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.

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.

 

 

 

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:

 

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!

 

LAST DAY for Discount on Skylum Luminar 3.1

Luminar 3.1 Discount ends in 24 hours

You’ve already heard me extoll the virtues of Skylum’s Luminar 3.1. An advanced image editing alternative, for which you own the license, without a subscription.

If you don’t recall ALL that it can do, please visit this page.

This offer includes Luminar 3.1 at 70% off! – That’s $49!!!

AND, it includes the excellent bonus: Photography 101 Video course by SLR Lounge!

I am unsure if the usual coupon will work on this promotion, but you might as well try entering SGANS_DISC at checkout. It may save you an additional $10.

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.

Cinematic Looks for Skylum Luminar and Adobe Lightroom

 

 

 

In honor of last Sunday’s Oscars, Skylum, in affilation with LA Based photographer Ilya Nodia has created a beautiful set of 12 great looking Cinematic Looks for use with Skylum Luminar and Adobe Lightroom. These amazing looks (editable and flexible) are a pack of 12, for only $24!

To read what Ilya Nodia himself says, please click the PDF attached to this post. And below, take a look at just a FEW of the Before and After Images of this package’s offerings:

 


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!