ACDSee Pro 3

With faster RAW image processing, more customization options and expanded online functionality, ACDSee Pro 3 is a versatile app for organizing, editing and sharing your image library.

By Kim Castleberry

With faster RAW image processing, more customization options and expanded online functionality, ACDSee Pro 3 is a versatile app for organizing, editing and sharing your image library. The interface is well designed and visually appealing. The program is built around four main modes: Manage, View, Process and Online. To switch between them, you simply... Read more

HDR Express

HDR Express, the newest offering from Unified Color, is one of the easiest-to-use solutions we’ve seen yet.

By The Editors

The popularity of HDR has inspired a lot of software development, making it one of the more competitive categories for special-effects apps. HDR Express, the newest offering from Unified Color, is one of the easiest-to-use solutions we’ve seen yet. The simple, clean interface reduces the steps involved to really streamline the process. HDR Express... Read more

Adobe Photoshop Elements 9

Not every photographer needs all of the image-enhancement tools that Photoshop puts at your disposal.

By Kim Castleberry

Whether you need to hide skin blemishes in a portrait quickly or do some serious restoration work on an old photo, the enhanced Spot Healing Brush in Photoshop Elements 9 will sample surrounding pixels intelligently to patch things up fast. New People Recognition gets to know your family and friends and, over time, will learn who’s who. Not... Read more

Alien Skin Bokeh 2

Selective-focus techniques can take a good photo and make it great by focusing attention where you want, softening background distractions.

By The Editors

Selective-focus techniques can take a good photo and make it great by focusing attention where you want, softening background distractions. A fast lens set to its maximum aperture or specialty tilt/shift lenses allow you to do this in-camera, but you also can re-create this look using software like Alien Skin’s Bokeh 2. Available as a plug-in for... Read more

Nik HDR Efex Pro

HDR imaging has emerged as a serious tool for photographers, and this new application from Nik is one of the most robust solutions we’ve used.

By The Editors

HDR imaging has emerged as a serious tool for photographers, and this new application from Nik is one of the most robust solutions we’ve used. Setting it apart are multiple tone-mapping algorithms, from photo-realistic to otherworldly, giving you broad creative latitude in an easy-to-use tool. If you’ve used Nik software before, the interface... Read more

Special-Duty Software

For many photographers, image processing is more work than play, but even if you enjoy it, you’ll appreciate the speed, control and creativity provided by plug-ins and specialty software.

By Rob Sheppard

For many photographers, image processing is more work than play, but even if you enjoy it, you’ll appreciate the speed, control and creativity provided by plug-ins and specialty software. These applications can expand your possibilities, such as HDR (high dynamic range) programs, or they can simplify and quicken routine tasks. Top pro applications... Read more

onOne Software PhotoTools 2.5

The best thing about Photoshop is that the creative possibilities are practically endless; that’s also the worst thing about Photoshop.

By The Editors

The best thing about Photoshop is that the creative possibilities are practically endless; that’s also the worst thing about Photoshop. Unless you have a clear vision of your end result, you can spend hours tinkering with adjustments only to decide you don’t like the final product. That’s where plug-ins like onOne Software’s PhotoTools 2.5... Read more

Alien Skin Exposure 2

If you find yourself sometimes longing for the good old days of film, Alien Skin has just the solution. With Exposure 2, you can give your digital photography a nostalgic look.

By The Editors

If you find yourself sometimes longing for the good old days of film, Alien Skin has just the solution. With Exposure 2, you can give your digital photography a nostalgic look. The plug-in reproduces the look of film emulsions like TRI-X, Velvia, Agfachrome and others that are no longer available, such as Agfa, Scala, GAF 500 and Kodak EES. But that’s... Read more

Apple Aperture 3

It was two years, almost to the day, from the announcement of Aperture 2 to the recent release of Aperture 3.

By Wes Pitts

It was two years, almost to the day, from the announcement of Aperture 2 to the recent release of Aperture 3. We’re glad to say that the new features and general improvements in Aperture 3 were worth the wait. Though targeted primarily at professionals, Apple has put considerable effort into making Aperture a more natural, easy upgrade for all... Read more

Nik Viveza 2

Nik Software’s Viveza is one of our favorite Photoshop plug-ins (it’s also compatible with Photoshop Elements, Lightroom and Apple Aperture).

By The Editors

Nik Software’s Viveza is one of our favorite Photoshop plug-ins (it’s also compatible with Photoshop Elements, Lightroom and Apple Aperture). The company’s innovative Control Points eliminate the need for complex masks, allowing you to quickly make dramatic, localized enhancements by dropping Control Points on an image and tweaking with slider... Read more

onOne Software: FocalPoint 2

By The Editors

Achieve the popular look created by a tilt-shift or fast-aperture lens even if your budget doesn’t allow you to buy one right now with the second generation of onOne Software’s FocalPoint application. Your lens and aperture setting most often control what area of a photo to make sharp and what to leave out of focus, but FocalPoint 2 allows you to... Read more

10 Essential Plug-Ins For Pro Results

Plug-ins provide fast, fun and effective ways to get stellar results from your image enhancements.

By Dave Willis

Plug-ins provide fast, fun and effective ways to get stellar results from your image enhancements. Designed with simplicity in mind, the best plug-ins are by no means any less effective than Photoshop. Unlike the limitless possibilities of Photoshop, they’re designed from the ground up as singular solutions for specific problems, and performing image... Read more

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