17 Sep

YouTuber Andrew Levitt teamed up with friends Jacob Phillips and Taylor Gray to recreate the stock wallpapers Apple includes with its Mac computers by traveling around and snapping them one photo at a time. The project required a trip into the blistering hot Death Valley National Park, as well as Sierra National Forest, Yosemite National Park, Mavericks and more.

The group of guys showed their endeavors in a newly published video detailing the project. Levitt notes that their final images aren’t quite the same as Apple’s due to different seasons, among other things, but that they’re representative of the experience and getting to see each destination in person. The five resulting images have been made available to download as wallpapers here.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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