Skylum Luminar 4 Sale Has Begun!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Skylum Luminar is on Holiday Sale until January 15th!

Suitable for a novice or a photo expert, Luminar 4 provides amazingly powerful tools to enhance, repair, and otherwise edit your photos.

Along with powerful, editable presets, Luminar 4 includes:

  • AI Skin and Portrait Enhancer
  • AI Structure – Detail enhancer
  • Sunrays
  • AI Enhance – slider based adjustments
  • Smart Contrast
  • Inspirational Videos
  • Image Browsing
  • Instant Looks
  • Landscape Enhancements
  • Erase Unwanted Objects
  • Noise Removal
  • Detail Enhancement
  • More…

And, Luminar works on Windows and Mac, and as a plugin app for MacOS Photos, Adobe Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Lightroom Classic, and also can be used as a standalone application.

To see more of what Luminar 4 offers, Click here!

Pricing:

$40 discount on Luminar 4 and it’s amazing tools – Now priced $79 for new customers, $69 for previous version owners

$414 DISCOUNT on the Luminar Holiday Bag, – Now priced $129!

Including:

  • Luminar 4
  • Smugmug Pro Plan (regularly $250)
  • PDF Expert (regularly $80)
  • 1 year ViewBug Pro Membership (regularly $139)
  • 1 free Rocky Nook eBook (regularly $45)
  • 20 free prints from Parabo Press (regularly $10)

Jixipix 12 Days of Christmas Sale – Premium and Pro Packs 40% off Today!

Today’s Premium Pack + Pro Bundle will be 40% off their usual $229.99 price.

In their 12 Days of Christmas Sale, Jixipix Software is offering 40% off their Premium Pack and Pro Pack bundles!

These bundles include dozens of small creative apps that can do wonderful things to your photos. Their desktop apps are super-powerful, with built in presets that can be edited and tweaked until you have just the image you seek. Their phone apps are also amazing!

Take a look at what I was able to do, using their Impresso Pro app on a RAW .NEF file from my last vacation!

That’s $137.99 for
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, Hand Tint Pro, Impresso Pro, Pastello, Rip Studio, PuzziPix Pro and Spektrel Art (maybe my favorite)

If you don’t want a bundle, you can buy any of

their apps individually as well. Each app is for Windows or Mac (and the phone apps are for Android and IOS). They work as stand-alone apps,

or as Photoshop Plugins.

If you want demos of any of the apps in the bundle, let me know. I can show you how amazing they all are.

Skylum Luminar 4 Has Arrived!

Today, Skylum has Released Luminar 4!

Luminar 4 is for every photographer. ? It offers a complete toolset to edit and enhance images. It unlocks hidden details and unleashes creativity.

Photographers can use Luminar as a standalone application, a plugin, or an external editor. Every photographer can benefit from its innovative tools. With easy-to-learn controls and rich features, Luminar benefits every workflow.

Along with mind-blowing AI tools, exclusive filters, instant Looks, and a photo organizer, Luminar 4 contains dozens of essentials packed into an innovative, intuitive interface. It’s the perfect platform with everything a photo artist needs.

New & Improved Features

  • NEW: Edit Module
    A completely redesigned experience that improves the discoverability of tools and simplifies the editing process
  • NEW: AI Sky Replacement
    Using Skylum’s machine learning technology, Luminar 4 is the first photo editor to offer fully automated sky replacement technology
  • NEW: AI Skin Enhancer
    Automatically remove skin imperfections like acne, freckles, and moles in addition to smoothing skin
  • NEW: Smart Contrast
    Easily improve contrast where needed without destroying key details
  • NEW: AI Structure
    Boosts details where needed without damaging the rest of the photo — without selections, layers, or masks
  • NEW: Color Styles Library (LUT Mapping) Quickly change the color and mood of your photos with cinematic color styles
  • NEW: Luminar Looks
    Unlock creative options and quickly solve problems with adaptive presets
  • IMPROVED: Stability and performance
  • IMPROVED: Golden Hour filter
  • IMPROVED: Denoise filter
  • IMPROVED: Adjustable Gradient filter
  • MORE

Luminar costs:

$89 US for New Customers

$74 US for Owners of Previous Versions

And, Don’t forget to use DISCOUNT CODE SGANS_DISC for a $10 US Discount!

How Do I Do My Screen Captures?

 

 

Capture. Edit. Share.

I’m a big fan of Techsmith’s Screen Capture software. Camtasia is a POWERFUL video screen capture and editing tool. Perfect for teachers, but also really useful for any videos in which one needs effects, objects, animations and more. With a simple user interface and super-powerful tools.

But, when I need to capture either a still or video on my screen, I use Snagit! That’s right – it captures still images, full screen, part screen, menus, anything you want. It also captures video of your actions (with or without your audio and/or webcam). It has a simpler editor than Camtasia, and it’s quick, easy, and powerful enough for me to make quick demo videos and go further.

Also, both of these programs will allow you to edit video and still images captured from your phone or camera (not camera raw).

Take a look at Snagit! It’s $49 for regular users, and only $29 for educators!

Let me know what you think, in the comments!

 

Skylum Luminar 4 Logot

Luminar 4 Structure AI has SO MANY Improvements!

Introducing the new AI Structure tool in Luminar 4. AI Structure is just one of several tools that received the power of artificial intelligence making it content-aware.

Watch how it automatically detects people in a photo and doesn’t over-process them. As a result, faces and skin look natural, while the objects around them look deeper and richer.

Existing Customers can purchase this pre-sale upgrade PLUS Inspiration Looks (a $49 value) for only $69 by clicking here.

NEW Customers Can pre-order Luminar 4 PLUS Inspiration Looks for only $79 (a $59 savings),
OR they can purchase Luminar 3 with a free upgrade to Luminar 4 on release PLUS the Inspiration looks for $99 by clicking here.

SnagIT 2020 Released!

 

 

 

Snagit 2020 – Quick, Powerful Screen-Capture, Capture Editing Software

Have you guys ever wondered what software I use to create my quick captures of my screen? The shorter ones, that include arrows, pointers, that capture still images and video of my screen, that allows me to quickly point out what’s important in my capture, and allows me to share it quickly to my YouTube channel, or to the Adobe Community pages?

Well, that software is Techsmith’s Snagit. And the 2020 version has been released!

Snagit is more than just a screenshot tool. It enables better visual content, by providing quick tools and screenshot/capture editing power. Customize and edit every screenshot or video (or convert videos to animated GIF’s) with ease, power and performance.

To check out the power of Snagit, visit here!

Here’s what’s new in Snagit 2020:

  • Snagit 2020 introduces two new creation tools and enterprise outputs to Slack and Box – With over 15 sharing outputs Snagit makes it even easier to share content at work
  • Create from templates: Use pre-made layouts to create visual documentation, tutorials, and training materials.
  • Create video from images: Talk and draw over a series of screenshots to create a quick “how-to” video or GIF
  • TechSmith Assets for Snagit: Create even better-looking instructional content with an annual subscription to TechSmith Assets for Snagit. A paid subscription gets you access to thousands of stamps, photos, and templates.

Get ALL of that functionality for $49.95 USD

Snagit is one app I can’t do without. I hope you find it just as helpful as I do!

The new On1 Photo RAW 2020 is Released, and it’s AWESOME!

ON1 Photo RAW 2020

On1 Photo RAW 2020 is OUT!

I’ve been speaking so highly of On1 Photo RAW for so long, I’ll bet you know all the previous features by heart! If you don’t, I recommend you check out their site for the wealth of information on just how this can be the MOST powerful image editing program you can use. Yes – I said it! As far as image editing, this program is in SO MANY ways more intuitive and simpler to use than Photoshop (and you KNOW I LOVE PHOTOSHOP!), and since it has so many “automatic” features that you can tweak, I feel that in many ways this give the user greater power to perfect their images in a more efficient manner. AND, the license is a LICENSE, NOT A SUBSCRIPTION!

With Photo RAW 2020, you’ll encounter SO many new, exciting AI-based features, even avid Photoshoppers will find themselves opening On1, just to plain ‘ol get things done.

Here’s some of what’s new in this version:

  • New AI Match — Match how your raw photos look to what you saw on the back of the camera. This automatically detects when you shoot in black and white or custom film looks in your camera.
  • New AI Auto Tone — The new algorithm does a much better job on all types of photos, also controls the amount of auto-tone you want. By analyzing thousands of photos, the algorithm has learned how to do an even better job, especially on tough images.
  • New Speed & Performance Updates — Opening raw files in Edit is up to two times faster, and brushing is smoother, even on integrated graphics cards.
  • Enhanced Raw Processing for Fujifilm – The decoding of Fujifilm X-Trans raw files has been improved to reduce scalloping and other artifacts.
  • New Hottest and Trending Presets — Over 100 new looks and styles curated from today’s hottest photographic trends. We also added tons of new skies, backgrounds, and textures for your masking pleasure.
  • New SmugMug Integration — Select photos and videos, then publish them to any of your SmugMug galleries. Even create new galleries and control the size of the photos you upload. I love my Smugmug membership, and if you use their service, this new function is a BOON!
  • New Custom Camera Profiles — Get predictable, natural color results by creating custom profiles for your camera and lights. We have partnered with X-Rite, the leader in color management, to make this easy. Photograph an X-Rite target with your camera, then import it into ON1 Photo RAW, then send it to the X-Rite Camera Profiler software to build a custom camera profile.
  • Better Noise Reduction — The new state-of-art noise reduction algorithm can reduce noise, both color and luminance independently, while maintaining detail, even with today’s ultra high-ISO cameras.
  • New Color Balance Filter — Remove a cross color cast from the shadows or highlights or create unique duotone or tritone tints by adjusting the color and brightness of the highlights, mid-tones or shadows.
  • New Weather Filter — With the new Weather filter in Effects, you can add rain, snow, and fog to your photos to create a realistic atmosphere.
  • New Channel Mixer Filter — For precise black and white conversions, channel swaps for infrared, or shift entire color ranges.
  • New Sun Flare Filter — Add realistic sun spots, lens flares, and bokeh to your shots all powered by real photographs from renowned photographer and educator Matt Kloskowski.
  • New Print Module — Print contact sheets, a wall portrait, or tile multiple photos into package prints, the improved print dialog can handle it all. Easily print individual images. Also, print multiple photos on one piece of paper to create packages like 2 5×7’s or 4 4×5’s. Add watermarks and sharpen before you print.
  • New Timeline Albums — Exploring your photos by date has never been easier. The new automatic timeline albums organize your photos by year, month, and day.
  • New Map View — View where your photos were taken on a map, explore photo locations, and add location metadata to photos that don’t have GPS metadata. Even search by location address to find photos quickly, without having to add additional metadata.
  • New Focus Mask Overlay — Now you can view what’s in-focus in our photos easily. The new Focus Mask overlay marks the areas of best focus with green so you can compare similar photos and pick out the sharpest photo quickly.
  • More Language Support — ON1 Photo RAW is now localized into eleven languages, giving many more photographers access to the best photo editor out there. It currently supports English, German, Spanish, French, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Russian, Portuguese, Italian, and Dutch.
  • New Enhancements — Before/after image preview splitter, control preset opacity from the preset browser, Windows installer now gives the option to install on other drive, UNC paths on Windows, Lossy Canon CR3 support, Visualize brushstrokes with a red overlay.
  • New Camera and Lens Support Added 

And all this is just for their initial release of 2020! Updates and upgrades will introduce more features.

And remember, On1 Photo RAW 2020 can stand alone, or can be used as a plugin for Photoshop – so you get the best of both worlds!

Price and Availability.

ON1 Photo RAW 2020 is available today for download from the ON1 website. Previous owners of any ON1 product can order the upgrade for just $79.99, and those who don’t own earlier versions of ON1 can order the full version for $99.99. For a limited time, ON1 Photo RAW 2020 is bundled with launch bonuses that include an additional 100 pack of presets covering some of the hottest looks and trends. A single purchase of ON1 Photo RAW 2020 works with both Mac and Windows and is a perpetual license (own it forever) for activation on up to five computers. A free 30-day trial with no watermarking and no credit card required is also available from the ON1 website.

 

 

 

WARNING About Apple iOS 13 Release

image courtesy of Pexels.com

So, I was all set to upgrade my iPhone 8 to the newly released iOS13. I’d backed up my phone and cleaned up what I could.

Before any update or upgrade, I usually do a last-minute check to see how others are doing with it (WISH I’d done that with Safari 13, but hadn’t even noticed it’d been released!) And, I’m SO GLAD I checked today!

According to many articles, including Forbes Magazine, this major iOS is a dud, despite the GLOWING pre-release reviews! This article even quotes one developer as describing the iCloud synchronization (KEY for almost every Apple Device User) as a “clusterfuck”!

I had been looking forward to this, but I’m SO grateful I read about it first.

I know some of you don’t know how to turn off the Automatic Update feature. There are a few ways to accomplish this, depending on what you’re updating:

  1. Go to the Settings App, Choose General, Select Software Update, and at the bottom or your screen, turn Automatic Updates to “Off”. If your software is already downloaded, you may (depending on your device) delete the download from that screen, or
  2. In the Settings App, select iPhone Storage. There, you’ll see a list of what’s installed (and how much space it takes). Many devices will show the download there, and if you select it, you can Delete it. AND
  3. From the Settings App. Scroll to find “iTunes & App Stores”, and turn off Automatic downloads for Updates (and anything else you want to control, personally).

I hope this can save you the headache of having to deal with a messed up system, likely messed up Contacts and Calendaring, and awaiting the pushed up update until a few days from now.

 

Apple’s Safari 13 Messes Up SO Many Things for Users!

Within this past week, Apple released Safari 13. I had been so behind on some of my updates, I hadn’t even realized it, or I never would have let it happen!

As mentioned in http://osxdaily.com/2019/09/19/safari-13-released-for-mac/, the new version of Safari disables ALL extensions from outside developers (including, and especially, ad-blockers!) Now, in order for a third-party to offer an extension, they need to pay a fee to Apple, and Safari will only enable installation from the App Store. I think we can say goodbye to most of the free options (I’m going to miss Blur), and we’ll have to pay to upgrade some of the apps we depend on, as they’ll see no real benefit to updating older versions to fit within Apple’s new rules and code (thanks a LOT, 1Password!).

As for Ad Blocking, I’m currently testing AdGuard – but I’m concerned that some of it’s most useful features may be security risks, so I didn’t enable those. I’ll have to upgrade my 1Password application to enable it to work with the new Safari (I’ve been using it for so many years, I don’t even want to seek another password app).

Some of you may be asking: “Why not use another browser, then”? Well, I thought of that – and realized that since I’m in the “Apple ecosystem”, my devices all sync bookmarks through iCloud. I use that function a lot, and haven’t found a good option for syncing my bookmarks from other apps to Safari (I tried BookMacster, but even with their excellent support, it never quite worked well for me).

I’ll keep you updated on anything new I find. In the meantime – if you like your Safari Extensions – AVOID the upgrade to Safari 13!!!

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: