Pink Floyd Veteran Posted February 22, 2006 Veteran Share Posted February 22, 2006 Nikon has announced Capture NX, a significantly enhanced and redesigned version of its digital image editing software. Designed to offer a powerful and easy to use alternative to established image editing applications such as Adobe Photoshop, Capture NX has been developed in association with partners Nik Software, and offers non-destructive editing of NEF raw files. Press Release:Nikon unveils Capture NX; next-generation digital image editing software Tuesday February 21, 2006; Nikon UK is pleased to announce the launch of Capture NX; a radically enhanced and redesigned version of Nikon's digital image editing software. Capture NX marks a significant shift for image editing, irrespective of camera brand, whilst delivering powerful and dedicated tools for photographers shooting with the increasingly popular NEF (Raw) file format. Offering a compelling combination of creative potential, a simple user interface and an attractive price, Capture NX promises to revolutionize the way photographers' work with digital images in the future. Robert Cristina, Manager of Professional Products for Nikon Europe, said: "One of the main barriers inhibiting and limiting creative image editing has been the skills required to isolate areas or subjects in the image. Layering and masking techniques have been the exclusive preserve of experts and re-touchers. Nikon's Capture NX redefines the image editing landscape and marks a significant new direction for both Nikon and ours partner, Nik Software." Capture NX Feature Highlights New U Point? technologyb> Revolutionary U Point? technology is a unique new method of applying subtle enhancements to areas of any JPEG, TIFF or NEF (Raw) image. By simply clicking a Control Point onto the chosen area, a variety of local adjustments can be applied. The effects are subtly blended with other adjustments to provide a natural looking result, until now only possible with extensive mastery of layers and masking techniques. For example by clicking a Control Point to the sky enables one to obtain complete control over its colour. To prevent other areas being affected requires simply clicking Control Points to isolate them from the affects of the first. Just add, duplicate or delete any number of Control Points as you wish along the way. There are also dedicated Control Points for Black and White points, convenient for adjusting dynamic range, a Neutral Control Point to modify overall colour cast even in images without a gray tone, and a Red-Eye Reduction Control PointShoot in NEF (RAW) More and more customers are discovering the amazing flexibility that shooting in NEF (Raw) offers. Capture NX provides a complete suite of tools designed to deliver powerful adjustment and correction that can be applied after shooting, but appear as if they where made at the time. Many of these tools are also backwards compatible for archives of NEF files captured by any Nikon D-SLR since the original Nikon D1 (introduced in 1999). In addition to the creative advantages of U Point technology, Capture NX continues to bring intelligent new tools for adjusting the optical properties of the image. Using algorithms matching the optical properties of the Nikkor lenses used, Aberration, Vignette and Fisheye* distortions can be corrected quickly and simply within Capture NX to prepare the purest image file before creative editing commences. A new Barrel Distortion function has been added to complete a suite of specialist tools designed for the highest optical demands. *AF DX Fisheye Nikkor 10.5mm f/2.8G EFlexibility The Edit List presents the user with a continuous overview of each step of their processing workflow. As each tool is applied it appears in the Edit List thus keeping the user fully informed of progress. Each step can be individually undone or changed at any time offering immense flexibility. Because Capture NX offers non-destructive image editing for NEF (Raw) files, the user has complete freedom to experiment with their images, secure in the knowledge that their original image data remains intact. As all changes are saved as simple settings files, only one original image file is stored, to make the most of HDD spaceSelective tools and Colour Management control In response to demand from Nikon Capture 4 users, Capture NX now offers a range of traditional selective tools such as Brush, Lasso and Marquee (four kinds), Gradient and Fill/Remove. Colour Management performance has been reinforced in Capture NX for advanced control of how colours from an image correspond to the colours a printer can produce. Options include Perceptual, Saturation, Relative Colourimetric and Absolute ColourimetricPowerful Image Browser Advanced functions of the Capture NX Browser include labeling and sorting. Repetitive global editing - such as batch processing new White Balance settings to a number of NEF files simultaneously - can be applied to thumbnails within the browserKeeping the Image Central The graphical user interface (GUI) has been designed so the image itself remains central, with settings dialogue boxes appearing when necessary to preserve valuable screen space. Icons are used wherever possible to simplify the workflow and maintain user focus on the image itself, rather than being distracted by having to search for tools hidden in drop down menus. When editing NEF (Raw) files all camera pre-set adjustments can be made directly from the shooting data panel, even from within the browser. Nikon Capture NX Available: May 2006 RRP: ?119.99 / ?179 source I cant wait! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwphoto Posted February 28, 2006 Share Posted February 28, 2006 I just came from Nikon's (USA) website... is that possibly Nikon Capture 4.4? There is no mention of Capture NX... :cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monkeh Posted February 28, 2006 Share Posted February 28, 2006 Looks promising. Any reason for using this for processing Jpegs if I already have CS2? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeoXY Posted February 28, 2006 Share Posted February 28, 2006 heh wow...after Apple came out with Aperture everyone is releasing digital imaging software for professional photographers left and right. First was Adobe now Nikon...good stuff (Y) Would like to see what they have to offer... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pink Floyd Veteran Posted February 28, 2006 Author Veteran Share Posted February 28, 2006 I just came from Nikon's (USA) website... is that possibly Nikon Capture 4.4? There is no mention of Capture NX... :cool: no, 4.4 has been released for months now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwphoto Posted February 28, 2006 Share Posted February 28, 2006 no, 4.4 has been released for months now Yeah, I te-read the original post, after my post. Sorry. But, running Photoshop CS2, wouldn't it be redundant to use both. There is a glut of post-production software ouy there lately. Right now, I use Photoshop, Capture and PhaseOne. I'll just have to wait and see... Again, thanks! :yes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pink Floyd Veteran Posted February 28, 2006 Author Veteran Share Posted February 28, 2006 well if I had the money you seem to have, I'd buy photoshop cs2 too you are lucky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monkeh Posted February 28, 2006 Share Posted February 28, 2006 I bet you illegal PS users outnumber the users that actually own a genuine copy of PS ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pink Floyd Veteran Posted February 28, 2006 Author Veteran Share Posted February 28, 2006 I bet you illegal PS users outnumber the users that actually own a genuine copy of PS ;) I thought about it but that is not my typeI bought Nikon capture 4.4 and almost bought the latest Bibble. Bibble is freaking good but my evaluation time is almost expired :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwphoto Posted February 28, 2006 Share Posted February 28, 2006 well if I had the money you seem to have, I'd buy photoshop cs2 too you are lucky My registered copy of Adobe Photoshop CS2 has paid for itself many times over. Just like a mechanic, ya just gotta have the right tools. Same with the camera gear. I use my Nikon D70, because it's the right tool for me. The higher priced Nikons would be overkill (for me). :yes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pink Floyd Veteran Posted March 1, 2006 Author Veteran Share Posted March 1, 2006 higher price for nikon lens maybe, but not for body itself I'd say Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwphoto Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 higher price for nikon lens maybe, but not for body itself I'd say You better check you prices, the D70s body is the mid-range price wise... :yes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pink Floyd Veteran Posted March 1, 2006 Author Veteran Share Posted March 1, 2006 like other ppl, I compare D50 with XT, here D50 is cheaper I compare D70s with 20D, here D70s is cheaper can I say D200 vs 5D too? 5D is twice the price and I saw many ppl using/used both saying they liked D200 more... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwphoto Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 I guess that everybody has their preferences, for their reasons. I have a history of Nikon use and am familiar with their products. You are also talking about different image sensors, CCD vs. CMOS. Dollar for dollar, feature for feature, I would opt for the D200. If that camera were available when I got my D70, I would have gotten the D200 over the (now) D70s. :yes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pink Floyd Veteran Posted March 2, 2006 Author Veteran Share Posted March 2, 2006 I guess that everybody has their preferences, for their reasons. I have a history of Nikon use and am familiar with their products. You are also talking about different image sensors, CCD vs. CMOS. Dollar for dollar, feature for feature, I would opt for the D200. If that camera were available when I got my D70, I would have gotten the D200 over the (now) D70s. :yes: same here ;)But I have to pay house first haha. My wife would kill me for sure :no: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwphoto Posted March 2, 2006 Share Posted March 2, 2006 same here ;) But I have to pay house first haha. My wife would kill me for sure :no: I'm thinking about selling my Nikon N80QD to put towards a D200, but I'd hate to give up my last film camera. Most of the pros I know are 95% digital, but with my luck... I'd get the client that still wants digital AND film. What to do...? :yes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pink Floyd Veteran Posted March 2, 2006 Author Veteran Share Posted March 2, 2006 well, why keep your film just because of 1 client. Unless this is a huge client, I'd go 100% digital. You can't go wrong wit D200 as it beat Canon 5D for half the price and D200 is not even a full frame camera also! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwphoto Posted March 2, 2006 Share Posted March 2, 2006 well, why keep your film just because of 1 client. Unless this is a huge client, I'd go 100% digital. You can't go wrong wit D200 as it beat Canon 5D for half the price and D200 is not even a full frame camera also! Good point... but I am playing Devil's Advovate w/ myself. It's a 'what if' situation. Being a working pro, I have to look at this kinda stuff. That is why I don't have a Nikon F6. Goes back to our first point... justifying the cost of our equipment. Besides, I was 'weaned' on film... it's a mental attachment. Maybe I should talk to a shrink? :| Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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