I recently wanted some new business cards to go with my spiffy new logo and so I decided to give Moo a try. I had seen their ads, but had never really given them a serious look. One of their many unique attributes is that they will print your business cards in color on 2 sides and …wait for it…you can have a unique image on EACH card! Holy Printing Batman! This would cost a fortune anyplace, except Moo. They’ll do it for $22 for 50. That is a great deal.

The quality is exceptional and heavy weight and somehow they have a velvety feel. According to Moo, “Our paper is thick, high quality 16pt card with a sleek matte laminate finish”. Everybody loves to touch my Moo cards!

They really love to print and will actually print you a sample run for FREE! Go to their website…HERE, and download the photoshop template and make some cards! I cannot recommend highly enough that you have your cool colorful custom cuddly cards printed by the good people at Moo.

Here is mine…show me yours!

[View with PicLens]

Round of applause and a huge thanks to Luc for putting the  “dossier de presse” plugin for Next-Gen Gallery together. Being able to upload images straight from Lightroom to my Next-Gen gallery on my website is a huge time saver. Did I mention it is dead easy and worked perfectly the first time and every time so far. It will even allow you to create the blog post with the export, WOW!

I used the plugin to upload this image to a gallery that already existed on my site, so that will work as well…

You can download the plugin…HERE.

And just because it is free does not mean that you should not donate! Don’t be cheap either your time is worth a lot and this plugin will save you time. If you use the Next-Gen Galleries on your website and you don’t use Lightroom this plugin is soo good you should go buy Lightroom!

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3

Today Adobe released ACR 6.1. This update is only for Photoshop CS5 and not earlier versions.

Support for several new cameras has been added in this update. Visit the Camera Raw page for a complete list of supported cameras. Also, Camera Raw 6.1 includes new lens correction functionality that can apply profile-based corrections to accommodate geometric distortions, chromatic aberration and lens vignette effects. Manual corrections for geometric distortion as well as vertical and horizontal perspective transforms are also available. A handful of lens profiles are included for automatic correction and more can be created by the community with the Adobe Lens Profile Creator.

Adobe recommends that you use the select “Updates” from the help menu and install this automagically. If that does not work, here are the links.

The full details for Mac users are…HERE.

The full details for Windows users are…HERE.

I was on my way to photograph at a park, kind of far from home (the Bluebirds if you are reading more) and so was on the road really early. I had completely forgotten about the shuttle launch, but I just happend to look out the window and saw the contrail from the launch. This was about 20 minutes after launch. Wish I would have looked up earlier! I am assuming that the top/closer bit is front lit by the moon and the lower/farther part is backlit by the yet to rise sun. anyway, its kind of cool.

Adobe Labs has the pre-release candidate for Camera RAW 5.7 available for download…HERE.

This is basically an update to include new camera models. There is also a fix for LR3, but as I always say, I recommend that you download and install it anyway as I always feel there may be additional tweaks under the hood…

Release Notes

• Newly supported camera models include:
  • Canon EOS 550D (Digital Rebel T2i/ EOS Kiss X4 Digital)
  • Kodak Z981
  • Leaf Aptus-II 8
  • Leaf Aptus-II 10R
  • Mamiya DM40
  • Olympus E-PL1
  • Panasonic G2
  • Panasonic G10
  • Sony A450
• • Camera Raw 5.7 includes an updated demosaic algorithm designed to provide compatibility with settings applied in Lightroom 3.

Nikon Capture NX 2 Full VersionNikon Capture NX 2 Full Version

Nikon Capture NX 2 Upgrade from Capture NX 1.xNikon Capture NX 2 Full VersionThe big news for Mac fans is that only 5 months after the launch of Snow Leopard, Nikon managed to get their software updated and compatible. Despite the tone of that sentence it is really good news, because I am seeing a huge increase in performance with this update.

From Nikon USA and a link to the download page.

If you were waiting to buy now would be a good time. Here are the links to purchase NX2.

Nikon Capture NX 2 Full Version

Nikon Capture NX 2 Upgrade from Capture NX 1.x

Macintosh:

* Compatibility with Mac OS X version 10.6.2 has been added.

* Specifications have been modified so that when 25 Photos on Page, or a higher number of photos per page, is selected for Select Layout in the Print layout dialog, the Use Thumbnail Data (Draft Use Only) box is automatically checked.

This resolves an issue that prevented printing when 25 Photos on Page, or a higher number of photos per page, was selected for Select Layout.

* Capture NX 2 would quit unexpectedly when certain settings files were applied with the Apply Settings box checked in the Watched Folder panel of the Batch Process dialog. This issue has been resolved.

* An issue that caused Capture NX 2 to freeze when switching images after the Color Picker had been opened has been resolved.

Windows:

* Compatibility with 32- and 64-bit versions of Windows 7 Home Basic/ Home Premium/ Professional/ Enterprise/ Ultimate has been added. When run under 64-bit versions, the software operates as a 32-bit application.

* Compatibility with 64-bit versions of Windows Vista Home Basic/ Home Premium/ Business/ Enterprise/ Ultimate (Service Pack 2) editions has been added. When run under 64-bit versions, the software operates as a 32-bit application.

* Specifications have been modified so that when 25 Photos on Page, or a higher number of photos per page, is selected for Select Layout in the Print layout dialog, the Use Thumbnail Data (Draft Use Only) box is automatically checked.

This resolves an issue that prevented printing when 25 Photos on Page, or a higher number of photos per page, was selected for Select Layout.

* An issue that caused an error message to be displayed and prevented printing when borderless settings were applied with some printers has been resolved.

* An issue that prevented accurate application of borderless print settings has been resolved.

* An issue that prevented specification of the same margin for left, right, top, and bottom margins in the Margins section of the Page Setup dialog has been resolved.

* An issue that caused a delay between clicking of the Print button and actual initiation of printing has been resolved.

* When an image was opened on some computers with AMD CPUs, Capture NX 2 quit unexpectedly. This issue has been resolved.

* An issue that caused an error message to be displayed during batch processing of a large number of files has been resolved.

* When a batch process was run with the Notify when completed box in the Processing Queue – Process Running dialog checked, a blank window was displayed. This issue has been resolved.

* When a batch process was run for multiple images with the same shooting date and time, the processed images were not saved with the correct file names. This issue has been resolved.

* An issue that caused batch processing to fail before completion when a batch process was run with certain settings has been resolved.

* An issue that caused an error message to be displayed when multiple enhancements were applied to images has been resolved.

* An issue that caused an error message to be displayed when attempting to open several images previously saved with Capture NX 2 has been resolved.

* When the Camera & Lens Corrections checkbox was checked (Develop section of Edit List), enhancements were not applied to an image opened in the image window and displayed at 100%, and the enhanced image could not be saved. This issue has been resolved.

* When image window display was maximized with Desktop selected for Window menu>Workspaces>Additional Screen for the primary monitor on a dual monitor system, the image window disappeared. This issue has been resolved.

* When the zoom tool was used to enlarge an image displayed with Full Screen or Presentation selected from the View menu, the portion of the image clicked with the zoom tool was not displayed at the center of the window. This issue has been resolved.

* An issue that prevented switching between “+” and “-“ operations when the ALT key was pressed while using the selection brush has been resolved.

* An issue that caused folders in the Capture NX 2 Folders palette to be displayed in a different order than with Windows Explorer display has been resolved.

* When the crop tool was used to select a crop and the ENTER key pressed to apply the crop, the cursor did not switch to a selection tool. This issue has been resolved.

* When a number was entered after a decimal point for some enhancement items with text boxes for entering numerical values in the Edit List, the values could not be changed. This issue has been resolved.

* When “-” (minus) was entered in the Exposure Compensation text box under Quick Fix in the Develop section of the Edit List, it was displayed in red and then “0” was displayed after a few seconds. This issue has been resolved.

Nikon just released a bunch of camera firmware updates.

Interesting highlights are improved white balance and auto-focus! Instructions and full details are on the Nikon website. Here are the links.

• Nikon D700 A/B 1.0.2
• Nikon D300S A/B 1.0.1
• Nikon D300 A/B 1.10
• Nikon D3 A/B: 2.02
• Nikon D3x B:1.01

I’ve been a fan of MPIX for a while now and those of you that have bought prints from mew probably have received them from MPIX. I use them to print directly from my portfolio on all unsigned images. Now MPIX has upped the ante with their Pro services.

Here is a short list of upgrades from their regular service:

• Greater product selection! A product catalog twice the size of Mpix
• Simplified ordering! Order using the popular ROES software
• Reduced shipping! All orders ship via FedEx Overnight at only $4.00 per order… orders over $100 ship for free!

You should head over to their site for the details and to see if you qualify. Yes, qualify, you do need to be a professional photographer to qualify for the services. Here is the link.

I  just got my test prints back from them and I have never seen a more professional presentation of prints. Just outstanding. The first run wasn’t perfect, but that can be expected when you are dialing in your monitor and printer calibration. MPIX was helpful and responsive in helping me get it fixed.

I’m looking forward to a long relationship with MPIX Pro.

This is one of those web things that I saw and thought was a bit silly and frankly useless. Well my friends, I’ve seen the light and it’s called Cool Iris. It takes pictures from the galleries on my site and makes them appear in a 3D wall of images that you can scroll around and zoom in on etc. Now you do need to add a plugin to your browser, but it is free and easy. You can get it here at the Cool Iris website.

Here is a gallery of images that are all set and ready to Cool Iris! So go get the download and come back for a visual treat.

[View with PicLens]

This is on the Nikon Europe site at the moment, but should be up in the US site shortly.

The big deal for me is that when you are using auto iso you can now set the minimum shutter speed up to a 4000th. The old setting was 1/250! They also clain improved auto focus which is always welcome.

Link to the upgrade and full details about the update.

The following improvements have been made in version 1.10

- The Highlights playback display option has been moved from Display mode > Basic photo info > Highlights in the playback menu to Display mode > Detailed photo info > Highlights.
- The size and color of “Demo” displayed in the monitor with playback when No memory card? in the Custom Settings is set to Enable release, have been modified.
- The range of settings available for ISO sensitivity settings > ISO sensitivity auto control > Minimum shutter speed in the shooting menu has been increased from 1/250 – 1 s to 1/4000 – 1 s.
- When shooting in hand-held live view mode and the frame is magnified prior to autofocusing, operation has been modified so that display returns to the magnified display rather than full-frame display.
- Images captured with Rotate tall, in the playback menu, set to On are not automatically rotated for display immediately after capture (image review).
- A Copyright information item has been added to the setup menu.  When Copyright information is enabled, the copyright symbol (©) is shown in the shooting info display.
- Recent settings can now be displayed in place of My Menu.
- Custom Setting e3 Flash cntrl for built-in flash (e3 Optional flash when an optional Speedlight is mounted on the camera) can now be added to My Menu using the Add items option in My Menu from Add items > Custom setting menu > e Bracketing/flash.
- The degree of the High ISO NR setting can now be confirmed in the shooting info display while the High ISO NR setting item, in the shooting menu, is being applied.
- Ankara, Riyadh, Kuwait, and Manama have been added to the Time zone options for the World time item in the setup menu.
- When a GPS device is used and no heading information is available, —.–° is now displayed for the Position > Heading option in the GPS item in the setup menu.
- When shooting in live view mode using Camera Control Pro 2 (Ver. 2.2.0 or later) with a PC-E lens, the aperture setting can now be adjusted from the computer.
- Focus acquisition performance in dynamic-area AF mode has been improved.
- Focus acquisition performance with contrast-detect AF has been improved.
- Auto white balance performance has been improved.
- The fourth digit in seconds display for GPS latitude and longitude information is now rounded off rather than omitted.
- The current MB-D10 battery type setting can now be confirmed in the shooting info display when R6 / AA-size batteries are used with the Multi-Power Battery Pack MB-D10.
- An issue that caused an increase in noise with shooting in [M] exposure mode at a shutter speed setting of bulb with the shutter held open for less than 8 seconds and Long exp. NR enabled has been resolved.
- An issue that prevented shutter release at the specified shutter speed when no operations were performed for 30 seconds in mirror up mode has been resolved.
- An issue that caused abnormal image display when  Image review was set to On and the playback zoom in button was pressed immediately after shooting at the following settings has been resolved.
. Image quality:  NEF (RAW ) + JPEG
.  NEF (RAW) recording:  Lossless compressed or Compressed
.  Image size: S or M
- When the Speedlight SB-800 was mounted on the camera with flash mode set to distance-priority manual (GN) mode, and the camera recovered from standby mode triggered by the auto meter off function, the distance information displayed on the SB-800 changed.  This issue has been resolved.

A couple of useful links to Amazon for the D300.

Nikon EN-EL3e Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery for D200, D300, D700 and D80 Digital SLR Cameras

Nikon D300 DX 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera

A couple of weeks ago there was an add from Nikon teasing about something big for wedding photographers. Here is the ad.

Now that set of a zillion more rumors that it was the upcoming (allegedly) D3X. Now comes the newest and greatest rumor, a medium format 48 meegapixel format. YOWZER, call your Swiss banker for that beasty!

One from a blogger that prefers anonymity:

A relatively compact traditional “medium format-esque” camera in a new camera line that will beaimed at studio, portrait, landscape and wedding photographers needs, with a more affordable price point than present larger format digital backs. This will allow the continuation of the D line as the sports and news photographers choice, expanding on the D3 with an upgrade to a 24mp sensor (hopefully available for the D3 body!) and future plans for 60 frame rate video recording modes in future models.

I guess the viral campaign that helped push Batman to a billion dollars caught somebody’s attention over at Canon. I also guess the 5D is coming to take over the moon… 

Here is the link.

Now this is very interesting. One of the things that I have really enjoyed about Nikon’s Cappture NX software is the camera profiles. They tweak the colors and other settings to try to maximize the output for a particular subject. For example, they have wildlife, portrait etc. Now Adobe is simulating these effects as well in both Lightroom and Adobe ACR 4.5. I just downloaded them myself, but I’ll add some more details later.

Here is the link to Adobe’s website for official details and the downloads.

Adobe has released ACR 4.5 from beta and you can now download it from their site. It has support for a bunch of new cameras. I always download the latest version even if I don’t have the new camera. I always feel they are playing with the code and their may be some unadvertised benefits. Besides, who doesn’t like new software…and its free.

Here is the link to Adobe’s website for the download.