Luminar 4 AI Structure is AMAZING!

Skylum Luminar 4 Logot

Skylum Luminar 4 is Coming – with AI Structure Enhancement that’ll blow your mind!

Coming this Fall, Skylum will be releasing Luminar 4 – a powerful yet intuitive image enhancement tool. While it already includes such amazing AI enhancements such as:

  • Accent AI 2.0
  • AI Sky Enhancer
  • Pre-created “Looks” Presets
  • POWERFUL adjustable filters
  • A manual Structure filter
  • And SO many more ways to automatically or manually improve your images
  • A Photoshop Plugin Feature

But one of many new features that’re coming in version 4 is the AI Structure Enhancement! Automatically enhance contrast and details – without the trouble of manual masking (hiding what you don’t want to affect). Make your images come to life with the hit of a button!

Click HERE to Pre-Order Skylum Luminar 4!

Just take a look at the demo video below:

 

Skylum Luminar 3.1.2 Update is out – and 4th of July Offer

AWESOME 4th of July pricing on Skylum Luminar

a powerful image editor, that can work as a stand-alone image management, image editing system, or can work with Photoshop and Lightroom as a plugin!

New in Luminar 3.1.2:

  • A new “On This Day” photo organization feature
  • Faster import from a memory card on Macs
  • Add plugins from other manufacturers, like the Nik Collection
  • Faster scroll and speed improvements in Windows
  • Overall performance and stability improvements – works better with large libraries

With THIS OFFER, Pricing is:

JixiPix Summer Sale – 30% OFF Amazing Art and Creativity

JixiPix Software is offering 30% off ALL of their products, including their Premium Pack and Pro Bundle! (USE CODE: SUMMERSALE)

Their Premium Pack offers 18 Powerful, Creative image effect products in one power package. It’s standalone software, but also includes plugins for Photoshop, Elements, Lightroom, and PaintShop Pro.
Regular Price $$119.99 – Sale Price $83.99

Their Pro Pack offers more control, and allows for layers, brushes, and multiple styles. It’s also standalone software, but also includes plugins for Photoshop, Elements, Lightroom, and PaintShop Pro.
Included are: Hand Tint Pro, Impresso Pro, Pastello, Rip Studio, PuzziPix Pro and Spektrel Art
Regular Price $159.99 – Sale Price $111.99

OR get the Entire Premium Pack +Pro Bundle. Including (Pro) Hand Tint Pro, Impresso Pro, Pastello, Rip Studio, PuzziPix Pro and Spektrel Art, (Premium) Aquarella, Artista Haiku, Artista Oil, Artista Sketch, Artoon, Chalkspiration, Dramatic Black & White, Grungetastic, Kyoobik Photo, Moku Hanga, NIR Color, Pop Dot Comics, Portrait Painter, Rainy Daze, Romantic Photo, Simply HDR, Snow Daze and Vintage Scene
Regularly $229.99 – Sale Price $160.99!

But they’re also offering 30% off their DESKTOP AND IPAD PRO Apps. Get individual apps for freakishly low prices. There are FAR too many to list here, but check them all out on the checkout page (some effects are only $4.19 after the discount!)

DO NOT FORGET to use the code: SUMMERSALE at checkout, and get an amazing, amusing, creative, powerful set of image edit and effects tools for some ridiculously low prices! I love these apps (especially Spektrel Art, Watercolor StudioPro , and Impresso Pro), and I think you will, too!

 

On1 Photo RAW 2019.5 Discount Ends May 15th!!

ON1 Photo RAW 2019.5 - The Best Alternative to Lightroom and Photoshop

$30 OFF On1 Photo RAW 2019.5!

By now, many of you may know WHY I suggested backing up your systems with older versions of Adobe software installed. Unfortunately, I was under NDA, so I could not disclose that as of a few days ago, Adobe has pulled ALL previous versions of the Creative Cloud Apps, leaving only this version and the last most recent version. In this case, leaving only last year’s and this years. An exception to this is InDesign, which, for a while will still offer access to older versions. While this doesn’t affect people who bought boxed versions of software (despite some technical difficulties in accessing the electronic download files at the moment), anyone who was using something from CS6 Subscription, to CC2017 are out of luck in ever restoring these versions, if necessary. This includes me – who started using the subscription model at CS6.

I know that Adobe is not doing this because they want to. I know they have a legal reason for doing so (which was not disclosed to us), but it goes against every promise Adobe made to it’s subscription users from the beginning – the promise that we’d have access to older versions at any time.

For people who have been balking about the subscription model, this has just added fuel to the fire.

The good news for those who need alternative software to Adobe’s Photoshop/Lightroom bundle, there are a few great alternatives. In a previous post, I revealed a discount from Skylum, on their Luminar offering.

But, On1 Photo RAW has extended it’s $30 off discount in it’s software until May 15th.

SO many features to list, but the new ones are:

  • Dual Mode — Easily undock the Browse Module from the Edit Module, use a second display, or make sales or client presentations on a projector or TV. The dual mode will allow photographers to customize how they want to work when browsing and editing photos.
  • Edit History — A full edit history will be added when working on photos. Each editing step will be viewable, along with the ability to roll-back and compare adjustments. Photographers can also revert to the beginning of the editing session.
  • Settings Applied Info — Photographers will be able to quickly view which modules, tools, and filters are applied to a photo. This non-linear approach will also allow photographers to double-click on a setting and jump straight to it for further adjustments.
  • Selective Sync — Enhanced granularity in which settings to apply when syncing your settings (or pasting and saving a preset) will be added. For example, photographers will be able to drill down and only apply a white balance adjustment. The ability to sync cropping, retouching and brush strokes between photos will also be included.
  • Hierarchical Keywords — The master keyword list will now support nesting keywords inside of other keywords. Nested keywords will allow photographers to organize keywords as they see fit. Importing a list of nested keywords from other apps like Adobe Lightroom® will also be supported.
  • Apple® Photos® Extension Enhancements — Integration with Apple Photos now supports the full raw data, improving adjustments to tone and color. It also supports re-editable non-destructive editing and more native ON1 Photo RAW features like layers, crop, and text.
  • First Launch Experience — If it is your first time using ON1 Photo RAW, there will be new walkthroughs to help you learn the basics. This will give photographers a running start and directs them where to learn more.
  • Tool Tips — Tool tip animations will be added to improve the usability and shorten the learning curve for each tool.
  • Layers Enhancements — Create a new canvas of any size or change the size of the existing canvas.
  • Text Tool Enhancements — Add a background color to a text box and control its opacity. Easily control the character and line spacing. New options also will allow photographers to duplicate and change the order of text boxes and automatically insert text from a photo’s metadata.
  • Performance Improvements — Zooming, panning, and brushing are now much faster. A new preview quality option can help increase performance on lower-end and integrated video cards as well. Export is now up to 10x faster when resizing or exporting a photo or photos already edited.
  • Local Adjustments — The Local Adjustments tools will be faster to brush and adjust.
  • Windows High-DPI — Support for high-dpi displays on Windows will be dramatically improved. The scaling of the fonts and controls will work much better, especially on 4k displays and laptops.
  • Keywording — Keywords will be easier to search, add, delete, and modify. Also, keywords are now case sensitive.
  • Soft Proofing in Resize — The soft-proofing feature will also be available in ON1 Resize (Genuine Fractals®).
  • Drag and Drop from Film Strip — Drag and drop photos from the film strip to add them as new layers.
  • Increased Thumbnail Size Range — The range of thumbnail size will be increased, so photographers can go all the way up to two giant thumbnails or down to tiny thumbnails to survey an entire folder.
  • Default Photo Location — Now control the default photo location in Browse. This is where ON1 Photo RAW will look to find photos instead of the Pictures folder.
  • Preview the Resize Algorithm — When using the Genuine Fractals algorithm, photographers will be able to preview the resulting quality at 100% zoom to more accurately adjust the options and sharpening.
  • Persistent Crop Preset State — The crop tool settings will be persistent and remembered across photos.
  • Search by Adjustments Added — Search for photos based on specific adjustments applied such as cropped, retouched, etc.
  • Update to Lightroom Migration — The Lightroom Migration tool will now migrate the pick and reject flags.
  • Added for Support New Cameras and Lenses
  • Many other under-the-hood bug fixes and performance improvements.

On1 Photo RAW works with RAW, jpg, psd, and so many more file formats, you OWN your license in perpetuity, and you can install it on up to 5 Windows and Mac Computers. Check it out, NOW!

Skylum Luminar 3.1 Sale Ends May 14, 2019

For those of you who want to get out of the Adobe software subscription plans and still use POWERFUL image editing software at a reasonable price for a license you own, please note that Skylum Luminar’s Spring Offer is ending in less than a week!

Don’t forget the pricing – and to add SGANS_DISC as your coupon code!

Despite the fact that Under pressure, Adobe has reconsidered it’s “test” of new pricing for it’s photography bundle and gone back to $9.99/mo for Photoshop/Lightroom, this is a serious consideration for photographers who want powerful image editing capabilities. One never knows what’ll happen in the future.

I use Techsmith Camtasia and SnagIt, and LOVE them!


People often ask me what I use to create my training videos and enhance my screenshots and my answer is: Techsmith Camtasia for videos, and I use SnagIt for quick captures (still or video).

Camtasia is a powerful, yet easy video editor, an screen capture tool. You can capture your monitor, your voice, your webcam, your keyboard entries, and even your computer’s system sounds, and choose whether to use or edit all of those parts, as you wish. And, it’s easy to add video captured on another device, like a video camera, a still camera with video capabilities, even your smartphone! The markup tools can be used to enhance what your viewer sees – you can add highlights, callouts of text or graphics. You can animate items in the app, you can even use your computer’s voice to speech capabilities to create closed captioning! The learning curve is simple and Techsmith has some amazing online free videos (and I teach this, as well). Check it out HERE!

SnagIt is a Screen Capture and Screen Recorder application. It will capture screenshots and Videos, and allow you to mark them up or simple quickly produce a video to share online. It doesn’t have the power of al the video editing capabilities of Camtasia, but if you need a quick and powerful capture tool with great markup functions, this is a quick, accessible tool to choose.

View both Techsmith Camtasia, and Techsmith SnagIt at Techsmith’s website.

By the way – this is one of those companies that offers smart and professional customer support. It’s one I hold up as a standard for all the rest!

On1 Photo RAW 2019.2 Kickoff Sale!

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For a limited time purchase On1 Photo RAW 2019.2 for only $69.99

On1 Photo RAW 2019.2 is an all new Photo Editing experience!

It features a new AI-powered Quick Mask Tool that’s a game changer in photo editing. It allows you to create detailed masks in seconds, making it easier than ever to replace backgrounds or target specific areas for effects or local adjustments.

Here’s a quote from a happy ON1 customer about the AI Quick Mask Tool:

“Wow, the applications for this new masking ability are practically endless, especially when you think about how you can use the mask afterward for other effects and local adjustments. I can’t wait to go back into some of my pictures from that past few years and use this feature. It’s awesome!” – Jesse 

Download the new ON1 Photo RAW 2019.2 and we’ll show you exactly how to use the new AI Quick Mask tool. It’s easy and fun, and it gives you limitless creative possibilities. Buy during our Kick Off Sale to get a great deal with bonus extras!

For just $69.99, you get a full, non-subscription license to one of the most powerful photo editing tools ever, plus, they’re including EVERYTHING you need to get up and running:

ON1 Photo RAW 2019.2

Your all-in-one photo editor and better photo editing experience. – $99.99

RAW Processing 101 Video Course

Learn how to take photos straight out of your camera and edit them to look exactly like they did on the camera’s display screen. Includes 9 downloadable lessons, practice files, and follow-along raw files. – $24.99

ON1 Photo RAW 2019 Looks eBook & Video

25 step-by-step editing looks and videos that make it easy to get started with Photo RAW 2019. – $39.99

ON1 Loyalty Rewards 2019

It’s the gift that keeps on giving the whole year – free presets, textures, eBooks, and more every month! – $100

ON1 From A-Z

The official ON1 Photo RAW 2019.2 user guidebook. Over 170 pages covering everything you need to know about ON1 Photo RAW 2019.2.

FREE! Total Value: $264.97
Your Price: $69.99

Who doesn’t like FREE Video Effects?

Once again, PremiumBeat.com is offering stuff for FREE!

Today, they announced a free plugin that works with almost all NLE’s (non-linear editors, for those of you who don’t do video). And, that plugin includes lots of free effects to be used in your work, along with a quick tutorial on how to use them (the transitions aren’t applied as you may be used to – they use track mattes and such – easy though). There’re also some effects using my favorite “toy” – blending modes.

I don’t recommend using all of these as they’re created – but they’re cool enough that you can. But, you can also make them your own, amending their contents to your preferences.

Check out the FREE plugin and content – you’ll be happy to have this resource. I know I am!

Skylum Aurora HDR 2019 Pre-Order SALE

Skylum Software has announced a Pre-Order special for Aurora HDR 2019- Special Pricing WITH BONUSES!

About Aurora HDR 2019:

Skylum’s Quantum HDR Engine harnesses the power of AI for a more streamlined editing experience than ever before. It reduces burned-out colors, loss of contrast, noise and unnatural lighting caused by halos and unstable deghosting.

The Quantum HDR Engine has taken three years to create within Skylum’s AI lab, and contains the vast knowledge of the development team paired with artificial intelligence to bring you seamless HDR editing, be it with a single image or multiple bracketed shots.

Skylum’s developers tested thousands of bracketed shots through a neural network, and used the results to develop the technology needed for creating incredible HDR photographs – whether it’s real estate, landscape, cityscape or any other type of HDR photography.

Here are the most essential changes:

  • New Quantum HDR Engine

  • LUTs support with 11 New Integrated LUTs

  • Photoshop plugins support

  • New HDR Smart Structure filter for realistic and artefact-free structure (can be found in the new HDR Enhance filter)

  • Presets are now called ‘Aurora HDR Looks’

  • Improved Adjustable Gradient filter with new sliders for Shadows and Highlights added

  • Improved HDR Details Boost Effect ( the photo is shown in high-resolution while fine-tuning the filter)


Offer Availability:

Aurora HDR 2019 is available for pre-order on September, 12, and released on October, 4.

Pre-Order Pricing:

 

Pre-Order Bonuses:

  • Video Tutorial: Getting the Most from Aurora HDR 2019 by Trey Ratcliff

  • Landscape Photography Handbook by David Johnston

  • Burning Moods LUTs by Richard Harrington

  • Exclusive interior Aurora Looks by Richard Harrington

  • 3-month 500px Pro membership

  • $300 USD OFF a multi-day Iceland Photo Tours


Spring Savings in On1 Photo RAW 2018.1 – ONLY 3 DAYS LEFT!

On1 Photo RAW 2018.1 is still available for the amazing Intro Price of $69.99!

Note: This offer ENDS ON 3/31/18

Take a look at What’s NEW (remember, this can be used as a Standalone App Photoshop Replacement, OR as a Plugin In Photoshop):

NEW IMPROVEMENTS

  • Debayering – The algorithms have been improved to increase the amount of micro detail while reducing aliasing, yielding photos that are noticeably crisper with less color artifacts.
  • HDR – HDR alignment and deghosting have improved, yielding sharper results with less ghosting, noise, and color fringe. Users now have the ability to select which frame is used for deghosting and can also adjust the amount of motion visible in water and clouds.
  • Faster Cataloging – The thumbnail and preview generation of images is now faster. Searching photos has also been improved.
  • Noise reduction – Improvements to reduce large noise from very high ISOs. Automatic hot-pixel removal has been added, and green and purple color aberration reduction has improved.
  • Sharpening – The sharpening algorithms have been improved to enhance micro details and provide sharper initial results.
  • Panorama – The panorama merge dialog now does a better job with vertical panoramas as well as really large ones. It can now stitch together up to 25 photos at a time. Blending of photos to compensate for differences in exposure and white balance have been improved.
  • Preview Quality – The preview window has been improved to more accurately reflect the details and sharpness in photos at different zoom levels.

NEW FEATURES

  • NEW Import – Get photos from your camera to your computer, choose where you want the photos to go, assign metadata, and more.
  • NEW Tethered Shooting – Get your photos to your computer instantly and apply import settings. Currently supports Canon and Nikon.
  • NEW Soft Proofing – Simulate what your photo will look like when it’s printed.
  • NEW Metadata Templates – Add metadata to a group of photos using presets. This allows you to choose and save only the information you want applied to your photos.
  • NEW Video Browsing & Organizing – Now supports viewing video files so you can organize those as well. Copy, move, name, add metadata, and more.
  • NEW Custom Sorting – This option in Browse allows you to put your photos in any order you choose.
  • NEW Batch Rename – Rename all of your photos in a batch to add unique information to filenames.
  • NEW Edit Capture Date – Adjust date and time on your photos so they match the actual date and time they were taken.
  • NEW Auto Advance – Automatically switch to the next photo during the culling process when rating or tagging photos.
  • Additional Camera & Lens Support — Added support for several new cameras and many new lenses. See the full list here.