Update: Camera RAW 5.2

ok, this is VERY cool stuff.



More than simply adding camera support for new models, we have three nice new features, too. We get, found in the Workflow Options, an output sharpening tool. This is a nice feature that lets you work fast, and process and sharpen files for a particular purpose right in Camera RAW, rather than adding a sharpen step in Photoshop. If you "Save Images" right in Camera RAW, it lets you give it some sharpening before saving. I'm not to clear on exactly how that sharpening is applied...



Second, we have a "Targeted Adjustment Tool". This is sweet. This lets you click and drag a specific tone up or down. Want the shadows lighter? Click the shadows, drag the cursor up.

Finally, we get a Snapshots panel, giving us a history of sorts... something that is going to change much of the way we can work in Camera RAW.



There's also a set of additional camera "profiles" I have to look at in the Camera Calibration tab...

I guess plans for my weekend are clear... hours to spend exploring the new stuff, but it really is a great update!

The Adobe page:
Camera Raw 5.2 update
November 25, 2008
Windows | Macintosh
here.

updates: Adobe Camera Raw 4.4.1 and Lightroom 1.4.1

information about the updates and links to all at the Adobe site
here.

direct links:
Lightroom(Mac, Win), Camera Raw(Mac, Win)

firmware updates for Canon 40D and Nikon D40

Nikon: here.
(Select "Firmware Downloads" tab.)

Canon: here.

It looks like there are some other firmware updates for various cameras, including the Nikon D300 and D80, Canon 30D, and 5D, Olympus E510 and E3, and the Sigma SD14. Be sure to check your camera's support page.

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2.0 Beta

site here.
New stuff (from the site):
* Localized corrections — Enhance specific areas of an image for unsurpassed nondestructive flexibility and control reminiscent of the traditional darkroom dodge and burn experience.
* Improved organizational tools — Find the images you need quickly and easily.
* Multiple monitor support — Add an additional monitor to efficiently manage photographic workflow and presentation.
* Flexible print package functionality — Create custom layouts containing multiple sizes of a photograph on a single page.
* 64-bit support — Lightroom 2.0 now takes advantage of the latest hardware architectures with improved memory handling and performance.

Smart Collections are now available. Specify the criteria for a smart collection and images will be automatically added to the collection if they meet the criteria.

bring it ON baybee!

Lightroom updated... or not.

This, from the Adobe Lightroom 1.4 update site:

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 1.4 update

The Lightroom 1.4 update has been temporarily removed from the Adobe.com web site in order to allow time for additional investigation into several bugs that were discovered after the update was released. At this time, we recommend uninstalling Lightroom 1.4 and installing Lightroom 1.3.1.

More info here:
http://blogs.adobe.com/lightroomjournal/

Canon 5D firmware update

http://web.canon.jp/imaging/eos5d/eos5d_firmware-e.html

This firmware update (Version 1.1.1) incorporates the following fixes
and improvements:

1. It now supports high-capacity CF cards.
2. It allows the latest lens names to be recorded in the Exif
information of images taken.
3. It adds lenses that are compatible with the Digital Photo
Professional 3.2 lens aberration correction function.