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Phase One has recently updated its Capture One RAW workflow software to version 3.7.4: see Capture One for Mac OS X and/or Capture One for Windows.

Features of this update include:

• support for additional cameras, including the Phase One P45, P30 and P21, Canon EOS 30D, Pentax *ist series DSLRs, and Sony DSC-R1
• Universal Binary on Mac OS X, running natively on both Intel and PowerPC processors
• 15% faster RAW processing on OS X
• 10% faster RAW processing on Windows
• up to 200% faster capture rate

Technorati Tags: Phase One, Capture One, digital photography software, digital photography, RAW processing, RAW conversion, photography, Canon 30D

Filed under: Canon,Pentax,Phase One,RAW Files,Software,Sony,Workflow
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Apple has recently released Aperture 1.1, the first Universal Binary version of Aperture. If you already have Aperture 1.0, visit the Aperture 1.1 Update page to get the latest version.

This update includes:

• Universal Binary (i.e. support for Intel Macs)
• improved RAW image quality
• RAW fine tuning (contrast boost, sharpening, chroma blur, etc)
• auto noise compensation
• new color meter
• enhanced export controls
• now handles layered Photoshop files
• generally improved reliability and performance

In addition, Apple has lowered the price of Aperture from $499 to $299. Apple is offering a $200 e-coupon good on the online Apple Store to licensed users of Aperture 1.0. Licensed users of Aperture 1.0 Academic will receive a $100 e-coupon.

This is a wonderful move by Apple, showing that they are serious about the professional photography market and are willing to listen to feedback on pricing issues.

Download the e-Coupon here: Aperture 1.0 e-Coupon.

Technorati Tags: digital photography, apple, mac, os x, photography software, RAW processing, RAW conversion, aperture, photography workflow, photography, RAW files

Filed under: Asset Management,RAW Files,Software,Workflow
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Bibble Labs have released Bibble 4.6, integrating Picture Code LLC’s Noise Ninja noise reduction software. For detailed information see Bibble Labs’ Bibble 4.6 press release.

New features and improvements include:

• Advanced noise reduction with Noise Ninja technology
• Bibble 4.6 now runs natively on Intel Macintoshes, which is great news for those with shiny new toys.
• Revised and simpler user interface.
• Speed improvements when converting Canon RAW files.

Bibble 4.6 is a free update for all existing licensees of previous versions of Bibble 4.

For more information, see the Bibble Labs web site.

Filed under: RAW Files,Software,Workflow
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Bibble Labs Inc has reached an agreement with PictureCode LLC to include a fully-integrated version of Noise Ninja in the next release of their RAW workflow software Bibble.

Noise Ninja is one of the best-performing and most popular noise reduction programs for digital photographers.

The new versions of Bibble will soon be available as an upgrade to all current Bibble 4.0 users at no additional charge. The most recent Windows, Macintosh, and Linux releases of these products will be available for download at the Bibble web site and are priced at USD$129.95 for the Pro version and USD$69.95 for the Lite version.

You can read the press release at the Bibble web site.

Filed under: RAW Files,Software,Workflow
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iView Multimedia has released a free update to its professional media cataloging application iView MediaPro 3.

Version 3.0.2 provides the following improvements and enhancements:

• Added support for Panasonic/Leica Digilux Raw image files (via DCRAW).
• Added support for Sinar/Mamiya Raw image files (Preview only).
• Improved cross-platform path resolver.
• Fixed issue with import using QuickTime 7.0.4 (Win).
• Major optimizations on catalog with 40,000+ items.
• XML Data file function (Make menu) now exports only visible items.
• Japanese localization.

If you’re a registered user of iView MediaPro 3, download the 3.0.2 update now. This update works best with the latest version of QuickTime (7.x) from Apple, which is strongly recommended to both Windows and Macintosh users.

Don’t forget, if you don’t already own iView MediaPro 3, we’ve got a special deal lined up with iView Multimedia to save you 15% off the normal purchase price.

Technorati Tags: image management, DAM, digital asset management, iView, iView MediaPro, photo software

Filed under: Asset Management,Software,Workflow
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Adobe has just released Lightroom Beta 2.

New features in Beta 2 include:

• Crop and Straighten tools included in the Develop module
• Ability to add music to slideshows
• White balance support for the Nikon D2X, D2Hs and D50 cameras
• Ability to create hierarchical keyword sets
• XMP Import and Export capabilities. (Please consult Known Issues list for details)
• Improved Edit in Photoshop capabilities
• Improved metadata handling

Although the promised Windows version hasn’t been released yet, Lightroom Beta 2 is now a dual binary, meaning it can run natively on both PowerPC and Intel Macs.

Michael Reichmann from The Luminous Landscape has updated his Lightroom Tips and Tricks page to address the new features in Beta 2.

Filed under: Asset Management,Software,Workflow
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Here’s a cool way to see how much buzz Apple’s Aperture is getting compared to Adobe’s LightRoom – Technorati charts:

Posts that contain Apple Aperture per day for the last 30 days.

Get your own chart!

Posts that contain Adobe Lightroom per day for the last 30 days.

Get your own chart!

If you click through to the Apple Aperture chart on Technorati and expand it to look back to include mid-October, you’ll see that the blogging world went nuts when Apple first announced it. There were nearly 600 blog posts about Aperture in one day!

It’s interesting to note the huge increase in Aperture mentions around the time that LightRoom burst onto the scene – obviously a lot of people were doing comparisons between the two. You could hardly mention LightRoom without at least giving a nod to Aperture, its primary competitor. I guess that goes to show the advantage in being the first product into a new market. It also shows that the emergence of a competitor isn’t entirely a bad thing – it generates a lot of coverage for both products, since people (and the press) love a conflict! They also love to read head-to-head comparisons when trying to figure out which product is best for them.

Overall, Aperture is mentioned in a lot more blog posts than LightRoom, and is still being mentioned in many more posts per day. A large part of that is probably due to all the non-photographer Mac mavens and stock market analysts who mention Aperture while discussing more general Apple news. Adobe just isn’t reported on in as much detail as Apple.

It’ll be interesting to watch what happens to these graphs once Adobe releases LightRoom for Windows.

Filed under: Software,Workflow
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ShootSmarter.com has posted a great article, Smart Workflow for Portrait, Wedding and Senior Photographers. You may need to register or log in to view the article.

This article goes through the tools, techniques and technology you can use to get professional quality results, from before you make the exposure right through to how you have prints made.

Making great looking prints from your digital capture files is easier than you think as long as you realize that great looking prints start from great looking files.

Filed under: Workflow
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The Luminous Landscape has just posted an article on Adobe Lightroom Tips and Tricks. This is a very valuable resource for people just starting to explore the free beta of Lightroom.

I’ve also created a new page collecting links to Adobe Lightroom Reviews.

Filed under: Asset Management,RAW Files,Software,Workflow
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Well, it looks like those rumors had legs. Adobe announced the Beta release of Lightroom today, their software for importing, selecting, developing, and showcasing large volumes of digital images.

Michael Reichmann has posted a pretty comprehensive Lightroom First Look and Primer that’s definitely worth checking out. Jeff Schewe from PhotoshopNews.com has also posted an overview.

If you’d like to get jumpstarted with Lightroom, check out Adobe’s first Lightroom video tutorial.

PhotoshopNews.com has posted a Lightroom FAQ which contains a lot of useful info, as well as a great background article on the Shadowland/Lightroom Development Story.

You can discuss Lightroom with others in the Luminous Landscape Lightroom Forum.

Filed under: Asset Management,RAW Files,Software,Workflow
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