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Posts Tagged ‘Released’

RawTherapee v5.5 released with Haze Removal, improved curves tool and much more

19 Dec

Free Raw photo-processing software RawTherapee has been updated to version 5.5, gaining a new Shadows/Highlights tool, a striping and banding tool, unbounded processing and numerous other updates. In addition to the new features, RawTherapee 5.5 brings a number of bug fixes, feature improvements, and speed enhancements.

RawTherapee 5.5 includes a Haze Removal tool that strips haze from images and a new Soft Light tool for boosting saturation and contrast in images. The old Shadows/Highlights tool was removed and replaced with an updated version and users now have Grid and Regions color toning options. The main histogram has three scaling methods now as well, and there’s a new Flexible tone curve type.

RawTherapee 5.5’s new artifact filter removes the striping artifacts that result from Sony’s Phase Detection Auto Focus, as well as the banding artifacts resulting from Nikon’s in-camera PDAF correction. At this time, the filter supports the Nikon Z6 / Z7 and the following eight Sony cameras:

  • Sony DSC-RX1RM2
  • Sony ILCE-6000
  • Sony ILCE-6300
  • Sony ILCE-6500
  • Sony ILCE-7M3
  • Sony ILCE-7RM2
  • Sony ILCE-7RM3
  • Sony ILCE-9

As always, RawTherapee is free to download on Mac, Windows, and Linux. The full v5.5 changelog detailing the new features and improvements is available here.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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PhotoDirector 10 released with AI styles, new layer features, and tethered shooting

18 Oct

CyberLink has released PhotoDirector 10, the newest version of its PhotoDirector image editing and design software. The latest installment brings a number of new features, including tethered shooting and an AI Style Engine. CyberLink has also made a number of improvements to layer editing.

PhotoDirector 10 brings users workflow improvements, according to CyberLink, that are designed for “advanced photographers.” The inclusion of tethered shooting enables users to directly connect a camera to their PC, shoot images, and instantly preview them on the computer.

The newest upgrade also brings Soft Proofing for previewing a printer’s tone and color rendering, as well as improvements to layer editing. The latter change includes the ability to add empty layers to projects, use clipping masks, and group layers together.

Other features include the addition of integrated Express Layer Templates, additional template packs that can be purchased through CyberLink Store, AI Style Packs that use deep learning to be “more than just photo filters,” one-clicked keystone correction, advanced layer text editing, adjustment layers, and content-aware editing for moving, removing, and copying image elements.

PhotoDirector 10 is available now from CyberLink’s website for $ 99.99 USD for new customers, or starting at $ 69.99 USD as an upgrade for existing customers.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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More information released on Yongnuo YN 50mm F1.4 II

02 Jun

Yongnuo has unveiled a new version of its 50mm F1.4 lens – the upcoming YN 50mm F1.4 II. The new model follows an update to the company’s 50mm F1.8 offering (predictably called the 50mm F1.8 II), giving photographers a new and inexpensive alternative to Canon’s venerable EF 50mm F1.4.

Yongnuo’s new lens features a USB port for firmware updates, support for live view focusing, electromagnetic aperture, and a new external design. The company emphasizes the 50mm F1.4 II’s bokeh capabilities.

The YN 50mm F1.4 II features 9 elements in 7 groups, electromagnetic aperture with support for M/Av/Tv/P/B modes, gold-plated contacts and a metal mount, glass optics with a multilayer coating for better light transmission with controlled glares/ghosting, as well as both manual and auto focus, a focus distance indictor, and the same DC motor drive system found in the original model.

The Hong Kong company detailed the new lens on its website, but pricing and availability have yet to be announced.

Via: PhotoRumors

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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This is why Google’s impressive object removal tool was never released

19 May

At its 2018 I/O developer conference Google presented a number of improvements to its Photos app, but there was no talk about an exciting feature that was demoed the previous year: an object removal tool that automatically removes obstructions like fences, window panes from your photos.

The feature caused quite a buzz when it was demoed in early 2017, and people have been waiting on it ever since… so why has it disappeared? The answer is simpler than you might think. According to an interview with the Google Photos team on XDA, object removal was simply de-prioritized in the development queue, giving way to other AI-powered features in Google Lens.

In the interview, Google team members said that the technology exists and could be deployed, but that Google prioritizes products based on what is most important for people, and other machine learning applications were prioritized over object removal. This means the technology might eventually be implemented into Google Photos or another Google app if the company changes its mind (and development queue), but we probably should not hold our breath.

When it was first demoed, object removal looked impressive and exceedingly useful. As you can see in the video above, the feature was shown as 100 percent automatic, without the need for any manual editing. Sure, professional photographers might want a bit more control over their cloning, but the vast majority of Google Photos users probably don’t know what the Clone Stamp tool or Content Aware Fill even is.

If you’ve been waiting for object removal to finally make an appearance on your smartphone, knowing the source code is still stored on some hard drive at Google HQ might not be much of a consolation… but least we know the reason why it has never been released.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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GIMP 2.10.0 released: Features 32-bit support, new UI and more

01 May

Open-source image editor GIMP has been updated to version 2.10.0, its first major update in six years. In this new version, GIMP has been “nearly” fully ported to the GEGL image processing engine, which brings support for up to 32-bit images, multi-threaded processing, and optional GPU-side processing for systems with stable OpenCL drivers.

According to the team, GIMP 2.10.0 uses GEGL for all of its tile management and to build an acyclic graph for each project. That satisfies the prerequisites for eventually adding non-destructive editing, a future feature slated for version 3.2.

The new image processing engine aside, GIMP 2.10 brings an updated UI with a new default dark theme; the symbolic icons are also now enabled by default. This gives users a total of four theme option: Dark, Light, Gray, and System. However, themes and icons have been separated so that users can choose them independently for better customization.

Additionally, there are now four icon sizes to improve their look on HiDPI displays. The software automatically detects the best size for the display; however, since it may not always be accurate, users can manually change the size if necessary.

Many new features and improvements, as well as expanded support, have arrived in 2.10.0—complete details of the changes are available in the full release notes. Notable among the changes is support for multiple new formats (including OpenEXR, WebP, RGBE, and HGT) on-canvas previews for filters ported to GEGL, improved warp tools, color management has been revamped as a core feature, and the digital painting experience has been enhanced.

GIMP 2.10.0 can be downloaded now for Windows, macOS, Linux, BSD, and Solaris.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Confirmed: DxO says new Nik Collection to be released in 2018

27 Dec

Great news for fans of the Nik Collection of photo editing plugins: two months after DxO acquired the collection from Google, the company has publicly announced plans to release a brand new version of the Nik Collection in 2018.

The statement went out over Google Plus (go figure), where the DxO team welcomed the Nik community into the fold with the following announcement (emphasis added):

Dear Nik Collection users,

We at DxO are very pleased to welcome the Nik community! We wish you a very happy holiday season and a healthy and prosperous New Year: may you be inspired to take spectacular photos in 2018!

Like you, we are passionate about photography and image quality. That’s why we view this opportunity with Nik as a commitment to ensure that you — that all of us who enjoy taking photos — are guaranteed to have the very best solutions at our disposal.

You’ll be happy to know that our developers are enthusiastically working on a new version of the Nik Collection to be released in 2018!

The statement then goes on to entice Nik users to download DxO PhotoLab (formerly DxO OpticsPro), where they can once again take advantage of Nik’s ‘U Point technology’ to edit their RAW and JPEG files.

Of course, none of this should be new information for dedicated DPReview users. We already knew that U Point was coming to DxO’s own photo software, and DxO founder/CEO Jerome Meniere told us the company planned to develop a new “Nik Collection 2018” for mid-next year, but last week’s public announcement that development is under way has photographers online buzzing this week.

Now, if only they’d tell us when exactly the new version will come one… and how much it will cost.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Adobe has released the final standalone version of Lightroom

20 Dec

If the release of Lightroom Classic CC and Lightroom CC on October 18th was the beginning of the end for standalone Lightroom, today marks the end of the end. Adobe has released the final standalone Lightroom, version 6.14, adding some bug fixes and camera and lens compatibility, but otherwise using the opportunity to encourage users to jump on the subscription bandwagon.

To their credit, Adobe isn’t hiding this fact. They announced that this final update was coming all the way back in October, and today’s update announcement notes state the facts plainly:

Lightroom 6.14 is the last perpetual, standalone version of Lightroom.

While you may continue to purchase and use Lightroom 6 with a perpetual license, Adobe will no longer provide updates to the software. Consider upgrading to the Creative Cloud Photography plan to get the latest updates in Lightroom Classic CC and the all-new Lightroom CC, and ensure that the software works with raw files from the newest cameras.

As of today, Lightroom 6 becomes an ‘unsupported product.’

Of course, that’s okay if you plan to use it with a camera you currently own and don’t intend to upgrade any time soon. Problems—or, rather, inconveniences—arise with your next camera purchase. That camera won’t be supported by Lightroom 6, and you’ll be forced to use Adobe’s DNG converter before importing your images.

Not to mention the OS compatibility issues that will inevitably arise as Microsoft and Apple continue releasing new operating systems.

If that all sounds like too much of a hassle, and a Creative Cloud subscription is simply out of the question, it might be time to check out some of the popular alternatives that we’ve been testing and writing about recently.

Click here to download the latest (and last) version of Lightroom 6.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Affinity Photo 1.6 released: faster processing, new features, and free stuff

04 Nov

Serif has updated its image editing software Affinity Photo with ‘a huge performance boost’ to make it faster to use and more capable with large files. The step to v1.6 also brings a new ‘light’ user interface option for those new to the program or those who don’t need the full range of features.

Additional feature enhancements include a stroke stabilization mode for brushes and pencils, as well as better support for its Photoshop plug-in. Here’s a full list of the new features you’ll find in Affinity Photo 1.6:

  • New light user interface option
  • New stroke stabiliser for all pencil and brush tools
  • New “Edit In” integration with Apple Photos
  • Metal 2 accelerated view optimised for macOS High Sierra
  • Improved view pan/zoom performance and
  • Improved performance with large documents
  • New font chooser dropdown with recents, used fonts and favourites
  • New Glyph browser
  • Align to key items
  • Text frame vertical alignment options
  • Fit frame to text
  • Custom brush wet edges
  • Outlier stacking mode
  • Improved Photoshop Plugin support
  • Improved Live Filters performance
  • Many PDF export improvements including vector export of multi-stop gradients
  • Numerous bug fixes and other improvements

Additionally, the update gives new and existing users what the company describes as ‘bonus content’ worth around £120, including:

  • Dirk Wüstenhagen Fine Art Texture Collection: 99 beautifully crafted, high-resolution textures
  • Uplift Epic Skies Overlay: A versatile collection of 50 striking cloud overlays
  • Macro Pack: A stunning set of image styles, light leaks and distortions

Affinity Photo costs £49 / $ 50 / €55 and can be downloaded directly from the Affinity website.

Press Release

{PressRelease}

Affinity 1.6 updates and free bonus content available now

We are thrilled to announce that both Affinity Photo and Affinity Designer have just received a fantastic new update. And to celebrate for the next two weeks we are giving away a huge bundle of creative content free with every purchase!

Our apps continue to push the boundaries of professional creative software and this latest update raises the bar once again with a huge performance boost making them faster, smoother and more powerful than ever.

We’ve added valuable new features including a light UI mode, brush stabilisation and tons of useful performance improvements and enhancements. For more details check out our brand-new product pages and the 1.6 feature video below, all created using artwork submitted by our very talented users.

Affinity apps are all about enabling you to work faster – whether it’s a quick design draft or photo edit, or a painstaking, complex document involving hundreds of layers or stacked images.

Our apps are already a trusted part of the workflow for creative professionals around the world. The latest versions build on those proven capabilities to deliver lightning speed, pinpoint accuracy and incredible processing power like never before.
Along-side the v1.6 update you will also receive:

Affinity Photo bonus content worth around £105

  • Dirk Wüstenhagen Fine Art Texture Collection – 99 beautifully crafted, high-resolution textures
  • Uplift Epic Skies Overlay – A versatile collection of 50 striking cloud overlays
  • Macro Pack – A stunning set of image styles, light leaks and distortions

Affinity Designer bonus content worth around £60

  • Frankentoon Texturizer Pro Brush Pack – Over 70 brushes created exclusively for Affinity Designer
  • Tom Chalky Handcrafted Fonts & Textures – A huge bundle of stylish fonts and over 80 textures
  • Grade UI Kit – More than 1000 fully-customisable elements, icons, panels and buttons

If you already own Affinity Photo or Affinity Designer this update is completely free, and to thank you for your support we’ve also made the free content available to existing users until 16 November when the special offer ends.

Mac customers can download the update right now from the Mac App Store and Windows customers will be prompted to update the next time they open their app. Once installed a link to the free content will appear on the app welcome screen (go to Help and select Welcome if it does not appear at start up).

If you don’t own them yet now is the perfect time to buy. The apps are available priced at £48.99 / $ 49.99 / 54,99€ each, which we think is great value for money ? the free content alone would cost more than the app, if bought separately. And remember there’s no subscription and future updates like this one are also included in the price!

It’s also worth noting our free trials have now been reset, so if you downloaded a trial in the early days and would like to see how far our apps have come, you can now download the trial from our website for a second time.

{/PressRelease}

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Godox A1 smartphone flash trigger officially released, costs $70

17 Aug

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The Godox A1 smartphone flash trigger is finally official. After being announced unofficially over Facebook and teased further with some studio portrait samples, the phone flash and 2.4GHz flash trigger is now available for pre-order.

Chinese company Godox is a rising star in the lighting world thanks to a growing repertoire of affordable, surprisingly versatile and often innovative speedlight and monolight options. The Godox A1 arguably falls into that last “innovative” category: a trigger and flash designed specifically for use with smartphones.

The unit itself features a 1W ‘modeling lamp’ and a daylight-balanced 8W flash with 5 different power settings between 1/1 and 1/16, but chances are good photographers won’t be using those two options much. What’s more interesting is the 2.4GHz trigger built into the unit, which allows you to control Godox’ own X system gear wirelessly using an iPhone app.

Capturing professional-looking, artificial light portraits with a smartphone seems a bit more feasible now.

The flash trigger costs $ 70 and is available for pre-order starting today. Out of the box, the Godox A1 will be compatible with iPhone 6s and newer Apple phones, but Android support is coming soon, starting with Huawei and Samsung phones in September (which might be before the flash arrives on anybody’s doorstep anyhow).

To learn more about the Godox A1, or if you want to pre-order your own, head over to the Godox website by clicking here. And be sure to keep an eye out for a review of the Godox A1 in the coming month: a test unit is winging its way to the DPReview offices as I type this.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Fantasea FRX100 V underwater housing released for Sony RX cameras

12 May

Fantasea has announced the launch of its new FRX100 V Housing, an underwater housing unit designed for the Sony Cyber-shot RX100 III/IV/V cameras. The housing offers protection from water, as well as elemental nuisances like sand and dust, and is rated for depths as low as 60m / 200ft. In addition to being shock-resistant and durable thanks to its injection-molded polycarbonate shell, the housing features a double O-ring seal, support for lighting accessories, and a removable anti-glare hood for using the camera’s LCD.

FRX100 V Housing users are able to access all of the Sony camera’s functions and controls, according to Fantasea, which says they are all ‘clearly marked’ on the housing. A special mount is included for attaching lighting accessories, and there’s also removable connection point for a double fiber optic cable. Operators have access to a dedicated video control button, and there’s likewise a removable flash diffuser.

Fantasea states that each underwater housing unit is equipped with a Moisture Detector installed inside, as well as a port cover and hand strap. The housing is available to purchase from Fantasea now for $ 530.

Via: PhotographyBLOG

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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