WinZip 12 targets photographers with lossless JPEG compression.

'Tis the season for digital back users to update their RAW workflow applications with the release of Phase One's Capture One 4 Pro (recently updated again to 4.5.1) and Leaf Capture 11.2. Some of Capture One's updates include an expanded Styles feature, enhanced Color Editor, and new Skin Tone and Lens Correction tools. www.phaseone.com

The updated Leaf Capture 11.2 delivers improved performance, new features such as Live View color video preview for tethered shooting, an adjustable histogram and a tool to remove Moire directly from RAW files. www.leafamerica.com


COMPRESS YOUR FILES WITH WINZIP

If you are cross-platform or a Windows user, you may be interested in the new WinZip 12. The Pro version has a few intriguing features including lossless JPEG compression that reduces file size up to about 20 to 25 percent. WinZip now also includes LZMA compression, new encryption features and other business-oriented options. Forget the Standard version for $29.95 and instead check out the $49.95 Pro version. www.winzip.com.

Utilizing U-Point technology, Nik Sharpener 3.0 offers precise control for Photoshop and Aperture.

STILL MORE FROM NIK!

I guess it's no surprise that Nik Software keeps making appearances in this column since the company keeps coming out with one great plug-in after another. This month's offering is called Sharpener Pro 3.0, which immediately found a permanent home on my Photoshop CS3 filter list. Available for Photoshop and Aperture, the latest upgrade to its sharpener plug-in now features U-Point technology. (If you're not familiar with U-Point technology and the use of control points, download one of Nik's plug-ins or Nikon Capture NX2—I promise, you'll be hooked.)

In addition, Nik has added or updated various features. Several new sharpening tools have been added so you can fine-tune details. With Sharpener Pro 3.0 you can adjust Structure to increase sharpening in textures such as backgrounds and increase Local Contrast for adding crispness to fine edges and small detail. The Focus adjustment slider intelligently adds more sharpening to soft-focus areas.

Other notable features include the ability to save custom output settings and a sharpening soft proof option so that you can check the adjustments made on screen before printing. Sharpener Pro 3 is also compatible with Photoshop's Smart Objects and sharpening can be painted on using a Photoshop brush. The plug-in is also compatible with Aperture's multi-image feature, so your sharpen settings can be cut and pasted across images.

If you've used any of Nik's latest plug-ins, the user interface will be familiar right down to the Loupe view on the bottom right, which makes it easy to get a close-up live view of whatever adjustments are made. The full version of Sharpener Pro 3.0 is $199.95; upgrades are $99.95—and it's definitely worth the price. www.niksoftware.com/sharpenerpro.

Alien Skin updates Blow Up to work with 64-bit Photoshop CS4.

ALIEN SKIN IS BLOWING UP

Also new is Alien Skin's Blow Up 2, a resizing plug-in for Photoshop and Element. The user interface has been revamped and is incredibly easy to use. More than 100 presets are available for one-click resizing from 40 x 60 to 4 x 6 inches. Options within each size include sharpening for the screen or for one of several types of inkjet surfaces (glossy, luster or matte); almost all but the larger sizes are sized to 300 dpi. Web and Video output options are also available in the presets, as is a JPEG Repair setting.

Move over to the Controls tab for manual input of dimensions, resolution and slider bars for sharpening edges, adding grain, preserving natural texture and removing compression artifacts. The amount of sharpening can be dictated by output device or media or manually selected in the custom mode. I especially like the check box to have the plug-in duplicate the image before resizing. Blow Up 2 also places suggested crop marks onto the preview, which can be cleared or adjusted. One-step simple batch processing has been added and is, of course, a welcome addition.

But don't be fooled by Blow Up 2's ease of use. Resizing is possible up to 300,000 pixels per side, just like in Photoshop. In addition to RGB, Blow Up 2 supports CMYK, Lab, Grayscale and Duotone, as well as 16-bit, 32-bit and even the Windows 64-bit version of Photoshop.

The program works relatively well, although I must admit that some of my first heavy-handed resizing experiments ended up looking more like cartoons than photographs. But a little tweaking helped resolve that problem. Check out the trial version at www.alienskin.com to see if it meets your needs. Purchase price for the full version is $249; upgrades are $99 (free for those who bought Blow Up 1 after July 26, 2008).


RAW APPLE

Just in from Apple: Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update 2.2 is now available for Aperture 2 (and iPhoto '08) for Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS/Kiss Digital F2/ 1000D, Kodak DCS Pro SLR/n, Nikon D700, Olympus EVOLT E-420, Olympus EVOLT E-520, Olympus SP-570, Samsung GX-10, Samsung GX-20, Sony DSLR-A300, and Sony DSC-R1. To download, visit: www.apple.com/support/downloads/digitalcamerarawcompatibilityupdate22.html

Work in HD and burn to Blu-Ray with Pinnacle Systems Studio Plus or Studio Ultimate v. 12.0.

LOW PRICED, HIGH DEF

And, finally, if you're working in HD video but aren't sure you want to invest in a high-end video application, check out Pinnacle Systems Studio Plus or Studio Ultimate version 12.0—they support native HDV and AVCHD editing and offer Blu-ray disc burning capabilities in BD-MV with motion menus. AVCHD 1920 and support for various HD camcorders such as JVC full HD, Canon Vixia, Sanyo Xacti. $99.99 for the Plus version; $129.99 for the Ultimate. www.pinnaclesys.com