Fitting In A Sony Alpha 700 dSLR In A Publishing Workflow
By: Erik Vlietinck
May 09, 2008
0 comments
This article is meant to show you how a Sony ALpha 700 digital SLR camera can be used effectively in a cross-media publishing environment to create images for the web and for print. The assumption we made is that a small publisher uses a semi-professional photographer / employee for shooting images of objects or doing basic photo journalism in-house. The Sony Alpha 700 was chosen for a reason.
Preliminary Test: The Sony Alpha 700 and RAW Converters
By: Erik Vlietinck
February 21, 2008
1 comments
The Sony Alpha 700 is Sony’s flagship dSLR for the time being, and until the Alpha 900 is released. The Alpha 700 has a whole bunch of nice features, but some of its built-in processing power isn’t appreciated much by the purist photographer. The built-in noise reduction algorithm, for example. Indeed, when you convert an ISO 3200 photo taken with the Alpha 700 in Adobe Camera RAW --for example through Lightroom-- you’ll notice an ugly pattern of “blobs” instead of plain noise. But there’s an easy way to never see those blobs at all: run the photo through a different RAW converter.
Still images with Final Cut Pro 6
How do you create a still image in Final Cut Pro 6? That is what I will be trying to show you in this mini-tutorial. Still images can be used in DVD Studio Pro as part of a menu, and you can use them for printing a DVD cover.
Originally, I wanted to create a mini-tutorial on creating tables with an image backdrop in InDesign and QuarkXPress, using Keynote ‘08, creating a presentation, exported to QuickTime or Flash. That would have allowed me and you to make this into a much more compelling experience than the explanation below. Unfortunately, Apple has decided that you need Mac OS X 10.4.10 to run iWork ‘08, and while I have nothing against 10.4.10, I do have something against the many bugs that make working with it sheer impossible. For example, on the Mac Pro Quad Core with ATI Radeon X1900 XT, both my displays tend to flicker and go blue in the process about 5 times a day.
Leaf releases version 11 of Leaf Capture
Leaf announces the release of Leaf Capture version 11, a newly designed version of the company’s popular image workflow software. The new Leaf Capture software enables photographers to easily and intuitively work with images, save time and benefit from significant improvements in their productivity.
The new version offers many innovative features including Live View, which allows for making compositions live on the monitor, multiple monitor support, wireless preview, user-definable grids and overlays. Leaf Capture also features an all-new user interface that makes the workflow experience even smoother.
Unique to the software is its ability to enable a parallel workflow, where the photographer can capture, edit and process the actual images at the same time. Leaf Capture also allows exceptionally fast access to 1:1 image resolution on the RAW images for immediate evaluation of the actual image shot. Specifically designed as the image capture software for Leaf’s digital camera backs, Leaf Capture takes the photographer from capture to print using a straightforward and intuitive flow.
New DxO Optics Pro v5 Has Breakthrough RAW Engine
DxO Labs is preparing the new version of DxO Optics Pro, version 5. This latest version of DxO Labs’ flagship software application for automatic image quality enhancement for Digital SLR camera users is to be released later in the fall. DxO Optics Pro v5 sets a new standard for image quality with its new RAW conversion engine, according to DxO Labs.
DxO Optics Pro v5 RAW conversion engine delivers better quality, especially for low light images. Fully rewritten, version 5 also adds dust/blemish removal, an improved user interface, increased speed and expanded camera support.
Leaf to showcase new AFi medium-format digital camera on pan-European road show
Leaf announced the start of a pan-European road show to demonstrate a fully functional version of the new Leaf AFi—a next-generation, medium-format digital camera aimed at professional photographers. Previewed as a prototype at Photokina, the Leaf AFi is now ready for live demonstrations to selected audiences. Specifically designed for high-resolution digital photography, the Leaf AFi product line is comprised of three models: Leaf AFi 7, Leaf AFi 6 and Leaf AFi 5.
iWork ‘08 Media Browser Aperture Tip
In iWork ‘08 applications you can open a Media Inspector, as you could in iWork ‘06. Different in iWork ‘08, however, is that --if you have a copy of Aperture on your system-- you will also be given access to the Aperture library on your disk. It may happen that you can’t see all your Aperture photos and images. If you’re wondering why that is, I just found out, so read on.
Sony Releases Alpha 700, New dSLR for the Semi-Professional
By: Erik Vlietinck
September 06, 2007
0 comments
What sat in the pipeline for months, has happened today: Sony announces its newest addition to the Alpha digital SLR camera system. Aimed at serious photo enthusiasts and semi-professionals, the Alpha 700 teams uncompromising performance and responsiveness with superlative HD image quality --from shooting to viewing.
DxO Labs and Vertus Join for Discount
By: Erik Vlietinck
September 05, 2007
0 comments
We received an email thatwent like this: “At DxO Labs, we’re always looking for ways to provide great technology and great value to the photographic community.
So we are happy to announce that DxO Labs and Vertus - the developers of Fluid Mask 3 - are getting together to offer you a 20% discount on Fluid Mask 3!
All you need to do is enter the promotion code VFMDXOOCT14 when purchasing on http://www.vertustech.com!
Hasselblad H3D Put to the Test
By: Erik Vlietinck
August 07, 2007
0 comments
IT Enquirer had the opportunity to test a Hasselblad H3D. Antwerp and Amsterdam based reseller and consultancy firm Digi Care provided for the camera, the lenses and the explanation of the H3D’s features. For a whole afternoon, we went photographing with the Hasselblad. Digi Care sells Hasselblad cameras in Belgium and Holland. My test of the H3D was to become a great experience, but also an interesting one. The H3D was heavyweight, but ergonomic nevertheless, and while the weather wasn’t exactly cooperating to make the experience wonderful, it rapidly became clear the H3D is more than a studio camera.
Fine Art Printing for Photographers
By: Erik Vlietinck
August 06, 2007
0 comments
Printing photos is hard enough these days with colour management that has to be taken care of, a choice of printing technologies that dazzles even the most experienced photographer, and the risk of investing into the wrong equipment. Uwe Steinmueller and Juergen Gulbins have jointly written a guide for photographers and publishers RockyNook have released this book to the public through O’Reilly.
Steinmueller is a well-known photographer and writer on the subject, while Gulbins is more broadly interested and brings his experience in desktop publishing, digital photography to the book. The result is a reference guide for professional and serious amateur photographers who wish to print their work with knowledge and using the best possible technologies.
Hähnel Industries introduce Twin V Pro, charger for Li-ion Digital SLR batteries
By: Erik Vlietinck
August 02, 2007
0 comments
Hähnel industries, one of the leading battery and charger manufacturers in Europe, has now expanded their range of Chargers.
The Twin V Pro for digital SLR Li-Ion batteries was introduced as a prototype at Photokina 2006, and will be launched onto the market within the coming weeks. The charger has interchangeable contact plates for all batteries of the camera models mentioned below. 1 or 2 batteries can be charged at any one time.
