Photography

Link: http://www.getpaint.net

Paint.NET is free image editing and photo manipulation software designed to be used on computers that run Windows. It supports layers, unlimited undo, special effects, and a wide variety of useful and powerful tools.

Download mirror: MajorGeeks

Every 6 months I wonder who will blow it and post the specs of the new Canon DSLR before the official press release... usually it's one of the Canon website. But this time it's Amazon USA. Since both the 30D and the 1DSmk2 are 18 months old, their replacement was scheduled for late august.

Here are the specs of the Canon EOS 40D:

• 10.1 Megapixels.
• 3" LCD screen.
• 6.5 frames per second paired with a buffer that holds 75 JPEGs or 17 RAWs.
• 9 points auto focus.
• Self cleaning sensor unit as found on Canon EOS 400D.
• Canon DIGIC III image processor

And the specs of the Canon EOS 1DS mark III:

• 21.1 Megapixels.
• 3" LCD screen.
• 5 frames per seconds paired with a buffer that holds 45 JPEGs or 15 RAWs.
• 45 points auto focus.
• Self cleaning sensor unit as found on Canon EOS 400D.
• Dual Canon DIGIC III image processor

Link: http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=DownloadDetailAct&fcategoryid=314&modelid=12929

Late march Canon released the latest version of Digital Photo Pro 3.0. Thankfully the updater allows to select the install directory... so if like me you put your apps on the D drive you'll be able to keep DPP there. eer:

Screenshot:

Changes from DPP 2.2:
Added functions:

• Support added for Windows Vista.
• Support was added for EOS-1D Mark III.
• Support added for single-image display for RAW+JPEG images.
• Enabled thumbnail image rearranging using drag & drop.
• Enabled a frame display in trimmed images in main window or edit image window.
• Added multi-image synchronizing function in edit window.
• Supported multi-page printing in detailed setting printing.
• Enabled a Color Management settings window call function in the detailed setting printing window.
• Enabled images trimmed in DPP to print as trimmed images when they are printed using Easy-PhotoPrint, Easy-PhotoPrint Pro.
• The GPS data can be displayed with other shooting information when the GPS data is added to it.

Changed Functions:

• Brought together as collective image adjustments in the tool palette in the main window. Added a noise reduction tab, and allowed noise reduction to be applied to individual images.
• Changed the display method of trimmed images in edit window, edit image window. Images trimmed in DPP are now printed as trimmed images.
• Improved the speed for displaying RAW images in edit window.
• Support added for new Picture Style files. (.pf2)

Modified Functions:

• When selecting the detailed setting printing and contact sheet printing, the printing result could become completely white (or in some cases, completely black). But this has been corrected.

Interesting links:

• Canon DPP learning center.

Link: http://www.irfanview.com/

IrfanView is a very fast, small, compact and innovative FREEWARE (for non-commercial use) graphic viewer for Windows 9x/ME/NT/2000/XP/2003.

Secunia security status:

Download mirror: MajorGeeks (plugins)

Link: http://www.photodex.com/products/proshowgold/

Create slide shows for any occasion! Use ProShow Gold to easily create stunning slide shows for friends, family, business, or just for fun! Just select your photos and drop them in the show. Record your own voice-over track or add a soundtrack from a CD. Add motion effects and pick from over 280 stunning transition effects to add that final touch.

Take your photos further! ProShow Gold gives you more output options than any other slide show software. Create DVDs and video CDs that play back on your TV. Stream your show on the Web. Generate MPEG video files for PC viewing. Build screen savers for yourself or others. Make self-contained executable slide shows (EXEs), perfect for e-mailing or posting online. Write PC autorun CDs that automatically play when inserted into a PC. ProShow Gold does it all!

For more information about bug fixes and new features visit the revision history index.

Link: http://www.dxo.com/us/photo/dxo_optics_pro/overview/dxo_filmpack

DxO FilmPack is a product that complements DxO Optics Pro v4.1.
Its aim is to give your digital pictures the style of the most famous conventional films.

The colors ? and the grain! ? of Kodachrome, Tri-X, Velvia (just three out of a total of over twenty film types) have been analysed and reproduced so you can apply them to all your pictures with just one click. FilmPack digitally simulates the vibrant colors of Kodachrome 64, the soft grain of Tri-X, or the gentle flesh-tones of Astia. Any combinations of grain or color are possible, for maximum creativity? while at the same time benefiting from DxO Optics Pro v4.1?s legendary corrections.

Link: http://www.dxo.com/us/photo/dxo_optics_pro

The new features in this release are:

• RAW speed increased by factors from 2 to 4.
• preview feedback is now 2 times faster.
• image management speed improvements.
• compatibility with DxO FilmPack.

Link: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos400d/

DPReview just posted its in-depth review of Canon's latest in the EOS xx0D / Digital Rebel series, the new EOS 400D / Digital Rebel XTi. With a ten megapixel Canon CMOS sensor, a three part dust reduction system, nine point Auto Focus, a new larger LCD and user interface the EOS 400D offers a range of improvements over the camera it replaces, the very successful EOS 350D.