Photography News 88 Newsletter

SOFTWARE UPDATE

Buyers’ guide

It’s a fast-moving world out there – not a month goes by without a new camera or lens being announced. But if you think that’s fast, software moves even quicker, updating frequently. Keeping up is a challenge, so here’s a catch-up session of some popular software programs

GETTING A PRO-QUALITY JPEG out of the camera is no problem. Some models offer in-camera Raw processing, meaning you can manage without a computer and editing software – but you can only go so far. An editing set-up opens up a whole world of opportunity – be that workflow, keeping track of your images or satisfying creative urges. The latest software programs are incredibly powerful, and there is a huge range on offer. Some have specific jobs, some are all-encompassing, some aid workflows and others are designed as plug-ins. Whatever

your needs, there’s almost certainly a software designed to complete the task. While there are free imaging apps, most come with a cost – either an outright purchase, or a monthly or yearly subscription. Either way, there are pros and cons. A subscription means the software is always current, but unsubscribing gives up access. Buying outright makes the software yours, often including free upgrades until the next generation comes along. Even then, you can get discounts to upgrade. As always, check the small print before signing up. Whichever path you

decide, check how many computers you can use the software on. The handy thing about software is that the makers are very keen for you to try their wares – often offering demo versions for 30 days. Most of these are fully functional, giving you a real feel of how it works and delivering an ideal opportunity to see the possible results. If you don’t like the program, simply uninstall and move on to the next one. This feature covers some of the latest imaging software programs that are guaranteed to take your work up a notch.

PHOTOSHOP IS THE best-known editing software and is available on subscription via Adobe’s Creative Cloud. The Photography Plan includes Photoshop, Lightroom, Lightroom Classic and 20GB of cloud storage. Adobe recently launched a Photoshop version to run natively on Apple Mac models with the M1 chip. With those machines, overall performance is about 1.5x faster than the older version. Adobe has updated Camera Raw (ACR) to 13.2, while in this new version, a feature called super resolution has been added to the enhance dialogue – appearing when you right click on a Raw file. Using this facility doubles the height and width of pictures, effectively quadrupling resolution, with each image taking a few minutes to process. The mode promises to preserve small details and produces a DNG file. Any changes you make to the source file are passed on to the DNG, which can be edited as normal. The neural filters feature is another new addition – currently enabled with beta version filters. Once downloaded, you can apply effects and make significant changes to pictures. In smart portrait, ‘Be Happy!’ adds a smile to portraits with a slider control. On top of that, the software also boasts a new sky select and replacement functionality. ADOBE PHOTOSHOPV22.3.1 ›  Photography plan £9.98 a month ›  Mac, Windows ›  adobe.com

CAPTURE ONE HAS a large following among enthusiasts and pros alike. One key benefit of this workflow software is Raw support for more than 500 cameras and correction profiles for more than 500 lenses. Its interface tabs take you through the main processing steps and there’s a huge range of image improvement tools at your disposal. The workspace interface, including tabs and individual tools, can be customised to suit your needs – easily adjusting for suitable display preferences. The latest version has faster importing and catalogue opening, while speed editing lets you use specific shortcut keys to adjust functions using the mouse or LUMINAR AI FROM Skylum is the first image editor fully powered by artificial intelligence. It helps produce wonderful photo effects easily, with no more than a mouse click or two. The software comes with effect templates, plus you can add more. It is a full editing package, applying the usual range of image improvements, such as highlight recovery. But it’s when you want to get creative that the power truly manifests itself. One feature that’s great fun for landscapers and scenic shooters is a sky replacement tool. This makes it possible to achieve some amazing effects, while the latest update enables you to add colour

keyboard arrows. This means you can make changes without clicking on the sliders. The default shortcuts can’t be edited, but you can create your own. Style brushes enable you to make local changes. It’s possible to create your own, or use presets that offer specific image enhancements (including white teeth) or corrections. This version also boasts a dehaze tool, with auto and manual modes. It is also worth mentioning that Fujifilm and Sony owners can enjoy ‘express’ versions of Capture One for free. More comprehensive versions are available for Fujifilm, Sony and Nikon as outright purchases, or as subscription-based services. to foreground water reflections. The software comes with a few skies, including starry, that you can use in compositions – plus, you can buy more, or even add your own. Applying the effect is simple. Sliders allow you to adjust the horizon, while it’s also possible to manage fiddly details, like trees along the skyline. Some scenes require less help than others – the image shown here took no time at all – and you can be as creative as you want. A Luminar lifetime licence for one computer currently costs £79. An Expert package is available at £113, while the Guru bundles cost £185, adding Aurora HDR and two sky packages.

Luminar AI v4.3.3 ›  Mac, Windows, plug-in for Photoshop & Lightroom and Photos ›  Master £79 ›  skylum.com

Enhanced

Original

IMAGE Lots of creative (unreal!) fun can be had with Luminar’s sky replacement tool and it's easy to use

CaptureOne Pro 21 v14.1.1 ›  Mac and Windows › £179 one-year subscription, £19 monthly, own a licence with one-time payment of £299 › captureone.com

IMAGE Taken on a Fujifilm X-T1, the left enlargement, shown at 200%, has been put through super resolution in ACR, creating a file sized 82.9x56.2cm at 300ppi. The normally processed Raw measures 47.4x27.8cm and is shown here at 400%.

IMAGE Capture One is widely used by pros, in particular those who shoot tethered in the studio

22 Photography News | Issue 88

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