December 29, 2005
Alien Skin
Exposure puts the old film look back into digital images
A few years ago I was testing the Kodak (Nikon) DSC Pro
14n and in the debriefing by Kodak sales executives (after a few weeks
of shooting with the first full frame high resolution DSLR) we touched
on the sore subject of color balance and general look and feel of the
images. Kodak was at that time promoting a separate software package
that they called Custom Looks. Custom Looks provided custom color
profiles that gave the final image predetermined workflow treatment for
product or portrait shots, filter effects and even the look of certain
Kodak films. My suggestion was that these effects could actually be
used in camera, so that let's say you were a Kodachrome user before
going digital, you could continue shooting digital with a Kodachrome
look.
Anyway it is now the end of 2005 and Alien Skin has come out with a
software package that gives all of us the ability to shoot virtual
Kodachrome. Alien Skin Exposure will be available early 2006, a press
release follows.
Raleigh, NC (December 8, 2005)-
Alien Skin Software today announced Exposure, an all-new plug-in for
Adobe Photoshop and other compatible host programs. Exposure brings
the look and feel of film to digital photography. Photographers can now
digitally simulate current and discontinued film stocks, as well as
recreate a signature look as a one-click effect. Moreover, saturation,
light temperature, dynamic range, softness, sharpness, and the addition
of realistic grain can be managed in one step.
Foremost a film simulator, Exposure is based on the detailed
analysis of real world film stocks. A photographer can now quickly and
easily evoke the vivid colors of Velvia, the rich blacks of
Kodachrome, or the sensitivity of Ektachrome�. Exposure includes
presets that emulate the warmth, softness, and realistic grain of
dozens of real world film stocks, both color and black and white. Plus,
any preset can be the starting point for a signature look, adjusted it
to suit a particular subject, or applied to a batch of images using
Photoshop Actions.
Exposure adds realistic grain separately to the shadows,
mid-tones, and highlights of an image. Unlike other digital products,
Exposure does not add harsh, unrealistic noise to an image. Instead,
Exposure models the size, shape, and color of real world grain.
Exposure can even mimic the pronounced grain of films such as Ilford
3200 Delta, as well as the discontinued Ektachrome EES and GAF 500.
Collecting color, dynamic range, softness, and grain controls
in one place, Exposure simplifies workflow. Photographers can now
master one easy-to-use tool. Streamlined color and saturation controls
warm/cool with a single. Exposure makes gamma correction and contrast
changes less intimidating by adding high level contrast, highlight and
shadow controls to curves editing.
Exposure includes several, additional features that address
the needs of photographers. Exposure reproduces key studio and darkroom
effects such as cross processing, push processing, and glamour portrait
softening. 32-bit image support makes it possible to work with high
dynamic range (HDR) images. Exposure encourages non-destructive
editing, allowing users to render an adjusted image as a new layer in
Photoshop. Exposure's advanced preview system includes an optional,
split preview in addition to a before/after button. Exposure pairs
unlimited undo/redo with fast rendering and lets photographers zoom and
pan using Photoshop style keyboard shortcuts.
Pricing and Availability: Exposure will be available
early in
2006 for an estimated street price of $199. Registered users of other
Alien Skin products will receive discount pricing when ordering direct
from http://www.alienskin.com.
Exposure will also be available worldwide through stores, catalogs and
resellers.
Makers of award-winning plug-ins since 1994, Alien Skin Software writes
and sells filters that users love.
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