onOne Software Announces Availability of Perfect Photo Suite 8
PRESS RELEASE:New Perfect Eraser for Content-Aware Fill, Enhance and Browse Modules, Perfect Batch Processor, and Re-imagined Effects Module Evolve Popular Plug-In Into a Complete Photo Editing Solution for Every WorkflowPortland, OR – November 26, 2013 – onOne Software, Inc., a leading developer of innovative digital photography solutions, today announced the availability of Perfect Photo Suite 8—the Photographer’s Choice for Photo Editing. Perfect Photo Suite 8 is a full-featured, standalone photo editor that also integrates seamlessly with Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, Photoshop Elements, and Apple Aperture. It includes all the best tools a photographer needs to create stunning images.Key new features include the Perfect Eraser, with content-aware fill technology; the Perfect Enhance module for essential photo adjustments; a new Browser that streamlines direct access to images wherever they are located; the Perfect Batch engine that applies presets to multiple images with a single click; and a re-engineered Perfect Effects module, with twice as many adjustable filters, customizable presets, and integrated FocalPoint technology. These new tools and capabilities alongside Perfect Photo Suite 8’s eight modules, one-click presets, tools for automated enhancements, and powerful controls allow photographers to enhance, retouch, and stylize images in a layered workflow, replace backgrounds, create high-quality enlargements, and prepare images for output—giving them the ability to express their creativity and transform their photos quickly and easily.“We are extremely excited about Perfect Photo Suite 8,” said Craig Keudell, president of onOne Software. “This version is the result of what photographers have been asking for, not only from us but from the industry as a whole. We’re grateful for the contributions and feedback the photography community has invested in our effort and we believe that we’ve created an extraordinarily powerful image editing tool that meets their specific needs in return.”After a successful public beta program for Perfect Photo Suite 8, many photographers had a chance to try out the new version and give their feedback. “The attention to your user’s needs is unmatched,” said Rebecca Lyyski, owner of Lyyski’s Designs. “As a graphic designer and photographer with an elevated workload, your product has made editing my professional photography a pleasure instead of a chore,” she adds. Greg Lambert, public beta user and onOne Software photo contest winner shared, “Perfect Photo Suite 8 continues to evolve by refining its existing capability, streamlining the interface and providing some new and exciting tools and presets to enable photographers to produce the images they visualize when they press the shutter button.”The New Perfect Photo Suite 8 Features:• Eight integrated modules – Effects, Enhance, B&W, Portrait, Mask, Layers, Resize, and Browse. Each module is designed to target a specific image-processing task. Together, they help photographers enhance, retouch, and stylize images in a layered workflow, replace backgrounds, create high-quality enlargements, and prepare images for use in various capacities.• New Module! Perfect Enhance provides essential tools for basic enhancements, such as brightness and contrast adjustments; colorcast, dust spot, and power line removal; and the addition of vignettes. It is an ideal module to start with when using Perfect Photo Suite 8 as a standalone application or when quick corrections are needed.• New Module! Browse provides convenient and direct access to image files wherever they are stored—whether they are on a computer, an external drive, a connected network, or on a cloud-based storage service like Dropbox, Google Drive, or Apple’s Photo Stream.• Reimagined! Perfect Effects – As a cornerstone of Perfect Photo Suite 8, the Effects module has been redesigned by adding adjustable filters and customizable presets, making it the most powerful and versatile image stylization tool available on the market today.• Twice as Many Adjustable Filters to create the most sought-after looks, including:• Dynamic Contrast – Adds stunning clarity to images and makes them pop by exaggerating the levels of contrast, without sacrificing highlight and shadow detail, creating halos, or affecting saturation.• Lens Blur – Includes the best parts of FocalPoint technology to create bokeh, tilt-shift, and selective focus effects after the shot.• HDR – Gives images the edgy look of high dynamic range. Settings are adjustable and create effects that range from subtle to surreal.• Vintage – Turns photos into a nostalgic memory with retro-style filters.• Powerful brushes provide the right results for specific editing tasks:• Perfect Eraser removes objects with content-aware fill technology• Retouch Brush uses spot healing to remove small distractions• Clone Brush removes unwanted items by replicating and covering specified areas of an image• Masking Brush reveals underlying layers or selectively applies effects• Perfect Brush delivers precise edge-detection masking• Hundreds of Customizable Presets are available throughout Perfect Photo Suite 8 that make it easy for any photographer to instantly create an image they love. Presets can also be used as starting points for creativity and efficiency. Presets are included in the Enhance, Effects, B&W, Portrait, and Resize modules.• Improved Masking Bug in the Effects and Layers modules make mask creation easier and more intuitive.• Perfect Batch engine simultaneously applies presets from multiple modules and a watermark to a selected group of images.
Availability and PricingThe new Perfect Photo Suite 8 is now available by clicking on the logo below.jpg)
Perfect Photo Suite 8 is available in three editions: Premium, Standard, and for Adobe Lightroom & Apple Aperture.The Premium Edition works with Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, Photoshop Elements, Apple Aperture, and as a standalone application. It is priced at $179.95. Owners of previous versions of Perfect Photo Suite Premium Edition can upgrade for $99.95. For a limited time, orders of Perfect Photo Suite 8 Premium Edition will include a special collection of Professional Presets and The Essential Video Guide to Perfect Photo Suite 8, which provides a comprehensive collection of getting started training videos for Perfect Photo Suite 8—for free ($80 value). This offer ends on December 3, 2013.Perfect Photo Suite 8 for Adobe Lightroom & Apple Aperture works with Lightroom, Aperture, Photoshop Elements, and as a standalone application. It is available for $129.95; upgrades are $79.95. The Standard Edition works as a complete standalone photo editor and is available for $79.95. For more information on Perfect Photo Suite 8, please visit http://www.ononesoftware.com. A 30-day Money Back Guarantee backs all onOne Software products.About onOne SoftwareonOne Software, Inc., is a leading developer of innovative software tools and apps for digital photography and offers time-saving software solutions for photographers of all levels, from enthusiasts to professionals. Leveraging its extensive history as successful plug-in developer for Adobe Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Photoshop Lightroom, and Apple Aperture, and continued development of cutting-edge technology, onOne publishes unified solutions that offer both full-featured photo editing capabilities and the flexibility of traditional plug-ins. Founded in 2005, onOne Software is a privately held company located in Portland, Oregon. For additional information, visit www.ononesoftware.com.Press Contact: Amy Chan, onOne Software, achan@ononesoftware.com, 503-968-1468 x 137General Press Inquiries: press@ononesoftware.comOnline Press Center: www.ononesoftware.com/pressonOne Software Blog: www.ononesoftware.com/blogFacebook: www.facebook.com/onOneSoftwareTwitter: www.twitter.com/onOneSoftwareGoogle+: www.ononesoftware.com/plus©2013 onOne Software, Inc. All rights reserved. onOne Software, the onOne Software logo, and Focused on Photography are registered trademarks and Perfect Photo, Perfect Enhance, Perfect Effects, Perfect Eraser, Perfect Batch, and FocalPoint are trademarks in the United States and are the property of onOne Software. Adobe, Photoshop and Lightroom are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems, Inc. Apple and Aperture are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
Topaz labs - Thanksgiving Sale
I want to let you know about a huge promotion Topaz Labs is running for Black Friday/Cyber Monday. For the first time ever the Topaz Complete Photography Collection, which includes all the products will be on sale for $199.99, which is almost 50% off the normal price of $379.99. The sale will run from November 28th through December 2nd 2013.CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW AND -- USE THE PROMO CODE: blackfriday2013
Click to license Topaz Products
Adobe's CC offer at $9.99 - explained
I have been asked a number of questions about the prior offer by Adobe for the Creative Cloud bundle at $9.99 for owners of previous licenses of Photoshop CS3 to CS6 and if that is still available.The offer is as follows:There is a special for CC available to any and everybody as a Black Friday offering.Between now and December 2, 2013, the subscription is $9.99 per month for a 1 year commitment. The subscription entitles you to the following products:
- Photoshop CC
- Bridge CC
- Lightroom 5
- 20GB of cloud storage
- Behance ProSite
Here is a quote from Adobe Customer Service "I understand, this is a Black Friday Promo offer which is valid only till December 02nd and is temporarily opened for everyone, even if they do not own any previous software. However, the offer will still be valid till December 31st for the qualified Photoshop customers who are owning CS3 and above versions of the software."From this it is evident that after December 2, 2013 owners of Photoshop CS3 through CS6 will be in a position to subscribe to CC for $9.99 through the end of December.Here is a link to the Adobe FAQs
Balancing Flash and Ambient Light - Digital Photography School
I am so pleased that my article on "Balancing Flash and Ambient Light: has been published on the Digital Photography School web.You can read the article here. Please leave your comments on the Digital Photography School web site.
One Day Workshop Schedule for December 2013
Here is the schedule for the remainder of 2013. Please use this REGISTRATION link to register and pay for these workshops. Please also fill out and mail or bring with you the Workshop Registration and Waiver Form This is an electronic form, you may print it and then fill it out or fill it out directly and then print the required copies.Click on the links for detailed PDF documents.December 7, 2013 - Photography Basics a one day class December 8, 2013 - Time-Lapse WorkshopDecember 21, 2013 - Lighting WorkshopDecember 22, 2013 - Macro and Closeup PhotographyIf you have any questions or would like more information please call 617-759-0010 or email sv@shivverma.com
African Skies 2 - A Timelapse Video
Gunther Wegner the developer of LRTimelapse software has just released African Skies 2. This excellent time-lapse video showcases the beauty of the African landscapes and animals in film and time lapse sequences, that have never been seen before.The production took more than half a year - and has been compiled from 4 terabytes of raw-data. All editing (time lapse and even video) was done, using the new LRTimelapse 3.2 and Lightroom 5.2. !The video sequence can be seen on Vimeo but is available at a nominal cost as a HD video and a 4K video. The sale proceeds will be used to fund and support the African wildlife and environmental protection organizations. This funding was done from proceeds from the video too and I commend Gunther for his efforts. we decided to sell the film as download in much higher quality in Full HD and even 4K. With the revenue we again want to support local animal and environmental protection organizations.Click here to be directed to the LRTimelapse Web and then use the African Skies Tab to purchase it if you would like to support the cause.Please share this post with your family and friends. Gunther has created an excellent video and I hope this can be viewed by all. Please click on HD and open it in full screen view.[video type="vimeo" id="78610518" width="400" height="200"] Click here to be directed to the LRTimelapse Web and then use the African Skies Tab to view the video and purchase it if you would like to support the cause.
Bosque del Apache and White Sands Workshop now includes Carlsbad Caverns
We have added Carlsbad Caverns to our itinerary during the Bosque del Apache and White Sands workshop. As the light in White Sands during the day is not the most conducive for photography we will travel to the famous Carlsbad Caverns for some incredible photo opportunities. In addition the registration for this workshop is extended to November 30, 2013Click Here for Details
Bosque del Apache & White Sands Workshop date change.
To take advantage of better conditions in White Sands the workshop dates have been changed. The new dates are Dec 12 to Dec 18, 2013.Click Here for the Brochure and Details
Hunt's Annual Demo and Sale
This annual event is on starting today through Monday November 4th. Call Gary Farber on his direct line 781-462-2332 if you have question or want to place an order.Click Here for details
Canon 5D Mk III Firmware upgrade
Canon has released a firmware upgrade/update for the 5D Mk III. The latest version is 1.2.3 and can be downloaded using the following link:http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/slr_cameras/eos_5d_mark_iii#DriversAndSoftware
NiK - Google release Analog Efex Pro
"Explore the look and feel of classic cameras, films, and lenses" as state by NiKTopaz B&W Effects on sale
Topaz Labs is running a 50% sale on B&W Effects from November 5th through November 19th. Just use the promo code novbw to get B&W Effects for $29.99 from lis link:Topaz is also running a photo contest with the New York Institute of Photography from now until November 30th. The prizes include Topaz software and courses from NYIP. Here is the link to the contest : http://review.wizehive.com/contests/the-sharper-eye-photo-contest
Click to order - please enter the promo code novbw when asked
Remember ReMask promotion ends this Thursday, October 31st the promo code is: octremask and you can use the same link as above.
Phottix Mitros and Mitros+
I had done a review of the Phottix Mitros a while back but did not post it. The Mitros is an excellent flash unit and in my review I had indicated that it should have been provided with a built in Odin radio wireless triggering system. Phottix has released a new version of the Mitros called the Mitros+ that has the Odin system built in.The Mitros Retails for $ 299 while the Mitros+ is $ 399My review of the Mitros is a PDF document - click the link to open or download it: Phottix Mitros Flash Head
LRTimelapse 3.1 - a fantastic upgrade
In a prior blog post I had recommended holding off on using Lightroom 5 for creating timelapse sequences with LRTimelapse as Adobe had made changes that eliminated the video export features from Lightroom when using LRTimelapse presets. LRTimelapse has been revamped and no longer relies on video rendering using Lightroom. As a result LRtimelapse is now fully compatible with Lightroom Version 5.I have done extensive testing of the latest version of LRTimelapse 3.1 and can say that it is an exceptional upgrade from LRTimelapse 2.All the issues that Lightroom 5 presented are not longer a barrier. The lastest version is 3.1 and a beta for version 3.2 is also available if you are so inclined.Version 3 has an integrated module for video rendering that is much better and faster than what was available in Lightroom 4. You can export and render 4K and 6K resolution video, it has MP4 and ProRes support and can render in multiple aspect ratios.I would recommend the pro version so you can avail of all the great features that have been implemented. An easy to follow tabbed workflow for basic sequences, deflicker and holy-grail sequences makes timelapse creation a breeze.Note however, the old "Commercial" version has been renamed to LRTimelapse Pro.You can upgrade, cross-grade or purchase a new license by clicking here.
Blueberry Barrens
Mid October the blueberries have been harvested and the barrens in Maine are ablaze with color. The fall foliage provides a great background for these vast expanses of red, yellow and green. Around the third week of October the barrens are mowed down to the ground so you need to get your images before the mowing begins.
Another great "Glorious Acadia" fall workshop
Got back late Monday Night after a wonderful 4 day "Glorious Acadia" workshop. Had a great group of photographers and met some wonderful friends and made a few new ones too. All-in-all this was a 5 star workshop. One last one left this year in December - The Bosque del Apache and White Sands - a few spaces are still available.Here are few images form various locations:
I was looking to do something a little different during tho workshop. There are way too many images of the same subjects and the same tripod holes. Here isa lone dead tree lit up by the setting sun. I knew it was going to be a full moon so we stayed at the same location and turned around about 130 degrees. The next images is the moon rising.
The next image is a customary sunrise looking out toward Otter Clifs. A few more clouds would definitely have added to the image.
At otter cove I did an IR time lapse using the 16 to 35 mm series two Canon lens. This was a disaster as this lens just like to older version creates a massive hotspot in the center of the frame of each image. Trash canned the lot bout a deep crop on one image was useable.
I will be posting a few more images captured by the wonderful participants. I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of them for coming and being so supportive.
One final slow shutter speed image from the trip:
Perfect Photo Suite 8 Public Beta Released
The Beta or pre-release version of Perfect Photo Suite 8 is now available. Download it todayThis Public Beta will work alongside your existing onOne Software products, so you can explore the new version without losing the capabilities you already have. Download the Public Beta and get started now.If you wish, you can pre-order the suite now and get a bonus video - click on the image below
Sony Releases two full frame mirror-less cameras
Sony today announced the α7 and α7R interchangeable lens mirror-less systems. Though the lens selection is limited but Sony promises and extensive line by 2015. I do believe these are definitely cameras that will be strong competition for other mirror-less and prosumer range DSLR cameras. From the specifications these are ideal cameras for all types of photography with the exception of subjects that require a fast focusing system - wildlife and sports action photography. The cameras will be available in December and I am putting one on my wish list.
The Sony α7R has a 36.4 megapixel sensor and excludes a low pass filter for obtaining greater detail. The Sony α7 has a 24.3 megapixel sensor coupled with a reasonably fast hybrid auto focus system.
Click here for a link to the Sony press release.
Vermont - Fall 2013
Fall colors have come a week or more early in most of New England. Most tourist areas will be past peak foliage color by Columbus Day.Took a trip up north to Vermont this pst weekend - the Ludlow and Woodstock areas. Grey skies, rain and fog were in the forecast and for a change the weather man was on the money.
One must make the best of every opportunity and the Okemo mountain region offered the best fog images.
Topaz ReMask 50% off through October 31
Topaz Labs is running a another promotion, this time it’s for Topaz ReMask. Topaz ReMask will be 50% off ($34.99) from October 9th through October 31st with this promo code: octremask
Also watch for a my review on masking using ReMask in a future blog post.
Click to order - please enter the promo code octremask when asked