Digital SLR Blog

Adobe Systems, Apple, Hewlett Packard, Nikon, Nik Software, Wacom and X-Rite have collaborated to organize a Creative Alliance Tour. The nine-city tour as been set up to provide creative professionals with a comprehensive insight into a complete digital workflow. The Creative Alliance Tour will begin in autumn 2009, with stops in the Netherlands, UK, Spain, France, Germany and Italy. For the exact dates and registration information please visit: http://www.thecreativealliancetour.com

An updated version of the Noise Ninja standalone application is now available courtesy PictureCode. Noise Ninja v2.2.0 is available for both Mac and Windows OS and features a new batch processing function called Sidekick Mode. The Sidekick Mode programs other applications, like Photo Mechanic to send in images for noise removal processing. You can download it from here.


[Via Rob Galbraith]

Aperture 2.1.3 is now available for download to Mac users. The new version “improves overall stability and provides fixes for issues related to database integrity and compatibility with specific file types."

Fixes include:

• Nikon images imported directly from a camera now display thumbnails correctly in the Import window.

• Fixed an issue that could cause unwanted duplicate image versions to be created after rebuilding a library or after importing projects. These duplicate versions appear in the Browser as gray boxes or square thumbnails and show a Pixel Size of "0 x 0" in the Metadata panel. The word "(null)" may appear in the name of these versions. If your Aperture Library contains these duplicate versions, you may be able to eliminate them by rebuilding your library after updating to Aperture 2.1.3. To rebuild an Aperture Library, hold down the Option and Command keys while opening Aperture, then click the Rebuild Now button. If rebuilding the Aperture Library does not remove these unwanted duplicate versions, you can manually delete them.

• Addressed a library issue that prevented the operation of the Relocate and Consolidate commands in some circumstances. This situation could occur if you renamed images using the Relocate Masters command, and then subsequently rebuilt your Aperture Library. If you are unable to Relocate or Consolidate Masters, you may be able to remedy the issue by rebuilding your Aperture Library using Aperture 2.1.3, as described above.
 

Apple has released a number of updates for the Mac OS that fixes a number of issues related to imaging. The Life updates include:

• iLife Support 9.0.2 -- This update improves overall stability and addresses a number of other minor issues. It is recommended for all users of Aperture, iLife 09, and iWork 09."

• iPhoto 8.0.2 Update -- "This update improves overall stability and addresses minor issues in a number of areas, including Faces, Places, photo sharing, and slideshows."

• iMovie 8.0.1 -- "This update improves overall application stability as well as addressing minor issues related to usability."

Apple has released the iPhoto Update 8.0.1 that  "improves overall stability and addresses minor issues in a number of areas, including Internet connectivity, keyword import, and slideshow export." Apple users can hit the update button on their Macs or head over to the download page.

Digital Anarchy has unveiled the Knoll Light Factory and ToonIt! Photo applications for Apple’s Aperture. Knoll Light Factory generates lighting effects where as ToonIt! Photo creates cartoon-like images from photographs. Knoll Light Factory 3.0 for Aperture is priced at $129 USD. ToonIt! 2.0 for Aperture is priced at $129 USD and products are also currently available for Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Elements.

The Apple  iLife 09 suite is now shipping and offers major upgrades to iPhoto, iMovie and GarageBand. Retailing for $79.00 (Single User), iLife 09 requires Mac OS X version 10.5.6 or later, a Macintosh® computer with an Intel processor, a PowerPC G5 or 867 MHz or faster PowerPC G4, 512MB of RAM (1GB recommended) and QuickTime® 7.5.5 or later.

You can see step-by-step demonstrations of iLife ’09 features by browsing more than 70 video tutorials here.

The HP iPrint Photo is a new free application that is available on the Apple App Store. Via the application, iPhone and iPod touch customers can easily print photos anytime,anywhere. The application is fully compatible with Apple's Bonjour technology and one can print 4x6-inch photos using HP inkjet printers connected to a local Wi-Fi network.

Apple has released the Digital Camera Raw Compatibility Update 2.4. The new version addresses issues related to specific cameras and overall stability and also extends Raw file compatibility to the following cameras:

• Canon EOS 5D Mark II

• Canon PowerShot G10

• Pentax K2000/K-m

• Leaf AFi-II 6

• Leaf AFi-II 7

• Leaf Aptus-II 6

• Leaf Aptus-II 7

• Leica M8.2

For more information and to download the update head over here.

Apple users can now download the Mac OS X 10.5.6 update which not only fixes general operating system bugs but also includes fixes for possible graphics distortion issues with certain ATI graphics cards and improves printing for Adobe CS3 application suite and USB-based Brother and Canon printers.

Graphics

    * Includes general improvements to gaming performance.
    * Includes graphics improvements for iChat, Cover Flow, Aperture, and iTunes.
    * Includes fixes for possible graphics distortion issues with certain ATI graphics cards.


For more information head over here.