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Posts Tagged ‘Released’

Silkypix Development Studio Pro8 released with new clarity slider and B&W controls

17 Feb

Japanese software developer Ichikawa Soft Laboratory Co. has released a new version of its Silkypix Development Studio Pro application that introduces a number of new tools and functions. Version 8 of the Raw adjustment and conversion program adds a clarity slider to the tool-set, that can be used to emphasize or smooth-out differences in neighboring tones to deliver more or less tonal impact in an image.

Users can also now take more control of black and white conversions using the Monochrome Controller Function that allows a range of colors to be lightened or darkened to simulate the use of colored optical filters over the lens of a camera loaded with black and white film. For selective enhancements a brush tool has been added to the Partial correction tool kit which the company says will make it easier to create rounder selection areas for adjustment.

Those who like to shoot underwater will be glad of a dedicated tool for correcting the color of images recorded in a range of sub-aqua conditions which reduces the impact of color-loss and shift at various selectable depths. Silkypix also now allows a single license to cover three computers and the company says it has cleaned up the user interface to make it more straightforward to use.

The program, and variations on it, is favored by a number of camera brands as an in-the-box raw converter given away with their cameras, but the full version can be purchased on-line from the manufacturer for 22464 JPY (approx. $ 200/£160). A 30-day free trial is also available. The program supports raw files from 613 cameras, it is claimed. For more information see the Silkypix website.

Press release

Product release announcement, high quality RAW development software high-end version “SILKYPIX Developer Studio Pro8 download version”

The product concept of SILKYPIX Developer Studio Pro8

“SILKYPIX Developer Studio Pro8” is the latest development in the SILKYPIX series, aiming at “enhancement of functions for finishing photographs that meet the photographer’s expectations” and “a comfortable and enjoyable RAW development software.” In this version, we have added “Clarity” and a “Brush” to the “Partial correction tool,” which have been requested by many customers. In addition, it has been equipped with a “Monochrome controller” specialized for monochrome adjustments and a “Underwater photo controller” specific for underwater photography. This RAW development software will be a strong support so you can create your own works.

SILKYPIX Developer Studio Pro8 major features

Clarity adjustment
A “Clarity” parameter has been added to the “Tone” adjustment item to adjust the luminance level of each pixel based on information from surrounding pixels. Increasing the effects of “Clarity” will make it possible to finish the details of the subject in a bold picture, so it is effective when you want to finish bold scenes with a hazy surrounding. In contrast, by lowering the “Clarity” you can finish with a soft ambience like with a soft focus, so you can use it to effect with women and children’s photography.

A Brush added to the Partial correction tools
A “Brush” that makes it possible to select correction areas more freely to “Partial corrections” was added in “SILKYPIX Developer Studio Pro7.” Using the “Brush” makes corrections easier even in difficult areas of “circular correction filter” and “gradual correction filter.” More creative adjustments have become possible by making partial corrections that do not take the form of the subject.

Strengthening the Monochrome Controller Function
A Monochrome Controller function has been installed specialized for adjusting monochrome pictures. Eight kinds of “Color filters” can be selected, and it is possible to reproduce filters when shooting monochrome photographs on your screen. In addition, since the “Lightness” can be adjusted for each hue, you can make a thorough finish to your black and white photographs. Even beginners of black and white photography can easily switch between color and monochrome images after applying parameters in the preview display, so you will be able to intensify the understanding of effects on monochrome photographs due to changes in color.

Underwater Photo Controller Installed as a Function for Correcting Dedicated to Underwater Photography
A function from “SILKYPIX Marine Photography” for RAW development software dedicated to underwater photography has been installed into “SILKYPIX Developer Studio Pro8” called Underwater photo controller. With this Underwater photo controller, you can correct the bluishness that is difficult to adjust with the normal white balance by using “White balance for underwater.” It also features “Color restoration,” which actually reproduces colors lost in water, as well as “Muddy reduction” to eliminate murkiness in water.

Focus Peaking Function Installed
A Focus peaking function has been installed to detect the parts focused on from adjacent pixels in the image, and to display them with colors added to those parts. With this function, you can clearly check the area of focus.

Improved User Interface
We have improved the design to be clean and simple to make it possible to concentrate on adjusting images. In addition, the layout has been changed to make it easier to understand for those using adjustment functions for the first time. Also, you can now change the background color of the preview display according to your preference.

One License Can Be Used on Three Computers
In recent years, more and more people own multiple computers, such as desktops, laptops, tablets, etc., sometimes using both Windows and macOS. With such changes in the industry, “SILKYPIX Developer Studio Pro8” is now available for use on three computers with one license.

New function / Improvement list

  • Tone – Clarity slider addition
  • Partial correction tool – brush addition
  • Monochrome controller
  • Underwater photo controller
  • Warning indication – Focus peaking addition
  • Preview display Select background color
  • Choose Rating Display / Non-display under the thumbnail display
  • Improved User Interface
  • One License Can Be Used on Three Computers

SILKYPIX Developer Studio Pro8 download version (Win/Mac) license price

Regular list price
New license
28080 JPY (tax included)

Upgrade license
Customer who already has following license can purchase one license for your one product license.
Upgrade target products:
SILKYPIX Developer Studio Pro, Pro5, Pro5 for Panasonic, Pro6, Pro7, Pro7 for Panasonic
11232 JPY (tax included)
Upgrade target products:
SILKYPIX Developer Studio 3.0, 4.0, 6, 7
16848 JPY (tax included)

Special price for bundle products
Customers for (bundle version) SILKYPIX series which were shipped with the cameras and lenses
22464 JPY (tax included)
[Target products]
SILKYPIX Developer Studio SE version
SILKYPIX Developer Studio 4.0 for TAMRON
SILKYPIX Developer Studio 4.0 for CASIO
FUJIFILM RAW FILE CONVERTER powered by SILKYPIX
SILKYPIX Developer Studio 3.0 for PENTAX or LE
SAMSUNG RAW Converter

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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RawTherapee 5.0 released with new tools, faster performance and bug fixes

15 Feb

Free raw photo-processing application RawTherapee has been updated to version 5.0, adding numerous features including support for both grayscale TIFF (32-bit) and JPEG in addition to the myriad of raw formats it already supports. In addition to new features, RawTherapee 5 also brings with it ‘over two years worth’ of improvements, including cleaner code, unspecified bug fixes and faster speeds.

Most notably, RawTherapee 5 offers a new Wavelets tool and a Retinex tool, a post-resize sharpening option, automatic chroma noise reduction, new ‘Perceptual’ and ‘Luminance’ exposure tone curve modes, a curve pipette and a 100% image preview when hovering the mouse over a photo. The full list of features is below.

RawTherapee 5 is available to download now for Windows XP through Windows 10 32-bit and Vista through Windows 10 64-bit, as well as macOS 10.8 through 10.12.

New Features

  • Wavelets tool.
  • Retinex tool.
  • Monitor profile and rendering intent support.
  • Print soft-proofing support.
  • Automatic chroma noise reduction, manual luminance noise reduction using sliders and curves.
  • The “Inspect” tab in the File Browser lets you see a 100% preview of the image whose thumbnail your mouse cursor hovers over, which is either the largest JPEG image embedded in the raw file or the image itself when hovering over non-raw images.
  • The curve pipette allows you to pick the right point of a curve by clicking in the preview, and input/output values so that you can set the desired output value for a given input value.
  • Post-resize sharpening, to give your photos that subtle crispness after resizing them.
  • Dual-illuminant DCP support with curves, base tables, look tables and baseline exposure.
  • New exposure tone curve modes “Luminance” and “Perceptual”.
  • Queue processing will stop if an error is encountered while saving, e.g. if you run out of disk space.
  • The Contrast by Detail Levels tool received the “Process Locate Before/After Black-and-White” option.
  • Rec. 2020 ICC profile added.
  • The Navigator can show RGB, HSV and L*a*b* values in a range of 0-255, 0-1 or %.
  • The Lockable Color Picker allows you to place multiple sample points over the preview to measure colors and see them change in real time as you manipulate the image. They support the same ranges as the Navigator.
  • Grayscale JPEG and TIFF images are now supported.
  • 32-bit TIFF files are supported.
  • In addition to these new features, RawTherapee received over two years worth of amazing speedups, code cleanups and bug fixes, making it faster and more stable than ever before!

Via: RawTherapee Blog

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Capture One Pro 10.0.1 released with new lens support and bug fixes

18 Jan

Phase One has released an update for its Capture One Pro software, bringing it up to version 10.0.1. The update implements numerous bug fixes for both Windows and macOS, as well as support for eleven new lenses, including eight Sony lenses, two aerial Schneider Kreuznach lenses, and the aerial Rodenstock RS 32mm The bug fixes are extensive and unique to each platform’s needs. The Windows update includes fixes for a couple crashing issues, a fix for the Tangent Knobs brush size issue, and more. The macOS update, meanwhile, fixes crash report issues, problems related to presets, and CMYK readouts troubles, among other things. The full list of bug fixes is below.

Bug fixes, aside, Phase One has added support for the following lenses:

  • Schneider Kreuznach RS 110mm (Aerial)
  • Schneider Kreuznach RS 150mm (Aerial)
  • Rodenstock RS 32mm (Aerial)
  • Sony FE 50mm F2.8 Macro Lens profile
  • Sony 28–75mm F2.8 SAM Lens profile
  • Sony 135mm F2.8 [T4.5] STF Lens profile
  • Sony Ultra Wide Converter Lens profile
  • Sony Fisheye Converter Lens profile
  • Sony 300mm F2.8 G SSM II Lens profile
  • Sony 70–300mm F4.5–5.6 G SSM II Lens profile
  • Sony FE 24-240mm F3.5-6.3 OSS Lens profile

10.0.1 Windows Bug Fixes

  • Changing brush size with Tangent Knobs does not work
  • Large TIFF crashes
  • Crash when .NET installation is older than 4.6.2
  • The readouts won’t show when the window is small
  • Cannot Click Between Thumbnails when Loupe Is Selected
  • Express and DB version can not check for software updates
  • Deactivating DB version thinks it is Express For Sony
  • Localization Issue: German. There is no Capture One 10 Engine, There are two Capture
  • One 9 Engines.
  • “Show Mask Always” doesn’t show adjustments when changing exposure
  • Delete file from session does not refocus browser window on next selection
  • Brush tool does not display right physical size in brush settings
  • Multiple Card readers not displayed in CO import window
  • Lens EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS is not recognized automatically

10.0.1 Mac Bug Fixes

  • Lagging while quickly browsing through images by holding the arrow key down
  • The Mac crash reporter does not find a crash report when Capture One is force quit
  • Crash if no collection selected and we select next collection
  • The Mac crash reporter often fails to find the correct crash report for Capture One
  • Decreasing Target Highlight Value via keyboard shortcut does not work
  • Wrong naming for custom ICC profiles that are not in library in catalogs
  • Crash when entering “/” in the Format field in the Next Capture Naming tool
  • Cannot apply preset/style with custom ICC if the ICC is not in the library
  • The “Applied Styles and Presets” section is missing in the “Styles and Presets” tool
  • Changing library in full screen mode causes CO to crash
  • Crash when closing the Import Window while it is populating with images
  • Crash when moving smart albums in a catalog
  • Magenta color cast before style applying
  • Loupe will not work on thumbnails
  • Iris GPU on new MBP causing artifact in fit-view
  • Crash when exporting variants with Open CL enabled on MBP2015
  • Crash when selecting an image in the browser on Mac Pro with non-OEM Nvidia card
  • CMYK readouts give wildly different values in Capture One 10

Visit Phase One’s website to download Capture One Pro 10.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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DxOMark image quality test report released for Huawei Mate 9

24 Dec

The Mate 9 is Huawei latest flagship smartphone and comes with a Leica-powered dual-camera that combines a 20MP monochrome sensor with a 12MP RGB chip. Image data from both sensors is combined for optimized image quality.

The test engineers at DxOMark have now put the new technology through its paces and with a score of 85 the Mate 9 performs respectably but cannot take one of the top spots. It slots in at a joint 12th position, just behind the LG G5 and iPhone 7. It shares this spot with the LG V20, which was also recently added to DxO’s mobile rankings.

In still image mode the testers liked the good detail preservation, accurate white balance and good exposure of the device but deducted points for inconsistent color in cloudy conditions, color casts with flash use and some ghosting artifacts. Video footage also showed good detail and exposure and was well-stabilized. On the downside, there is a noticeable jello effect when recording while walking and visible noise and reduced detail in low light. You can read the full report on DxOMark.com.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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New 20mm F2 4.5x macro lens released by Mitakon

20 Dec

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Chinese optical manufacturer Mitakon has announced a macro lens with a maximum magnification ratio of 4.5:1. The Zhongyi Mitakon 20mm F2 4.5x Super Macro offers the opportunity to fill the frame of a 35mm-sized camera with objects four and a half times smaller than the camera’s sensor and can focus as close as 20cm, according to the company’s specification sheet.

The lens is manual focus, has apertures from F2 to F16, and uses a 3-bladed iris. The construction is of six elements in four groups with a metal barrel and a total length of only 60mm. The lens can’t be used for normal infinity focusing and the lowest magnification factor is 4x, so it is solely for macro use.

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Mitakon says the lens is available in mounts for Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony FE, Sony A, Pentax K, Sony E, Fujifilm X and Micro Four Thirds cameras, and costs $ 199. For more information visit the Mitakon website.

Press release

ZY Optics releases the Zhongyi Mitakon 20mm f/2 4.5X Super Macro Lens for high magnification shots

Zhongyi Optics (ZY Optics) has released a new compact Super Macro Lens for full frame cameras, the Zhongyi Mitakon 20mm f/2 4.5x Super Macro Lens and it features a high reproduction ratio up to 4.5:1.

Zhongyi Mitakon 20mm f/2 4.5X Super Macro Lens is very compact in its class which allows photographers to capture extremely fine details or patterns with ease. The lens is capable of creating unbelievable macro images ranging from 4x to 4.5x magnification. Users no longer need to DIY or use any extension tubes to reach high magnification shooting. It incorporates a 6pcs of elements in 4 groups structure which delivers impressive resolution from corners to corners. Weighing merely 0.5 lbs (230g) and 6cm long, it is a perfect companion for wildlife and outdoor shooting. The wide angle of view and close focusing distance allows you to compose creative images with more information included into the frame. Greater magnification (up to 13:1) can also be achieved by stacking extension tubes or bellows. The high magnification is also extremely useful for scientific purposes.

The enclosure of the lens is made of metal to strengthen its durability. Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony FE, Sony Alpha, Pentax K, Sony E, Micro Four Thirds, Fuji X mounts are available.

Pricing & Availability

Zhongyi Mitakon 20mm f/2 4.5X Super Macro Lens is now available to ship and purchase at ZY Optics authorized resellers and at our official website (http://www.zyoptics.net/). The Recommended Retail price is USD 199.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Fujifilm X-T1 and X-Pro2 firmware updates released, X-T2 update delayed again

09 Nov

Fujifilm has released two firmware updates: firmware version 5.00 for the X-T1 and version 2.01 for the X-Pro2. Unfortunately, X-T2 owners will have to wait a few more weeks for their own firmware update, which is now scheduled to release on November 29th. When the X-T2 firmware is finally released, it will add support for tethering with Adobe Lightroom.

The new X-Pro2 camera body firmware update brings several bug fixes, as well as improvements to AF tracking and phase detection AF accuracy, improvements to optical image stabilization when using the electronic shutter, and the addition of an auto power save feature to the ‘Power Management’ menu.

The X-T1 firmware, meanwhile, is very small, and involves added support for the EF-X500 Shoe Mount Flash, as well as new menu and function items related to it.

The X-T1 firmware update is available here, and the X-Pro2 update is available here.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Photoshop Elements 15 and Premiere Elements 15 released

04 Oct

Adobe has updated its beginner-friendly Photoshop Elements and Premiere editing software. Elements 15 adds touchscreen editing, batch adjustments, enhanced search function and a tool to edit facial features.

New Smart Tags help identify key features in images and are applied automatically – search for ‘dog’ or ‘birthday’ and Adobe claims its enhanced search will identify these photos in your collection. Borrowing from Photoshop CC’s face-aware liquify technology, Elements also gets a tool to help turn frowns into smiles and fix squinting eyes. Quick Edit and Organizer modes gain touch compatibility, and it’s now possible to apply ‘instant fix’ edits to a batch of photos.

Premiere Elements 15, Adobe’s entry-level video editing software, offers the de-haze tool already offered by Photoshop CC and Elements and also gains touch functionality. A few other feature updates are also included, like the ability to create photo/video collages and a Remix feature to help match music and video clip length.

Visit Adobe’s website to learn more about Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements 15.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Macphun Aurora HDR version 1.2 update released

19 Jan

Macphun has released Aurora HDR Pro version 1.2, adding a few new features and several improvements to its image editing software. The update includes support for .EXR and .HDR image files, compatibility with Leica M Monochrom (Typ 246) Raw files, and support for Photos for Mac editing extensions.

In addition to the new features, Aurora HDR 1.2 brings several improvements to the application. Macphun claims that the user interface has been improved for 11-inch and 13-inch laptop displays, chromatic aberration reduction has been improved, and the application’s overall performance has been boosted as tools like HDR Merging are now faster.

Improvements:

  • Better Raw file handling for images created by Panasonic, Olympus and Fuji
  • Updates to Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop plug-ins for enhanced support to keywords, metadata, and “F” Screen mode
  • Enhanced masking brush for better smoothing on edges
  • Improved clipping results for overall HDR effect in shadows and highlights
  • Chromatic aberration reduction has been significantly improved
  • Better UI support for 11″ and 13″ displays at multiple resolutions
  • Improved performance and various bug fixes. Faster HDR Merging, faster Deghosting, enhanced Chromatic Aberration Reduction

Existing Aurora HDR users can update to version 1.2 within the application for free, while new users will need to buy a license for $ 39.99 USD.

Via: Macphun Blog

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Photos of former Vice President Dick Cheney on September 11, 2001 released to public record

25 Jul

A collection of images featuring then-Vice President Dick Cheney on September 11, 2001 have recently been released to the public in response to a Freedom of Information Act request. Part of the National Archive, the images are available on Flickr and show Cheney traveling on Marine Two and at the President’s Emergency Operations Center. Read more

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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DxO OpticsPro 10.4.2 released with Canon EOS 5DS/R support

01 Jul

DxO has introduced OpticsPro 10.4.2, adding Raw support for Canon’s EOS 5DS and 5DS R. Also added are 789 new camera/lens combination correction profiles. Updates for DxO FilmPack and DxO ViewPoint also make those applications fully compatible with Photoshop CC 2015. Read more

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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