HarveyG

Topaz Adjust just got better! The developers have been working hard on this update.

Here are some of the exciting new features & tools in Topaz Adjust 5:

1. Selective Brush. For easy dodging, burning smoothing & removing adjustments.
2. Finishing touches. Features options for borders, transparency, grain, warmth, vignettes & more.
3. Preset collections.  Presets are organized into unique collections.
4. Apply button. Stack multiple effects & presets during the same workflow.
5. Auto create layer. Automatically creates a new layer where your adjustments will be saved to.
6. Effect enable/disable. Clickable preview options that allow you to hide or view a set of adjustments for easy comparison.
7. Histogram. Built into the Preview Navigator window.
8. Ordered interface workflow. The interface is set up in numbered stages for a quick & easy workflow.
9. Individual tab reset buttons. Quickly reset the parameters in a specific adjustment tab without affecting your other settings.
10. Split Screen. Use the 2-screen split view for easy before & after comparison

New Presets. Over 100 presets available in the new Adjust 5.

Auto-create layer. Automatically creates a new layer where your adjustments will be saved to.
Apply button. Stack multiple effects and presets during the same workflow.
My Collection. Users can now save their presets under My Collection.
Preset Collections. Presets are organized into 5 unique collections.
Local Adjustments. Intuitive selective adjustment brush for burning, dodging, smoothing, and brushing out (erasing) added adjustments – plus edge-aware options.
Histogram + Curve tool. Shows the tonal range of your image. Easily adjust image tonality to help emphasize tones, contrast and brightness.
Finishing Touches Tab. Features options for diffusion, grain, borders, vignettes, tone adjustments and overall transparency adjustment.

At this time it is planned to be a free upgrade to existing users. There will also be a special discounted price for those that are new to Topaz and want to purchase it or for those who already are Topaz users and want to upgrade to the bundle or any bundle upgrade.

Current release date is set for  November 15th 2011. Get your copy here and if you have V4 get the upgrade when it is released.

Gear I use: Bodies: Nikon D-SLR’s / Lenses: Nikon, Sigma, Tokina, Vivitar /
Filters: Hoya UV & Polarizing / Flash: Nikon Speed-lights / Bag: Lowe Pro /
Tripods & Heads: Manfrotto / Grips, Triggers, Timers, Batteries: Phottix /
Editing Plug-in: Topaz Labs for Noise Reduction, HDR.

Credit: Defiant Development

A game about photo journalism in a warzone. This may not be up your alley but for me, a former FPS Gamer (I played Counter Strike competitively) I found the concept to be very unique in a sea of copy-cat games and stagnating ideas in this genre. I haven’t played an FPS in 5 odd years but this has rekindled my interest. This time with a camera and not an MP5. It’s still in development but I’ll keep an eye and wait for the demo with an itchy shutter release finger.  It seems though that the “cameramanperson” is running around with a proper HD Vid Cam rather than an HD capable DSLR! Oh well can’t have everything

Your thoughts?

By Defiant Development, an Australian Brisbane based game development studio.
See more images here.

A new Black and White Plug-in for Photoshop Offers Photographers Exciting New Tools for Creative Black and White Image Enhancements.

Whiplash - Kruger National Park - Original as from camera.

Effects:Traditional Collection/Presets:High Contrast 1/Film Grain: Ilford PanF Plus 50

Dallas, TX August 31, 2011 – Topaz Labs announces the release of Topaz B&W Effects, their new black and white enhancement plug-in for Photoshop. Topaz B&W Effects goes beyond basic conversion methods, giving users the tools to make detailed and stylized enhancements, in addition to historically accurate, traditional black and whites. And with over 150 presets, users can quickly enhance any image with a 1-click workflow.

“In addition to the common conversion tools, B&W Effects is packed with specialized exposure and contrast control, realistic toning ability, stylized effects and so much more. Categorized into traditional and alternative processes such as Cyanotype and Albumen, B&W Effects also includes a variety of presets that offer a fun and simple way to create impressive imagery,” said Nichole Paschal, senior marketing specialist for Topaz Labs.

The ability to control exposure, detail, contrast and tone is very essential in monochromatic images. Topaz B&W Effects features unique tools like adaptive exposure, a five-in-one selective brush, an advanced grain engine, quad toning, creative effects and finishing effects to help enhance these black and white essentials in an intuitive way.

“Accurately simulating the look and feel of historic black and white film, although quite challenging,  was a key element in making our program so unique. We actually took real film scans and developed them into the software,” said Dr. He Yang, senior software designer at Topaz Labs. Dr. Yang, who spent tremendous effort working on the film simulation and the B&W processing engine, adds “I am glad to see very positive feedback from the current version. As always, we are going to continue in our efforts to improve upon this release and provide better imaging tools to the photography community.”
Topaz B&W Effects is a plug-in that works with Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Aperture, iPhoto, Lightroom and PaintShop Pro. It is compatible with Windows XP or later and Intel-based Macs running OS X 10.5 or later.
Photographers looking a great way to create high-impact black and white images invited to try out the new Topaz B&W Effects plug-in for free using the 30-day free trial. Topaz B&W Effects retails for $59.99.

For more information about Topaz B&W Effects, visit the homepage here.
[Ed: $30.00 discount coupon code is "bwandbeyond" valid till the 18th of September 2011]

B&W Effects will also become a part of the Topaz Photoshop Bundle, which offers photographers a complete collection of correction and enhancement tools for all of their post processing needs. The bundle, including B&W Effects retails at $299.99.

More information here.

Over the past year I have developed and customised a photographer centric toolbar that fits right into your browser. It’s light, under a 1Mb at last update. It is completely adware and spyware free. I want it that way. I’m sure you do to.

I got frustrated by losing Bookmarks and having to search History for a web site or resource I had found weeks earlier so the idea of the Toolbar was born, with a photographic flavour.

“Click here to download”

Below some screen shots in the gallery:

What does it do: It stays on your menu bar for quick access to hundreds of resources. If you ever lose your favourites, links, tools, bookmarks; just reinstall the bar and they’re all back in a few seconds.

It has a search window like most toolbars, but also a very useful tool from TPE that allows you to pre-plan your shoot, location/time of shoot, sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moonset for seascapes, landscapes, and other location shoots.

There are quick links to Facebook, Twitter your desktop Skype application.

A global digital clock so if your a travelling ‘tog, you can work out the time in another city in another country.

The biggest drawcard is the “Tog Tools”. A drop down menu to resources from across the web.

Manufacturers web sites; Camera, lens, studio, DIY, Scripts, Actions, Tips, Tricks, Owners Manuals, Free Software, Data Recovery, Associations,  and loads more.

We are accepting suggestions of web sites and tools to keep adding to the system. Please Contact Us with your idea!

“Click here to download”

Some readers might be interested in astronomical events, so please take note of the lunar eclipse on Wednesday evening, June 15, 20h22 to June 16 00h02 CAT (GMT +2)

Here is a link to NASA’s PDF with all the relevant eclipse info.
The WITS Planetarium has more as does a story by ABC.

For photographers this is a unique opportunity. If you are into landscape, seascape or astronomy, I strongly recommend you try Stephen Trainor’s Photo Ephemeris application. You will need to install Adobe Air first and then Stephen’s app. Both can be obtained here or a link via my Free Web Browser Toolbar. I am using a Vivitar 500mm f/6.3 Mirror Lens, on my D90 (750mm with the 1.5x crop factor) mounted on a Manfrotto 393 Gimbal and 190XPROB Tripod. Tonight’s Lunar Eclipse can be found, tracked by & the application shows the following:

Photo Ephemeris - Lunar Eclipse 2011 06 15

This application is hugely useful for any ‘scape photographer. It is free (Donateware) and there’s also a paid iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch application and Android (ETA: Google Play) to take with you on the road.

It is extremely useful to get Sunrise and Sunset data as well as for the Moon. If used with the location tool, you can set yourself up for these type of shots…with a little planning and effort

The Mortal Moon - © strangeghost aka John Rummel - Click Image for a How To Shoot

A Night to Remember - © Shadowi6 aka Steven Fraser - Click Image for a How To Shoot

Places you can go in safety, get a meal & get advice from astronomers & clubs:

JHB Planetarium
Astronomical Society of SA, Pretoria
Taal Monument, Paarl
Soutpansberg Astronomy Club, Makhado
Jive Media Café Scientific (Pietermaritzburg)
Hermanus Astronomy Centre
Aloe Ridge Hotel (Muldersdrift)
Mongena Game Lodge (Hammanskraal)
Casalinga Ristorante Italiano (Muldersdrift)
The Cradle Restaurant (The Cradle)
Hugo’s Place Restaurant (Kyalami)
Hoogland Health Hydro (Northern Gauteng)
Mount Grace (Magaliesburg)
River Place al Fiume Restaurant (Hennops River)
Melon Rouge Restaurant (Magaliesburg)

Contact me for tuition and tours as well as event photography!

Gear I use: Bodies: Nikon D-SLR’s / Lenses: Nikon, Sigma, Tokina, Vivitar
Filters: Hoya UV & Polarizing / Flash: Nikon Speed-lights / Bag: Lowe Pro
Tripods & Heads: Manfrotto / Grips, Triggers, Timers, Batteries: Phottix
Editing Plug-in: Topaz Labs Noise Reduction, HDR, B&W Conversion & more!

Please note that all software downloaded and installed on your computer you do so at your own risk. I do NOT provide support of any kind for the software you choose to use from the above website. Please contact the developer of the software directly.