Free, Live Product Demos – onOne Software

Posted on June 10, 2013 by

ON1h_ID_(RGB)

Free, Live Product Demos – onOne Software.

OnOne has just released Perfect Photo Suite 7 and is hosting a number of webinars over the next few weeks.

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If you want to make a purchase you can use the link below to go to the OnOne site to learn more and help support SpeedDemon2.com.

http://www.onOnesoftware.com/affiliates/idevaffiliate.php?id=45

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Posted in Software | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Kentucky Derby Festival 2013 The Great Steamboat Race

Posted on June 5, 2013 by

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This image is from the Great Steamboat Race here in Louisville, Kentucky. Each year, as part of the Kentucky Derby Festival, Louisville hosts the annual Great Steamboat Race which pits her own steamboat the Belle of Louisville against any other contenders that show up. This year was the first time people could view the race from the Big Four Bridge in Waterfront Park.

This image is a single frame post processed in Aperture 3 without using any plug-ins. I liked the repeating shapes of the boat’s wakes as a reinforcement of the bridge beams and handrail.

Great Steamboat Race 2013 #2

Great Steamboat Race 2013 #2

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This image received the same post processing as the previous photo. I created a preset Effect in Aperture 3 based on the first image and was able to apply it to many of the images I shot that afternoon. After applying the preset to an image I could go into the adjustment panes and make small tweaks to each image as needed without having to start from scratch.

The Belle of Louisville in front of Waterfront Park during the Great Steamboat Race 2013.

The Belle of Louisville in front of Waterfront Park during the Great Steamboat Race 2013.

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I applied the preset to this image as well. It’s a real timesaver to build an Effect Preset in Aperture 3 and then apply and tweak it as needed.

Sunset on the Ohio River after the Great Steamboat Race 2013

Sunset on the Ohio River after the Great Steamboat Race 2013

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This last image was also processed in Aperture 3 using the same Effects Preset I created but since it was later in the day I had to go into it and readjust many of the sliders to emphasize the colors of the sky and it’s reflection on the river. Still it was nice to have the preset as a starting point that shared the same overall feel as the earlier images.

Posted in Fine Art Photo, Kentucky, Landscape, Louisville, Waterfront Park | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Sam’s Garage

Posted on June 4, 2013 by
Sam's Volvo

Sam’s Volvo

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Sam is an old friend of mine whose passion is building hot rods from unibody cars. He loves to design and build chassis and suspensions as well as solve problems he encounters as he installs modern V-8 engines in cars that were originally powered by four or six cylinder engines. He has to build everything from the ground up in order to create a car that is safe and fun to drive. Sam’s ability to fabricate components is among the best I’ve ever seen, the attention to detail is unsurpassed and his cars all show the hand of a craftsman who genuinely loves metal work and welding. Though he completely changes the suspension and driveline in his cars the outward appearance is nearly unchanged from the way the factory designed it. The only giveaway that the car is modified is the low stance it has and the custom wheels and tires that are needed to compliment the high horsepower engine and high performance suspension.

This Volvo is a departure for him because it is only the second foreign vehicle he has undertaken. He comes up with an idea for a car he wants to build and then finds a likely candidate. He usually sells the car after he has it reliable and roadworthy so that he can build another. This Volvo has really captured his heart though and he may keep it around for a while.

This photo is from a three frame bracket set I shot inside Sam’s garage with available light. I merged it in NIK HDR Efex Pro 2 and made some adjustments there before returning it to Aperture 3 for final adjustment and sharpening. I also took it into Topaz Clarity to tweak some of the colors and micro contrast.

My Garage, My Rules

My Garage, My Rules

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This image is another bracket set that I merged in NIK HDR Efex Pro 2 to bring out the large dynamic range. I then took the resulting color image into NIK Silver Efex 2 to convert it to Black and White. The use of NIK HDR Efex Pro 2 to merge the bracket set allowed me to reproduce the broad dynamic range of the artificially lit garage interior and the daylight outside. I finished sharpening and adjusting the image with Aperture 3.

 

 

Posted in Fine Art Photo | 4 Comments

Easy Edit with Topaz Clarity –The Red Barn | Topaz Labs Blog

Posted on May 31, 2013 by

Easy Edit with Topaz Clarity –The Red Barn | Topaz Labs Blog.

Here’s a good example of how Topaz Clarity can be used to enhance an image.In this tutorial, Joanne West shows how to edit an image using the dynamic sliders and masking technique in Topaz Clarity. Joanne goes into using the mask tools in Topaz Clarity and shows how simple they are to use.

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Today is the last day to get Topaz Clarity for $29.99 before it goes to the regular price of $49.99. Use the link below and enter the code claritynew to get the 40% discount until the end of the day.

http://www.topazlabs.com/705.html

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Posted in Software, Topaz Plug-in | 1 Comment

SpeedDemon2 Is Going Self-Hosted Soon

Posted on May 30, 2013 by
Morning Rower

Morning Rower

Hi folks I wanted to let you know why I haven’t been posting for a few days. I am in the process of moving from WordPress.com to a self hosted solution. I want to start selling prints and that means moving to my own server.

SpeedDemon2.com should be ready to go live soon. I’m just hammering out some details before flipping the switch. I’m sticking with the current theme, though there may be some minor tweaks to it. I like the simplicity of the theme but I also want to keep it fresh so there may be a few changes.

Just as practicing in photography is necessary and beneficial, so too is it the case with WordPress. The more I explore the WordPress platform the more I discover. That leads to new and more efficient tools to express my ideas and showcase my work. Just as photo processing has plug-ins that extend and/or facilitate my vision for an image; WordPress plug-ins do similar things for blogging.

As I said last week when I passed my one year WordPress anniversary I have an idea where SpeedDemon2 is headed but I really don’t know how the journey will unfold.

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Today is the last day to get Topaz Clarity for $29.99 before it goes to the regular price of $49.99. Use the link below and enter the code claritynew to get the 40% discount until the end of the day.

http://www.topazlabs.com/705.html

I am an affiliate with Topaz Labs and earn a small commission on each sale that results from someone using my link to go to Topaz Labs site. The commission helps me defray the costs of publishing SpeedDemon2. 

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Posted in Louisville, Software, Topaz Plug-in, Waterfront Park | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Final Formation 2013

Posted on May 27, 2013 by
Final Formation

Final Formation

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Today we honor those whole gave their lives in battle. The men and women buried here are for the most part young people who, in defense of America’s values, made the ultimate sacrifice. Whenever I am in Zachary Taylor National Cemetery I am moved by the sacrifice of these fallen Americans who did what had to be done to preserve liberty for all of us. I wish each one of them could have survived and returned home to their family and friends to enjoy a long and happy life but sadly that was not their fate.

Wars are waged by politicians, be they in defense or in agression, yet war is almost always fought by the young whose lives are forever changed by the act of participation. It would be wonderful if mankind could eliminate wars but unfortunately that does not seem to be our nature.

I salute all who occupy this sacred ground and hope that my images do them justice as they muster for their final formation. As the US Marines say Semper Fidelis. Rest in Peace you brave souls.

Final Formation #2

Final Formation #2

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For those who are interested in what processing I applied to these images; I used a single exposure and processed it exclusively in Aperture 3. The sepia version was also created in Aperture 3 from the color version with the simple addition of the Sepia adjustment in the Aperture 3 adjustment menu.

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Don’t forget the sale on Topaz Clarity ends on May 31st.

http://www.topazlabs.com/705.html

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Posted in Fine Art Photo, Louisville | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Topaz Clarity vs Topaz Adjust

Posted on May 23, 2013 by
Kansas Tractor #4 Clarity Version

Kansas Tractor #4 Clarity Version

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Today I decided to go back to an image I posted a few days ago that I had processed in Topaz Adjust. I have always liked the effect that Topaz Adjust has when applied to these sorts of rusted relics. I usually apply the Spicify preset and then tweak it to achieve the final result. The one thing that I have always struggled with when using that method was the extreme halos that arose when pushing contrast, saturation and definition to enhance the texture in the image.

Topaz Clarity is designed to allow enhancing texture, contrast and saturation while minimizing halos and similar artifacts. The image below shows haloing in the sky and around the edges of the tractor that are almost entirely gone in the Topaz Clarity processed image. From these two images it seems clear that they have accomplished their goal. I was able to open up the shadows and saturate the colors without getting the types of halos that the Topaz Adjust version below exhibits.

Kansas Tractor #3

Kansas Tractor #3

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From this experiment I can say Topaz Clarity lives up to it’s billing. I’m sure that as I become more familiar with the software I’ll be able to create images that reflect my vision for them while avoiding having to go into additional processing to deal with halos. I think Topaz Clarity is a valuable addition to my processing software and recommend it to anyone looking for a program that will give great control to contrast and color in single frame images.

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Topaz Clarity will retail for $49.99, but will be available at a special reduced price of $29.99 through May 31st with with this promo code: claritynew

Please use the Topaz link below when going to the Topaz Labs site. 

http://www.topazlabs.com/705.html

I’m an affiliate of Topaz Labs and earn a small commission on any sales made through my referral link which helps me offset the cost of producing SpeedDemon2. 

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Posted in Software, Topaz Plug-in | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Topaz Labs Introduces It’s Latest Product “Clarity” Today

Posted on May 22, 2013 by

Clarity_box_clear

As I noted in yesterday’s post there are currently a lot of new and exciting products coming out to help in post-processing our images. Topaz Labs released one such breakthrough product today with the release of Topaz Clarity.

I am especially interested in the ability of Topaz Clarity to minimize halos and the new masking feature. I’ll be working with it over the next few days and sharing my thoughts and results with you as I explore these features.

Here are some of the unique features introduced in Topaz Clarity:

1. Selective Contrast Control. With Clarity, Topaz Labs has developed a cutting edge process of selecting specific contrast variations in your original image, allowing you to quickly target and then increase or decrease the contrast and clarity in that specific variation.

2. Breakthrough Halo-Free Algorithm. Boost contrast and clarity without emphasizing transitions between light and dark areas, eliminating the common problem of halos, noise and artifacts.

3. Advanced Hue/Saturation/Luminance Technology. Using IntelliColor technology, you can easily enhance your image with the HSL filter, getting stronger, yet more natural HSL adjustments.

4. Re-Imagined Masking Workflow. The masking module, now attached to each adjustment tab contains a comprehensive set of tools including an edge-aware brush, gradient mask, smart feather tool, color aware tool and more.

5. User Interface Design. With Clarity, they have continued to develop a cleaner, more modern and efficient interface to improve usability, workflow and overall aesthetics.

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Clarity will retail for $49.99, but will be available at a special reduced price of $29.99 through May 31st with with this promo code: claritynew

Please use the Topaz link below when going to the Topaz Labs site. 

http://www.topazlabs.com/705.html

I’m an affiliate of Topaz Labs and earn a small commission on any sales made through my referral link which helps me offset the cost of producing SpeedDemon2. 

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Posted in Software, Topaz Plug-in | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

onOne Software Announces onOne Labs

Posted on May 21, 2013 by
Hexagon House in Franklin Kentucky

Octagon House in Franklin Kentucky

There seems to be a lot of activity going on in the photo software industry lately, discount sales, new pricing, and new features are rapidly happening. With the announcement by Adobe to discontinue it’s CS Software program, and force any new Photoshop users go to their CC cloud based subscription, I think that many of the plugin makers will see an opportunity to build more photographer specific features in the future. OnOne Software is already offering their software in a stand alone suite and I expect other software labs to do the same. To that end OnOne seems to be taking a giant step with their new announcement about OnOne Labs blog where they will be previewing new ideas and seeking feedback from the photographic community.

I received the press release a few days ago but waited until the OnOne Labs blog was live before posting it here on SpeedDemon2.

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OnOne Software has just launched a  New Web Page That Provides Customers the Opportunity to Preview and Provide Feedback on Pending Technologies and Products 

Portland, OR – May 21, 2013 – onOne Software, Inc.®, the leading developer and provider of photo effects for everyone, has announced onOne Labs, a blog that lists new technologies and products being considered for development in the effort to gauge interest and solicit customer feedback. onOne Labs will allow visitors to learn about development projects, note their interest level, and offer constructive comments.

onOne Labs will allow visitors to directly engage with onOne Software in a collaborative development process and voice what’s important for their digital photography and image editing needs. Projects discussed will range from those early in the concept stage to those in the very beginning of development to those that are near completion. Projects will also be updated throughout their development to elicit additional feedback.

“Customer input has always been a key factor in the development of our product offerings” said Craig Keudell, president of onOne Software. “In the past, we have gained tremendous insight from our customers about their wants and needs through occasional phone calls, emails, surveys, and conversations at conferences. Going forward, we’d like to have an ongoing and direct conversation with our customers to make sure we are meeting their expectations and building the best products for their photography needs. We already have a number of exciting things in the works, which we believe will become great additions to our line up especially after getting customer feedback via these Labs.”

The onOne Labs currently includes discussions about features now in development for the next version of Perfect Photo Suite —including a Quick View Browser and a new Perfect Enhance module—and new product offerings, such as one with the working title, Lightpad. These projects are listed with descriptions and may include visual mock-ups or videos to further describe them. Each of these are now listed in the onOne Labs awaiting feedback.

Availability

The onOne Labs blog may be found at labs.ononesoftware.com. Inquiries and suggestions related to onOne Labs development projects but not listed there may be emailed to labs@ononesoftware.com.

As always I hope you will use my affiliate link in the righthand sidebar to go to OnOne Software. I earn a small commission on any sales made through that link which helps me defer the cost of operating SpeedDemon2.com.

Posted in Kentucky, Software | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

It’s Not the Destination, It’s the Journey…

Posted on May 17, 2013 by

Navajo Highway

Well folks it’s been one whole year since I began this blog. When I started SpeedDemon2 I had a vague notion of where it would lead but just like riding my motorcycle the whole thing was not about the destination; the whole purpose was the journey. When I started the blog I wanted to share my images with a wider audience and connect to other like minded folks. I didn’t know how it would happen but I knew that if I gave it a shot it would all work out.

The past twelve months have been rewarding in so many ways. I discovered other artists and photographers who shared with me their thoughts and criticism,  challenged myself to become a better writer, have taken my photography to an entirely new level, gained access to photo opportunities, the list goes on.

When I start out on a motorcycle ride whether it is a month of travel across the country to a specific place, or a short ride into the city, there are so many possible routes to take that will lead to new discoveries yet still get you to the destination. Along the way I discover new vistas, see features and things that I’ve never seen before, make new friends and all the while I feel connected to the life force that surrounds me. Blogging has done that for me as well, exposing me to others who care about many of the same things I do and broadening my experience as an artist.

I have no idea where the next twelve months will take me but I am sure the journey will be filled with discovery. There will be new influences on my photography, new tools that spark new ideas, new destinations to explore, new projects to immerse myself in and most important of all there will be the journey. I hope you, my readers, will stick around and join me on this journey; I don’t know the destination yet but I am confident it will be worth the effort.

Posted in Fine Art Photo, Landscape, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments