|
Current Software Reviews
|
||
Adobe Carousel/Revel |
![]() ![]() |
|
![]() We're responsible for three of the over a million downloads of Adobe's free Carousel software for OS X and iOS (renamed Revel in January 2012, well after our review). And we figure that's about average because not only does the software run on all your devices but you don't want to be without it. Read our preview to find out why. |
||
Adobe Creative Suite 5: Photoshop Preview |
![]() |
|
![]() Call it whatever you want -- Photoshop CS5 (officially), White Rabbit (its code name), Photoshop 12 (who's counting?) -- it's here. We've been playing with a Dec. 12, 2009 build for about a week on a unibody MacBook Pro. And it's such a fast combination, we finished this preview early enough to tell you all about it just as Adobe is announcing Creative Suite 5. Read our preview for the details on this release. |
||
Adobe Photoshop CS6 Beta Preview |
![]() ![]() |
|
![]() For the first time in 22 years, Adobe has released a public beta of its flagship image editing software. Of course, they would have to wait until version 13. But if you're feeling lucky, download it and give it a try. Otherwise read our preview for the details. |
||
Adobe Elements 10 |
![]() ![]() |
|
![]() With the launch of Elements 10 on Elements' tenth anniversary, Adobe hopes to bring compelling new magic to still photographers exploring video. With both still and video options on everything from smart phones to dSLRs, it's no longer a question of whether to shoot photos or video but of when to shoot which to best tell the story. Read our preview for the highlights of this release. |
||
Capture NX 2 by Nikon | ![]() |
|
![]() Nikon has revamped Capture NX, its image editing software, to make it about as easy (and fun) as it can get to make either global or local corrections to your favorite images. By extending U Point editing technology to masking, you can now apply 26 different adjustments to any part of an image. But the company didn't stop there. The new NX includes a retouching tool that can easily erase blemishes and dust with just a stroke of the mouse. Add configurable workspaces that are multi-monitor aware and you've got a little more flow to your workflow. Read our review for the full story. |
||
DVbackup by Coolatoola.com | ![]() |
|
![]() Backing up was simpler when it didn't involve gigabytes of data. Much simpler. Now it practically requires a U.N. resolution. But last summer we stumbled across a really clever solution for Mac OS X users. It's DV Backup by Tim Hewett at Coolatoola.com. |
||
Envision by Open Door Networks | ![]() |
|
![]() Our on-going Slide Show Project has been reporting different ways of creating a slide show of still images for several years. It's a bit like a recurring dream in which we find ourselves in a familiar predicament, try a new approach but, in the end, still wake up screaming. This week, however, we ran across Envision from Open Door Networks, a unique approach that, while still in beta (and thus fitting our budget), runs like a dream. At least for Mac OS X users. Read our story and dream. |
||
Genuine Fractals by Altamira Group | ![]() |
|
![]() It turns out you can print your digicam images a lot bigger than conventional wisdom would lead you to believe! The trick is a program called Genuine Fractals, from Altamira Group. Pro photographer David Halpern takes a look, and shares his findings! |
||
Addendum by David Halpern
(August 2000) It seems that we ruffled quite a few feathers with our review of Genuine Fractals posted in March of this year. In order to clear up any misunderstandings, our reviewer, Pro Photographer David Halpern, has written an addendum to clarify some issues with his chosen method of incremental enlargement. Please read the addendum to see what he has to say... |
||
Kodak EasyShare | ![]() |
|
![]() Kodak has "unbundled" the EasyShare software, making it available as a free download from their website. They're evidently banking on the added revenue from thousands of people printing more pictures on Kodak inkjet or photo paper to make up for any money they'll lose from decreased camera sales. I asked newsletter editor Mike Pasini to take a look at the EasyShare software system in its current incarnation, and he responded with a detailed review that I've posted for your perusal. If you've just gotten a new digicam for Christmas (or are at least confident that one will be under the tree tomorrow), you really owe it to yourself to check out the EasyShare software system - It's about as easy as it gets... |
||
iCorrect Professional by Pictographics | ![]() |
|
![]() Color correction is one of the biggest bugaboos for amateur digital photographers. It's easy enough to know something's not quite right, but often difficult to "describe" the problem to your editing software. IR Newsletter Editor Mike Pasini took a close look at iCorrect Professional by Pictographics, and like what he saw a lot. (But had a few recommendations for the program authors as well.) Read his review, delivered with the hallmark Pasini humor and panache. |
||
ImageMatics Still Motion Creator | ![]() |
|
![]() Imagematics Still Motion Creator is an amazing tool for creating "movies" from your digicam or scanner images. (If you've ever seen the Ken Burns documentary series on the Civil War, you'll recognize the technique immediately.) It's also a great way to create really sophisticated slide shows, since it lets you control how long each image stays on the screen, and you can add artistic fades between photos. Very slick, and the best part is there's a $40 discount for IR readers, making the total cost only $59.95. |
||
ImageMatics Still Motion Creator (Personal Edition) | ![]() |
|
![]() Once you have your digicam, how do you share the photos from it? How about a slide show with cool transitions and music playing in the background? A new program from ImageMatics makes creating slide shows "three click easy." Dave checked it out, and found that it really was that simple! |
||
inCamera by Pictographics | ![]() |
|
![]() We were surprised at how useful inCamera turned out to be. We thought the shifting conditions of most of our work would make it frustrating to use. Not so. We were encouraged enough by the initial results to keep it in our toolkit. |
||
LensDoc Plug-In by Andromeda | ![]() |
|
|
||
Lightroom 4 Beta by Adobe | ![]() |
|
|
||
Noiseware by Imagenomic | ![]() |
|
![]() While our camera reviews often point out that a camera's high ISO images just don't hold together well enough to print, there is a solution. Photoshop-compatible plug-in Noiseware from Imagenomic uses artificial intelligence to analyze the noise in an image without requiring a profile for your camera. And the more you use it, the better it gets, learning from each image it processes. Over the past year, we've been using it to salvage high ISO images from a number of recent cameras and have, as part of the review, built a gallery of the most representative of them so you can see exactly how Noiseware performs. Read our review for the whole story. |
||
Optics Pro Version 7 by DxO |
![]() ![]() |
|
|
||
Optipix3 Photoshop Plug-ins | ![]() |
|
|
||
Perfect365 by Arcsoft | ![]() |
|
![]() Arcsoft has just released Perfect365, a new portrait retouching application that runs on Windows and iOS. While offering some standard tricks of the trade like face reshaping, teeth whitening, eye brightening and blemish removal, it goes a bit further. See how much further in our review. |
||
Phanfare | ![]() |
|
![]() Phanfare, a new online photo sharing service, isn't free, but it doesn't need an Upload button. And that's priceless! Read our report. |
||
Pholium |
![]() |
|
![]() If you've been holding your breath waiting for an app that does photo ebooks on the iPad, you can now exhale. 58 North has just released Pholium, with which you can create and publish your own photo ebooks. Read our review for the whole story. |
||
PhoozL IQ |
![]() |
|
As if digital photography isn't perplexing enough, Harald Johnson has just released two versions of PhoozL IQ for iPad to complement the existing iPhone/iPod Touch versions. The larger screen is somewhat more embarrassing but the fun (and the education) makes up for it. Read our review for the whole story. |
||
PhotoRescue by DataRescue | ![]() |
|
![]() We've spent years perfecting our Disaster Simulator. While some people think it's just a wind-up alarm clock with glow-in-the-dark (radiating, that is) numerals, most realize it's not innocently ticking away. Disaster, we've found over the years, is just a matter of time. But while we were waiting (and the Disaster Simulator was ticking), DataRescue (http://www.datarescue.com) developed PhotoRescue with an impressive list of features. |
||
Portrait Professional by Anthropics | ![]() |
|
![]() Professional portrait photographers know flattery is good for business. And now Anthropics has automated that flattery with Portrait Professional, a Windows application that easily handles routine retouching like tooth and eye whitening but goes further to include head sculpting, too. That last bit of magic is feasible thanks to a clever and unique way of describing a head. But it also makes possible to distinguish facial features like skin defects from pores and small wrinkles from the larger ones that define character. And that's just the beginning of the story. Read our review for the scoop. |
||
QPict -- Catalog Software That Sparkles | ![]() |
|
![]() This one is strictly for Macintosh users. If you're looking for a great catalog program, definitely take a look at Rune Lindman's QPict. From batch processing to scripting to indexing images, this program is definitely easy to use yet advanced enough to keep a " master" computer user interested. Check out our review... |
||
SilverFast Ai by LaserSoft Imaging | ![]() |
|
![]() LaserSoft Imaging is a German firm whose CEO and president is Karl-Heniz Zahorsky. "The original motive for the 'invention' -- meaning the conception, development and additional development of SiverFast Ai -- was to be able to produce one's 'own' image successfully, without requiring extensive training in reproduction techniques," he said. Indeed, the product packs a lot of intelligence into itself. And while it is primarily a high-end tool equally at ease in either RGB or CMYK color modes, it does provide a sort of automatic mode for beginners called the ScanPilot. SilverFast 6, the Swiss Army knife of scanning software, impresses an old lithographer with how easy it makes it get great results -- even for novices. |
||
Snapseed by Nik Software |
![]() |
|
|
||
Snapseed Desktop by Nik Software |
![]() ![]() |
|
|
||
SoundPix Plus 2.0 by SoundPix | ![]() |
|
![]() Tired of emailing pictures that require a thousand words of explanation? SoundPix Plus can send a picture with audio embedded in the Exif header! Read our review for the details. |
||
Tabblo | ![]() |
|
![]() This online sharing service lets you create photo montages to share online for free or print as posters -- gorgeous posters up to five feet by 16 inches. |
||
Varifocus Plug-In by Andromeda | ![]() |
|
![]() There is a very fine line any image editor must learn to observe. It's the line beyond which believability dissolves. Image editors make it very easy to composite images, moving a gorilla shot at the local zoo to your living room couch, say. But it isn't believable (generally speaking) because you are mixing outdoor light and indoor with completely different shadow effects to boot. So when we say you can do selective focus in your image editor, we aren't talking about your everyday Guassian blur. We're talking about using a sophisticated Photoshop-compatible plug-in like Andromeda's VariFocus. VariFocus provides an easy-to-use graduated blur with a comprehensive set of masks for all your image editing fantasies. Check the review for all the details! |
||
Vuescan 8.1 by Hamrick Software | ![]() |
|
![]() We finally got our hands on a scanner long enough to review Ed Hamrick's VueScan. And we're glad we did. Read our review to find out why. |
||
Whiteboard Photo by Pixid | ![]() |
|
![]() Ever take notes at a meeting or in school? (That covers pretty much everybody, doesn't it?) Now, there's an incredibly slick little program you can use with your digicam to turn any whiteboard, blackboard, or even green-board scribbles into perfectly neat handouts or meeting notes! This one's a real winner, not just for corporate types, but for students & teachers as well. One of the handiest programs we've seen in quite a while! Check it out! |
||
WD Photos Review |
![]() ![]() |
|
![]() Western Digital has released a free iPhone app that can display your entire photo collection without storing it on your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad. Instead, it accesses thumbnails optimized for the small screen on your network-attached server through MioNet.com making quick work of the downloads. It's your photos from your cloud on your iPhone. Read our review for the story. |
||
Discontinued Software Reviews |
||
93 Photo Street by Transmutable Software | ![]() ![]() |
|
![]() When Transmutable Software released its $30 93 Photo Street a few days ago, we yelled, "Eureka!" Plenty of prospectors have perished with a map in their hands looking for the spot where the treasure is buried. Trevor F. Smith's program eschews the X for an image. And that's worth a thousand words. |
||
ACDSee Pro | ![]() ![]() |
|
![]() ACD Systems (http://www.acdsee.com) calls ACDSee Pro a "photo manager." Designed to streamline a photographic workflow, it competes on the Windows platform only with Adobe's Lightroom. Like Lightroom, it has relied on user feedback to evolve into a particularly useful tool. |
||
Adobe Configurator 1.0 |
![]() ![]() |
|
![]() Photoshop may be the industry standard -- but that covers a lot of industries. So the program's interface is pretty general. Enter Configurator. Adobe will release this utility on Adobe Labs when Creative Suite 4 ships but we got a prelease version to play with. And we went right to work, building two custom panels to handle two tasks we do every day: resize images and retouch them. It took no programming smarts to built the panels (just drag and drop) but we were surprised by how useful they were. Read our review for the full story. |
||
Adobe Creative Suite 2: Bridge |
![]() ![]() |
|
![]() Adobe Bridge is a new application in the Creative Suite, which we will be reviewing in several articles, that borrows features from your operating system, Web browser organizer and image editor to make your workflow more efficient. This first incarnation, included with the CS2 versions of Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator or GoLive, proves its mettle and promises even more. Read our report. (This review is based on the Adobe Bridge found in CS2; however, this program is still applicable in the latest version of Adobe Creative Suite.) |
||
Adobe Creative Suite 2: Photoshop |
![]() ![]() |
|
![]() Adobe told us they used Photoshop's 15-year milestone to rethink some basic operations. The goal was to make the product more user-friendly for the legions of digital photographers marching their way. We highlight the improvements to tools, workflow and customization before taking a closer look at a few significant new features. Read our report. |
||
Adobe Creative Suite 2: Running The Suite |
![]() ![]() |
|
![]() We conclude our three-part review of Adobe Creative Suite 2 with this look at the underlying architecture of the Suite. On the document side, we recall Adobe's PostScript beginnings and track its evolution into the cross-platform, device independent PDF model. Then we look at the use of metadata formats like XML and XMP to build "smart" assets of your images. Finally, we do a couple of real-world projects with the suite taking advantage of Smart Objects and Object Styles. Read our report. |
||
Adobe Creative Suite 4 for Photographers |
![]() ![]() |
|
![]() When Adobe shipped Creative Suite 3 in March 2007, the company was already hard at work on the just-announced Creative Suite 4. We were among a group of reviewers and analysts who attended a CS4 boot camp for two days in July and we've been using a beta version of the Master Collection since August. Read our review for the details on this release. |
||
Adobe Elements 9 -- Magic Kit for Photos & Movies |
![]() |
|
![]() This release is, like your digicam, about both photos and movies. You can buy Photoshop Elements alone or Premiere Elements by itself, but the bundle is almost the same price. And if you're a Mac aficionado, Elements 9 is a different ball game than Elements 8. You get what Windows magicians have been getting all along: the Organizer, Premiere, the whole ball of wax. Read our preview for the highlights of this release. |
||
Avisa Photo | ![]() ![]() |
|
![]() Color corrections and changes are just one trick Asiva Photo can perform. It's equally adept at sharpening or softening, enhancing detail and applying some special effects. And all in 16-bit channels, too. An interesting application with some unique capabilities not found elsewhere. |
||
Camera Raw & JPEG 2000 Filters by Adobe | ![]() ![]() |
|
![]() Much as we may marvel over true color sensors, the future of digital imaging would seem better served by increased dynamic range in the sensors themselves, increased channel bit depth and lossless compression algorithms like JPEG 2000. |
||
Capture NX by Nikon | ![]() ![]() |
|
![]() Nikon and Nik Software have collaborated on the next release of Nikon's well-regarded NEF image editor, Capture. But this version also handles JPEGs and TIFFs -- from any camera (or scanner) -- and adds Nik's intriguing U Point technology, which makes image editing as easy as using a grease pencil.We got our hands on a beta copy of Capture NX and have started yet another Diary to chronicle our experience with it. In our first report, we illuminate U Point technology and describe what happened when we threw three typical image editing problems at NX. |
||
CarePage | ![]() ![]() |
|
![]() The service was inspired by the Langshur family's use of the Web to keep their loved ones updated on the status of their first child Matthew. They used the Web to save themselves from having to phone everyone with updates on Matthew's condition and eventual release from the hospital. |
||
Cumulus by Canto | ![]() ![]() |
|
![]() The second thing most digicam owners discover (after they realize that they really do need rechargeable batteries) is that photo files need management. If you thought the shoeboxes full of photos in your closet were an unmanageable mess, wait till you see your hard drive after a month or two of digicam ownership! IR Newsletter Editor Mike Pasini took a look at Canto's Cumulus image-management program and generally liked what he saw. This is a true industrial-strength application for people who really need to get organized (if you make money from your photos, or ever hope to, it's almost mandatory), and Mike's review pokes into all the nooks and crannies. Highly recommended reading if you're needing to bring order to your digital shoeboxes! |
||
iLife '04 by Apple | ![]() ![]() |
|
![]() We found it more convenient to chisel open our wallet and carve out $49 for iLife '04 the day it came out than to go through our usual channels (including the cardboard sign promising, "Will Review For Food"). But the experience was emblematic of the package. Read our story and weep. |
||
Lightroom by Adobe | ![]() ![]() |
|
|
||
Lightroom 2 by Adobe | ![]() |
|
|
||
Lightroom 3 Beta by Adobe | ![]() |
|
|
||
nik Sharpner by TECHnik |
![]() ![]() |
|
|
||
Optics Pro Version 4 by DxO | ![]() |
|
|
||
Optics Pro Version 6.6 by DxO |
![]() |
|
|
||
nik Sharpner Pro 2.0 by TECHnik | ![]() ![]() |
|
|
||
Optipix Photoshop Plug-ins | ![]() ![]() |
|
|
||
Optipix2 Photoshop Plug-ins | ![]() ![]() |
|
|
||
PhotoGenetics by Q-Research | ![]() ![]() |
|
![]() A company called Q-Research has developed a unique application that lets you adjust all the various aspects of color and tone in images, without knowing anything about image manipulation! We played with it and found it to be quite impressive, particularly at it's very low $30 price point. Not only does it make image adjustment supremely easy, but it will also batch-correct large numbers of images: As a result, we see it being of interest not only to image-manipulation novices, but to experienced camera or scanner users, who could use it to quickly and automatically tweak all their images to eliminate the standard "biases" that most units tend to have. (Please note: This review is for Version 1.0. The review for Version 2.0 is located here.) Very interesting, check it out! PLEASE NOTE: Q-Research (makers of PhotoGenetics) is no longer in business. We've left this article here for historical purposes, but the product is no longer available. |
||
PhotoMontage 2000 by ArcSoft | ![]() ![]() |
|
![]() Aren't mosaic images cool to look at? It's easy to think that those types of images take an enormous amount of time to create, considering one image can be made up of over 1,000 micro-images, which of course, you have to search for. Well, this program can create a mosaic from one of your pictures...and you don't even have to search for all the micro-images. It was great fun to work with this program. Read our review for more... |
||
PhotoPrinter 2000 by ArcSoft | ![]() ![]() |
|
![]() Want the option of creating layouts, templates, and editing images, but don't want the hassle of keeping up with various programs? Then this is the software for you. With Arcsoft's PhotoPrinter 2000 you can do all that and much more with one user friendly program. They even have support for Kodak and Avery paper products for all of your print jobs. Read our review. |
||
PhotoPrinter Pro 2000 by ArcSoft | ![]() ![]() |
|
![]() Overall, we really liked the straightforward operation of this program. Like its sister, the PhotoPrinter 2000, the Pro version is extremely versatile and user-friendly, providing a nice blend of photo manipulation tools and printing options. At only $29.99 from ArcSoft, PhotoPrinter 2000 Pro is definitely an affordable solution to most consumers' printing needs. |
||
Photoshop 7.0 by Adobe | ![]() ![]() |
|
![]() After working with the beta and production release on three platforms, Newsletter Editor Mike Pasini has posted his review of Photoshop 7.0. There are new magic tricks, but even more impressive are its new productivity tools, promising even more, though, with its long-awaited scripting capability. AppleScript, Visual Basic and Javascript are all harnessed to make this version the most productive ever! |
||
Photoshop Album by Adobe | ![]() ![]() |
|
![]() "And in this corner, weighing 325 pounds at six feet ten inches tall, the reigning heavy-weight champion of the image editing world..." the crowd drowns out the introduction but we all know who it is. Adobe has stepped into the low-end be-all imaging software ring with Photoshop Album, a $49.95 retail product targeted for consumers running Windows. |
||
Photoshop Album 2.0 by Adobe | ![]() ![]() |
|
![]() Apple and Adobe seem to be working the hardest at this software category. Their second versions are both grand efforts. Mac owners have iPhoto but Windows users need to install their own solution. Don't rely on Windows alone to manage your image collection. Not when there's something as affordable -- and comprehensive -- as Album. |
||
Photoshop Elements 1.0 by Adobe | ![]() ![]() |
|
![]() The recent release of Adobe Photoshop Elements 1.0 is a little like seeing a mouth-watering dessert arrive at the table just after you've polished off a seven course meal. Great, but who needs it? The Imaging Resource Newsletter editor Mike Pasini reviews Adobe Photoshop Elements from the perspective of a new user. Not what it can't do, but what can it do. And how much help is it? |
||
Photoshop Elements 2.0 by Adobe | ![]() ![]() |
|
![]() Elements may be at version 2.0 now but this puppy counts years differently. Based on Photoshop code (which is now up to 7.0), Elements behaves a lot older than other version 2.0s we've known. |
||
Photoshop Elements 3.0 by Adobe | ![]() ![]() |
|
![]() Elements 3.0 encourages you to take your images farther than your camera can. Of course, it includes those rudimentary and automatic fixes most programs offer. But there's also a lot of fun built into this program that makes it a pleasure to play with your images. And even more, under the hood is an engine that is pointed to the future of imaging. |
||
PhotoStudio 2000 by ArcSoft | ![]() ![]() |
|
![]() This Windows only program (sorry Mac users) is so easy to use that beginners and pros alike could come to love it. Macros, batch processing, red-eye reduction, stitching...you name it, this program probably has it. It's almost like Adobe PhotoShop, but without the "PhotoShop" price. Make sure you check out our review... |
||
Portfolio 6 by Extensis | ![]() ![]() |
|
![]() At $200, Portfolio 6 from Extensis isn't inexpensive (although a $150 upgrade is available to Cumulus users). But we were smitten by how effortlessly it let us build (and maintain) a keyworded catalog. |
||
ProJPEG -- Flight Simulation for File Compression | ![]() ![]() |
|
![]() This is an excellent program to use if you need to compress JPEG images for use on the web. We definitely urge you to check out the review... The writers of this software have stopped production and no longer sell the software, but still maintain the website to allow for previous customers to download the product. |
||
Quickstitch Version 2.0 | ![]() ![]() |
|
|
||
Qurio | ![]() ![]() |
|
![]() Online photosharing may be free but you have to upload those high resolution images to your preferred provider's server, so you often just don't bother. Qurio takes a different approach, letting you share albums of images with friends and family as soon as you've copied your new pictures to your hard drive. Read the review for the details. |
||
Top 3 photos this month win:
1 Canon PIXMA Pro 9000 Mark II
2 Canon PIXMA MG8220
3 Canon PIXMA MG6220