First test PRICE: £199 (LIFETIME LICENCE)
Excire Foto Excire Foto is AI-driven photo management software that promises to streamline image organisation, but does it deliver?
EXCIRE.COM/EN
tagging processes by recognising scenes, objects, colours and even emotions, and categorising as such. The software also features free-text search, where users can simply type descriptions such as ‘city at night’ or ‘bird on branch’, and AI quickly retrieves the relevant photos. The face recognition tool is another strong asset, efficiently identifying and grouping images of specific individuals. A close-up display option and the ability to assign names to faces deliver an extra level of organisation. This would be great for photographers who shoot portraits or events, but also family documentarians. Combine this with geographic tagging for even more precision. Excire Foto also includes an aesthetic evaluation tool which assesses composition, focus and overall visual appeal. This proves valuable during culling sessions, particularly after large shoots.
TESTED BY PETE TOWNSHEND
NOT SO LONG ago, having the problem of reviewing and organising thousands of images was a chore reserved only for pros. But now, with digital photography more accessible than ever, even the most modest of shooters can easily accumulate an unmanageable number of shots without realising. Managing extensive collections can feel overwhelming. There have been plenty of times when just the thought of it has put me off entirely, leaving countless images unopened in the depths of my hard drive. So, what’s the solution? Cue Excire Foto. This AI-powered software helps you quickly and easily search, organise and cull your photos. The standout feature is its automatic keywording capability, designed to remove tedious manual
Another great feature is the software’s analytics offering. This allows you to list attributes such as camera, lens model and exposure settings – handy if you’re thinking about buying new gear and want to know what gets the most use. All this is available subscription- free for a one-off fee of £199 – plus it works locally on your machine, keeping all your data secure. Excire Foto’s interface is clean and intuitive, making the initial learning curve minimal. This is supported by a handy step-by-step intro that outlines the main features. Layout and navigation are clear, and functionality is smooth. It could be argued that the look of the interface values function over form, but that doesn’t bother me, especially considering the UX is sound. Regarding performance, Excire Foto handles extensive libraries smoothly, with no noticeable strain on system resources during regular use. The only drawback is the initial import and analysis of large image collections, which can be lengthy – thankfully, it’s a one-time process. See more photos online at photographynews.co.uk/reviews
FACE VALUE (Above) The
analytics feature lets you separate images according to a wide variety Excire Foto’s facial recognition did an impressive job of identifying PN’s own Will Cheung of attributes. (Below) Also,
Verdict Excire Foto offers great AI- driven capabilities, powerful organisation tools and an intuitive design. Its ability to drastically reduce the time spent managing photos significantly outweighs any minor UI criticisms. Whether you’re a professional or enthusiast photographer, Excire Foto is a great asset. PROS AI keywording, intuitive search, face recognition, accuracy, speed, analytics
CONS Initial import time, arguably dated interface
46 Photography News | Issue 121
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