Software Updates Galore! [Tech Tuesday]

March 22, 2016

By Laura Brauer

While most software applications automatically notify you when there’s an update, Adobe and DxO both have updated programs (or announced future updates) that we think might be of interest. And, with these updates, you might even be enticed to try a new app or two!

Adobe ACR 9.5 changes the Camera Raw background to dark gray to match the UI of Photoshop. You can change the background color by going to Photoshop>Preferences>Interface. But your choice will affect Photoshop as well as ACR.

Adobe ACR 9.5 changes the Camera Raw background to dark gray to match the UI of Photoshop. You can change the background color by going to Photoshop>Preferences>Interface, but know that your choice will affect Photoshop as well.

Adobe Lightroom CC, Lightroom 6.5 and Adobe Camera Raw 9.5 can be updated from within the applications or by visiting the Adobe website to add new lens profiles and fix some bugs (including those for Panorama Merge and Boundary Warp in Lightroom). And for CC users specifically, updates include added support for a slew of new cameras such as the Canon EOS 1D X Mark II, the Nikon D5 and Sony’s little speed demon, the a6300. For more details, visit the respective Adobe blogs for Lightroom and ACR.

LR Android Shoot Through Presets

Lightroom 2.0 for Android has been updated with shoot-through presets that enable you to preview and capture images with a series of built-in presets providing non-destructive editing.

Adobe is also adding a major update to Lightroom 2.0 for Android, which—among other features—provides an in-camera app for capturing RAW (DNG) files directly from the mobile device. Shoot-through presets allow you to preview images before capture and, of course, the app includes plenty of editing options. If you don’t already have the app, you can download it for free here.

Adobe also announced Lightroom 2.2 for iOS, which has the ability to output full resolution files, whether you shot them on the iPhone (or, shudder, your iPad) or transferred them to the mobile device. 3D Touch support is now supported in the Camera Roll browser and there have been a couple of bug fixes and improvements. Download the update for free for iPhones and iPads from the App Store.

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The newest version of Slate allows support for video and Google Photos.

Adobe has also updated Slate, its storytelling app that helps you create interesting visual presentations, to version 1.3 with support for video and Google Photos and a few other tweaks. It’s available for the iPad and the Web.

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DxO has been busy as well, adding new camera and lens support to DxO OpticsPro v.10.5.4, DxO FilmPack v5.5.4 and DxO ViewPoint v2.5.13. According to the company, “Photographers who acquired a DxO OpticsPro 9 license on or after September 1, 2014, are entitled to a free upgrade to version 10. Photographers who bought a DxO FilmPack 4 license on or after September 1, 2014, are entitled to a free upgrade to version 5. Upgrades are free for all photographers who acquired a DxO ViewPoint license on or after August 1, 2013.”

And, if you’re not eligible for a free upgrade, the software is on sale until March 31, 2016! The DxO OpticsPro 10 ESSENTIAL Edition has been reduced to $99 from $129; the DxO OpticsPro 10 ELITE Edition has been reduced to $149 from $199; the DxO FilmPack 5 ESSENTIAL Edition has been reduced to $49 from $79; the DxO FilmPack 5 ELITE Edition has been reduced to $99 from $129; and the DxO ViewPoint 2 has been reduced to $49 from $79.

Plus, if you want to try before you buy, DxO offers a month-long, fully functional free trial of its applications, which can be downloaded here.