Kubota Image Tools
These Photoshop Actions are packaged in several different editions: Artistic Tools vols. 1-4, Production Tools, the Sloppy Borders Add-on Pak and "AutoAlbum, vol. 3" (Kubota's volume numbering is one of the industry's great mysteries). Developed by educator Kevin Kubota, the main Kubota Image Tools allow you to perform image enhancement and filtering and to create special effects, while AutoAlbum is a magazine album layout software utility.
Production Tools has over 50 Photoshop Actions, such as batch resizing, batch color correction, tonal correction, rotations, retouching setups and saving multiple file copies in one step.
Artistic Tools also comes with 50+ Actions in each volume, notably black-and-white conversion which has been highly praised by specialists, but also many others including glowing skin effects, organic film grain, backlight compensation, and soft filters. Volume 2 goes over the top with some adventurous processing ("Lord of the Rings," "Hawaiian Punch," etc). Volume 4, the so-called Cutting Edge Pak, offers effects like "Enter the Dragons Lair" (dark and dramatic) and "Try a Little Tenderness" (soft and romantic). You could, of course, achieve all these effects by yourself in Photoshop, but the Actions are readymade and help to speed up the process.
Comment
Although not inexpensive, the Kubota Image Tools certainly save a lot of time in the "digital darkroom." Their reputation among photographers is good and they picked up Hot One awards from Professional Photographer at the Imaging USA show.
Based on long practical experience in digital photography, the Kubota Image Tools are cleverly designed and marketed. They are supported by several tutorials.
Tech info
- Plugs into: Photoshop 7.0 or better (some require Photoshop CS2 or newer)
- OS: Win 98 onwards; Mac OS X
- Price level: (Production Tools) $179; (Artistic Tools) $179
Kubota Photo-Design
Founded by Kevin Kubota (voted a Top 10 Wedding Photographer by American Photo), Kubota Photo-Design has been shooting completely digital since 1999. The Photoshop Actions are widely used by other professional photographers.
From the same vendor:
- Artistic Tools
- Production Tools
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