Review: CameraBag 2 Photo editing
CameraBag 2 is a collection of filters and effects for your photographs. It’s easy to use, comes with a huge collection of presets, and offers total control over styles, adjustments, and borders. Although it can be used by just selecting a preset or recipe, you can create your own recipes from scratch. The possibilities are endless.
Review: Helicon Focus Pro x64
Helicon Focus is an application that allows you to create a completely focused image from several partially focused images by combining the areas in focus. Its main use is for macro photography and microscopic photography, but it does wonders to beat the diffraction problem on landscape photography as well.
Review: Corel AfterShot Pro
Corel has released its first professional photo catalogue and RAW editing software, AfterShot Pro. It’s based on a number of technologies that are widely known and respected in the photography world, such as Noise Ninja, Perfectly Clear, and Bibble Pro, and it’s available for Windows, Mac, and Linux users.
Blackmagic Design Adds Timecode and DNxHD QuickTime Support to HyperDeck SSD Recorders
Blackmagic Design announced the release of HyperDeck 2.5 public beta, a new software update that adds embedded timecode support, DNxHD recording to QuickTime and SDI camera record triggering to its HyperDeck SSD recorders.
Review: Crumplepop ToneGrade
ToneGrade is a plug-in for Final Cut Pro X that, when applied to footage, resembles the High Dynamic Range (HDR) effect somewhat. ToneGrade is especially useful for close-ups of people and objects. It creates “character” by boosting local contrast and adding depth and potentially saturation.
Uncompressed video via HDMI becomes popular again
A year ago, the Atomos Ninja and the Cinedeck Extreme field recorders were about the two only ones that could record video directly to a high-quality codec using a video camera’s HDMI output. Today, Black Magic has at least three devices that are capable of recording to Uncompressed the same way.
Scanning backgrounds for digital photos
Using a photo scanner and painting canvas or another “real-world” material, you can create stunning backgrounds for digital photos.
SilverFast 8: how to change a colour?
With SilverFast 8 scanning software, it is easy to change one specific range of colours in an image. You use the Selective Colour Correction tool. I used this tool to change a book cover’s main colour in less than 10 seconds. Scanning doesn’t always need to be centered around photos or negatives. It can also be used for more creative purposes.
Why a photo scanner doesn’t need white balance
Your digital camera needs to be white balanced — actually, grey balanced would be more accurate. The reason is that the camera’s whites, greys and blacks, should all be calibrated to a known neutral value. From there, the camera’s electronics can figure out how other colors should be rendered. Scanners don’t have that problem.
