Software News

DxO just announced PhotoLab5 and FilmPack 6, and we had the chance to explore the software for a few weeks before the release. PhotoLab5 is more than just an incremental upgrade over the previous version. For the first time ever, DxO PhotoLab supports Fujifilm X-Trans sensors (but requires purchase of FilmPack 6 to apply Fujifilm Film Simulations).

FilmPack 6 is hugely exciting – it’s the first upgrade to the DxO FilmPack series since 2015. In FilmPack 6, DxO introduces an intriguing new feature they call “Time Machine.” Here’s a careful look at this new approach to creative image editing.

Tamron recently added the SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD (A011 for Nikon mount) and the 16-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD macro (B016 for Canon and Nikon mount) to the lens profile for aberration correction offered for Adobe’s Photoshop CC, Camera Raw and Lightroom 5. The lens profile will be bundled with the Camera Raw 8.5 update and Lightroom 5.5. Customers who use these lenses will be able to utilize the software for easy correction of lens distortion, chromatic aberration and peripheral light fall-off based on design data.

Despite the nearly universal acceptance of Photoshop as the editing program of choice for serious photographers, we’ve been keeping our eye on Affinity Photo—an award winning, $49 software alternative that Apple named the Best Mac App of 2015. Parent company Serif Labs has just upped the ante with version 1.5 that includes an array of new feature for both Mac and Windows users.

Shortly after I moved into my former home, there was a knock at the door. Standing in front of me was an 8-year-old girl who lived down the street. “I’m selling note cards,” she told me, “I made the pictures.” A second look showed subjects a kid might shoot but others demonstrated that she was thinking about the photographs before making them. I bought several note cards and asked about her camera, which turned out to be borrowed. With her grandmother’s permission I gave her an old, unused digital point-and-shoot. The girl loved the camera and was inspired to keep making photographs and we talked from time to time about her aspirations. Today she’s a young woman with professional ambitions.

We've told you about software that converts color images to black-and-whites before, including Tonality Pro, and now here's another monohrome conversion program called SILVER projects professional. Featuring a variety of black-and-white tools including 73 presets, 60 "expert" filters, 37 pro film emulations (with a Grain Engine) and tonal value transformations, SILVER projects professional lets you create interesting results with 16-bit quality.

LaserSoft Imaging’s newly developed SilverFast printer calibration now offers an exclusive tool which is designed to offer improved color precision and printing quality. The flexible settings also allow the optimization of all previously generated ICC compliant profiles.

For spring 2025, Luminar Neo has been boosted with a new set of additional AI tools. Already a powerful and popular program, this upgrade adds features all photographers will appreciate. Here's the scoop.