A software improves all major image quality factors

Almalence Incorporated announces PhotoAcute Studio 2.0 - the breakthrough software product that enhances digital photos quality

PhotoAcute Studio processes sets of images taken in continuous mode. It utilizes superresolution algorithms to convert a sequence of photos into a single high-resolution and low-noise picture that could only be taken with much better camera.

PhotoAcute Studio improves all major image quality factors. The features at a glance are:

• Spatial resolution increase
• Noise reduction without losing image details
• Dynamic range expansion
• Geometry distortions and vignetting correction
• Chromatic aberrations correction

PhotoAcute Studio operates for various camera and image types - from mobile cameras to DSLR cameras supporting RAW format and 16-bit color. The greatest leap in quality is achieved on RAW photos taken with DSLR cameras that gives the professional photographers an essential use.

The spatial resolution is one of the most important factors of digital image quality. It is limited by camera's matrix and lens, but this limit can be exceeded by means of superresolution - the method of enhancing the resolution of an image or of an optical system. This can be done by either acquiring more graphic information (e.g. taking and merging several images of the same object) or by reconstructing the details lost due to the faultiness of the optical system (applying the knowledge of the optical system properties). PhotoAcute Studio uses both ways to achieve the maximum image quality. The laboratory measurements of the widely accepted MTF50 parameter, performed with Canon 300D camera, show the doubling of the effective resolution.

The superresolution technology is used in supercomputer data processing in the industries such as satellite imaging and astronomy. Almalence engineers developed new mathematical methods of superresolution processing and implemented them within the software application for personal computers, making this powerful technology available for photographers.

The noise is the most undesirable factor that degrades image quality. The main problem of the noise reduction is the loss of image details. This becomes mostly apparent in the low light areas of the image, where the noise reduction removes both the noise and the details. PhotoAcute Studio combines several photos of the same scene, separating the useful signal and the noise, thus providing strong noise reduction without losing the image details.

Besides resolution enhancement and noise reduction, PhotoAcute Studio corrects common image artifacts: geometry distortions, chromatic aberrations and vignetting. By merging several images taken at different exposures, PhotoAcute Studio expands the dynamic range of the resultant image, revealing the details usually clipped in the highlights and the shadows.

All these features virtually improve the whole camera from matrix to lens, providing the possibility of taking better images even for those who use advanced and professional cameras.

PhotoAcute Studio is useful for wide range of photographers, who are interested in taking high quality images. Professional photographers, for whom the image quality is essential, will find it a good tool for achieving the best results in their work. For amateur photographers this product will be an add-on to their cameras, providing better images without changing the camera itself.

PhotoAcute Studio is Windows based application. The version for Macintosh is to be released in 2007Q1.

Detailed description of PhotoAcute Studio features, online help and examples gallery are available at http://www.photoacute.com

PhotoAcute Studio 2.0 is available for free in trial mode. The price of the full version varies depending on supported camera types: from $19 for mobile phone cameras to $119 for DSLR cameras with the support of RAW format and 16-bit color. Users can get free licenses by contributing to PhotoAcute Studio development.

PhotoAcute Studio 2.0 can be downloaded at:

http://www.photoacute.com/studio/download.html

About Almalence Incorporated Almalence Incorporated focuses on developing the cutting-edge methods of digital image processing and innovative software products for enhancing digital images. Our mission is to provide the photographers with the software tools that will help them to achieve the best image quality. The company was founded in 2005 by the group of professionals with strong background in computer science, software engineering and management.

Almalence Inc. - Press Release - 01.10.2006

Apple Releases Aperture 1.5

Major Update Adds Open Library Option and Extends Workflow

PHOTOKINA 2006, COLOGNE, Germany—September 25, 2006—Apple® today released Aperture™ 1.5, a major update to the all-in-one post production tool for photographers that delivers enhancements across each phase of the entire workflow. Aperture 1.5 delivers a powerful new open library, seamless iLife® ‘06 and iWork™ ‘06 integration, XMP metadata support, powerful new adjustment tools and an export API that makes it easy to extend the Aperture workflow to third party applications and services.

“Aperture has given photographers around the globe the confidence to work in exciting new ways,” said Rob Schoeben, Apple’s vice president of Applications Product Marketing. “Now with Aperture 1.5, we’ve opened the library and extended the workflow to provide a solution that is as flexible as it is powerful.”

Managing RAW, JPEG and TIFF images in Aperture 1.5 is incredibly flexible, with a new open library system that allows photographers to store image files wherever they want—either within the Aperture library itself, or in other disk locations, including external hard drives, CDs or DVDs. Aperture can now generate high-resolution previews of each image so that users can review, rate and organize images as well as perform slideshows—even when the master images are offline. The previews, which can be generated at a range of size and quality levels, make it possible for photographers to keep their original images safely stored on a desktop system at home or in the studio, while still being able to take a compact version of their entire photographic library on the road using a MacBook™ or MacBook Pro.

“In less than a year, Aperture has become as essential to me as my camera, lens and tripod,” said Steve Winter, contributing photographer for National Geographic. “At the end of a day’s shoot, it’s so easy to find photos in my Aperture library and use these amazing tools like the Light Table to quickly piece something together and figure out what I need to make the story complete.”

“Aperture has been a rock for me, and I'm now using it to build an archive of all my professional work—25 years’ worth,” said Bill Frakes, staff photographer for Sports Illustrated. “With everything tagged and organized, including my current projects, I can retrieve any photo I want in a matter of seconds.”

Aperture 1.5 is now supported across Apple’s full line of Macintosh® computers, from Mac® mini to Mac Pro, and offers powerful new integration with the iLife ’06 suite of digital lifestyle applications and iWork ’06 productivity software. The tight integration means that photographers can build complete websites with iWeb™, create self-contained slide presentations with Keynote™, or produce stunning DVD slideshows with iDVD®, all using JPEG versions of photos directly from their Aperture library, which is never more than a click away. Integration also includes syncing to iPod® using iTunes® 7 and the ability to access and copy Aperture photos from within iPhoto®.

Aperture 1.5 dramatically streamlines the process of adding metadata to photo shoots with new pre-filled IPTC Metadata Presets. Captions, credits and other critical metadata that photographers rely on can be added on import automatically or via a batch process at any point in the workflow. Another major enhancement to metadata support within Aperture is the ability to export RAW images with IPTC data stored in XMP sidecar files for easy use with other applications like Adobe Photoshop and even the ability to generate XMP files automatically through AppleScript®.

Powerful new adjustment options in Aperture 1.5 include a sophisticated luminance-based Edge Sharpen filter for extremely high-quality sharpening results and a new Color tool that lets photographers tune the hue, saturation and luminance of specific color ranges within each image. Aperture’s popular Loupe magnifier has been dramatically enhanced with a set of onscreen controls, smooth zooming with up to 1600 percent magnification and a new option that enables it to be detached from the cursor while making adjustments. Individual image adjustment settings can now be saved as presets that can be automatically applied through a menu command, so that photographers can quickly and easily make standard adjustments.

An innovative new export API plug-in architecture in Aperture 1.5 allows third party developers to tap into the expanding Aperture user community with plug-ins that seamlessly connect Aperture’s workflow to complementary applications and services. Plug-ins from industry leading companies, including Getty Images, iStockphoto, Pictage, Flickr, PhotoShelter, DigitalFusion, Soundslides and Connected Flow, will be demonstrated at photokina 2006. These plug-ins will demonstrate a range of printing, publishing and storage workflows that take advantage of this new architecture.

Pricing & Availability - Aperture 1.5 is available this week in English, French, German and Japanese as a free Software Update to current Aperture 1.0 customers. Aperture 1.5 is available to order for new customers for a suggested retail price of $299 (US) through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and through Apple Authorized Resellers. Full system requirements and more information on Aperture can be found at www.apple.com/aperture.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning desktop and notebook computers, OS X operating system, and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital music revolution with its iPod portable music players and iTunes online music store.

APPLE - PRESS RELEASE - 25.09.2006

Apple Releases Aperture 1.1

Universal Version Delivers Improved RAW Quality, Incredible Speed & New Lower Price

CUPERTINO, California—April 13, 2006—Apple® today released Aperture™ 1.1, a significant update to the revolutionary all-in-one post production tool for photographers that runs natively on both Intel- and PowerPC-based Macs. Aperture 1.1 features dramatically improved RAW image rendering and a new set of advanced RAW adjustment controls. Aperture 1.1 also delivers impressive speed gains on any Mac® including desktop performance on a MacBook™ Pro* with image adjustments and searching up to 4x faster. At a new lower price of $299, Apple is putting Aperture within reach of anyone shooting with a digital SLR camera.

“Since Aperture launched just over four months ago, we’ve been incredibly focused on improving image quality and performance, working closely with pro photographers to get it right in 1.1,” said Rob Schoeben, Apple’s vice president of Applications Marketing. “With the RAW quality and overall speed of Aperture 1.1 and its new low price, there’s never been a better time for pros and hobbyists alike to take the art and craft of photography to the next level.”

“I love the fact that you can save RAW adjustments in Aperture 1.1 and use those settings on future jobs,” said Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Vincent Laforet who recently used Aperture to capture Olympic images from Torino for The New York Times. “In the past, sending a selection of photos to clients for approval could take hours to import, edit down, resize, tone and deliver. With Aperture, I can do all of this in five minutes. Aperture has become the core application for me.”

“The controls for working with black and white film in Aperture 1.1 are staggering—much more powerful than a wet darkroom,” said John Stanmeyer, co-founding member of the VII Photo Agency and a contract photographer with Time Magazine. “There are times when I’m working with Aperture that I’m about to burst through my skin with excitement at its potential. There’s no doubt Aperture will become the key tool for photographers.”

RAW image rendering in Aperture 1.1 is greatly improved in areas such as noise reduction, sharpening, and highlight recovery. New RAW Fine Tuning controls allow photographers to tweak decode settings such as boost, sharpening and chroma blur. A new built-in color meter displays pixel values in RGB, Lab or CMYK in the Adjustments HUD (heads up display) or in Aperture’s Loupe magnifying viewer. Enhanced export controls make it easier to output images at specific resolutions and improve the handling of layered Photoshop files. Aperture 1.1 offers support for the Nikon D200 and Canon 30D, as well as dozens of reliability and performance improvements.

Aperture 1.1 delivers significant performance gains on both PowerPC-based and the new Intel-based Macs providing photographers with desktop level experience on the new MacBook Pro and delivering a powerful entry-level photography workstation on the new Intel-based iMac®. Performance tests on a MacBook Pro have shown that common repetitive workflow tasks such as Lift and Stamp and searching are processed up to 4x faster on a MacBook Pro than on a PowerBook® G4.

Pricing & Availability Aperture 1.1 is available immediately as a free Software Update to current Aperture 1.0 customers. In addition, early adopters of Aperture 1.0 can claim a $200 (US) coupon redeemable at the Apple Online Store by visiting http://www.apple.com/promo/aperture/ as a thank you for their support. Aperture 1.1 is available to order for new customers for a suggested retail price of $299 (US) through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and through Apple Authorized Resellers.

* Performance tests on a MacBook Pro have shown that common repetitive workflow tasks such as Lift and Stamp and searching are processed up to 4x faster on a MacBook Pro with 2.16 GHz Intel Core Duo than a 15-inch PowerBook G4 with 1.67 GHz Power PC.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning desktop and notebook computers, OS X operating system, and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital music revolution with its iPod portable music players and iTunes online music store.

APPLE - PRESS RELEASE - 13.04.2006