Jon Sienkiewicz Blog

DxO just announced a major upgrade for the popular Nik plug-in suite. Named the Nik Collection 2, the additions include 42 new presets, a bundle version of DxO PhotoLab 2.3 Raw format processor and more. We had a chance to try out a pre-release copy. Take a look at what we cooked up, starting with the image above.

Drawing on a neural network that is trained using billions of image samples, DxO PhotoLab 6 now features DeepPRIME XD, DxO Wide Gamut, improved retouching tools and a revamped library system. Meanwhile, DxO ViewPoint 4, the software that corrects warped perspective (converging parallels, for example) and geometry, now has a supercharged Reshape Tool that can warp and repair individual parts of a scene, positionable Guides and a better interface.

The insanely popular Nik Collection of Photoshop plug-ins has been upgraded to Version 4.0. The good news: DxO has made many useful improvements and added some new presets. The bad news: no new filters.

Adobe announced Photoshop Elements 13 and Premiere Elements 13. Both have cool new features. If you’re a user of version 12, should you upgrade? The answer is: it all depends. Here’s the advice I give my friends.

You bought your DSLR or high-end compact camera to shoot by available light without flash. The latest digital cameras, for the most part, are capable of producing exceptional results at high ISO settings under very dim conditions. But there are times when a little flash makes all the difference in the world. 

When you see a crowd of people snapping photos, can you spot the professional photographer?

Tired of multi-tools that have slackjawed pliers that pinch your fingers and scratch things up? Me too, so from now on I’m packing a Guppie.