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December 19, 2009 by A.J. Wood

Adobe Software Updates – Camera RAW 5.6 & Lightroom 2.6

Adobe released updates for both Camera RAW 5.6 & Lightroom 2.6 yesterday. Lightroom users, you did install the Camera RAW update right? The following link to the camera raw support page provides the appropriate download links for both Mac & PC computers. Here are some additional tips when updating your software:

Camera RAW 5.6 – This update applies if you run Photoshop CS4, or Photoshop Elements 7 or 8. You’ll want to install this update if you also use Lightroom to ensure file compatibility.

Lightroom 2.6 – This update simply installs on top of your current version of Lightroom. There is no need to use your installation CDs UNLESS you’re upgrading from version 1 (but then where have you been?)

The latest camera support has been added to these updates, and a full list is available on the camera raw support page.

Known Issues According to the Read Me file:

Burning exported images to disc is not available for the Lightroom 64-bit Windows application.
Upgrading a Lightroom 1 catalog during a catalog import can create multiple temporary copies of the catalog while upgrading.
Lightroom performance can be impacted when the Window’s Recycle Bin contains thousands of files.
Lightroom may not automatically launch an import dialog when a memory card is attached to a Windows Vista computer. Please select the Import button in the Library and select the attached card reader to begin the import.
Lightroom 2.6 will not automatically migrate plug-ins located in the following directory: C:Program
FilesAdobeAdobe Photoshop Lightroom 2Modules. Any plug-ins in this folder should be moved to: XP: C:/Documents and Settings/{your_username}/Application Data/Adobe/Lightroom/Modules/ | Vista: C:/Users/{your_username}/AppData/Roaming/Adobe/Lightroom/Modules/

The Lightroom 2.6 update fixes known issues with Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) including visual artifacts in the Develop module, edit errors when handing files off to Photoshop, and the dreaded PowerPC problem that affected folks using LR 2.5.

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October 22, 2009 by A.J. Wood

Adobe Releases Lightroom 3 Public Beta

If you haven’t heard by now then you must be sleeping… Adobe released the public beta for Lightroom 3. While this is one AWESOME moment for photographers and photo enthusiasts everywhere, let me repeat the mantra used by many of my colleagues today:

This is BETA software!

While I’m all for being on the cutting edge of technology, I’m not looking to get knicked anytime soon either. If you want to be the envy of all your buddies at least take a few precautions before firing up LR3. Use copies of images for the LR3 catalog. Keep in mind any changes may not work with the final release. Be prepared for wonky behavior on your computer while using BETA software.

Lightroom 3 is going to be a great release, Adobe having improved areas at customer request, e.g., noise reduction, file importing, printing, and added new features such as the Publish Services & Watermarking for improved workflows. You can check out Gene McCullagh’s blog for a quick summary of features or watch some videos over at NAPP’s Lightroom 3 Learning Center.

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October 8, 2009 by A.J. Wood

Photoshop Questions? Just Ask A.J.

It’s a quick hit Thursday. I’d say I was recovering from my Photoshop World experience (which was AWESOME), but we both know I’ve been knee deep in work since coming back from Vegas. Plenty of things on my plate, but had to take a moment to announce some cool stuff:

1. Ask A.J. (brought to you by Tip Squirrel) – This new column launched this week. Head over to the Tip Squirrel blog and ask me those nagging Photoshop questions, you know, the ones that keep you stirring about in your chair, scraping your nails against your Wacom tablet. I’ll be answering as many questions as I can each week, and if you behave, I might even thrown in some video responses.

2. Lightroom Core Series – due to the popularity of this seminar, I’m repeating the classes this month. Part 1 – Get Organized kicks off next week on Oct 14th, followed by the Part 2 – Develop It on Oct 21st, and we’ll wrap up with Part 3 – Output/Export on Oct 28th. Advanced registration is $25, or $40 at the door.

Finally had a chance to work on a few photos from my Photoshop World trip. Might post some HDR stuff later, but you’ll enjoy the hazing I took during the Photoshop Challenge EXTREME. Alright, that’s it for now, back to work people.

September 15, 2009 by A.J. Wood

DFW Events – Week of Sept 14th

Good afternoon all. Here’s the list of events happening in Dallas/Ft. Worth this week including part 2 of my Lightroom Core Series. Speaking of Lightroom, have you downloaded the 2.5 update yet? Be sure to update Adobe Camera RAW to 5.5 as well. Use the update options in Photoshop & Lightroom or download directly from the Adobe website.

Richardson Entrepreneurs – Tuesday, September 15th at 7pm: get together and network with like minded folks.

Digital Photography Club – Wednesday, September 16th at 7pm: Lightroom Core Series – Part 2, Develop Module – I’ll be delivering a 2hr seminar on how to use Lightroom’s Develop module. Part 1 was a big hit, and I’ll be repeating the series in October & November. Cost $25 adv, $40 door

Texas Glamour Club – Thursday, September 17th at 6pm: The lovely & talented Betzu is at the studio for a private club shoot. Cost $199

DDPMG – Saturday, September 19th at 6am: Join the club for the Plano Balloon Festival. Great photo opportunity if you’ve never been.

DFWAUG – Saturday, September 19th at 11am: Adobe AIR with Scott Filloon. Learn what the buzz is all about, and why this is a hot development platform right now.

NTPC – Saturday, September 19th at 8:30am: photo outing at the Classic Car Show.

That’s the wrap for this week folks. Feel free to contact me if you have future events planned, or if you would like me to add your usergroup to my community page.

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September 3, 2009 by A.J. Wood

Set It Right In Camera with Photojojo’s White Balance Lens Cap

It’s a question that comes up often in my Lightroom & Photoshop classes – what’s the best way to white balance my images?

In the world of post-processing there are a number of answers to that question. Photoshop has Levels & Curves, Layers & Filters, you can click with eyedroppers or use the new On-Image-Adjustment Tool in CS4. Photographers using Lightroom have a more straightforward approach as white balance is the first adjustment in the Basic panel under the Develop module. However, beginners & advanced users alike must acknowledge the time it takes to white balance an image regardless of the steps you choose to take. As a production specialist, I’m always looking for ways to reduce the time spent on tasks. My students know that I preach “Actions, Presets, & Macros” because my time is valuable to me. It’s true, I can make Photoshop sing, and Lightroom seemingly bends to my will (I kid, I kid), but the smartest way to white balance your images is to do it right in camera.

*cue music*