Optipix
Optipix is a suite of plugins for enhancing digital photographs and solving common photographic problems. Its key features of are:
- Interactive Interpolation: "up-rezzing" tool for rescaling images
- Blend Exposures: for blending two or more images to improve contrast
- Auto Contrast: with zone system integration and control over midtones
- Detail Sharpener: to improve textures and fine detail
- JPEG Cleaner: removes "JPEG blockies" for a cleaner image
- Refocus: removes blurriness and softness without sharpening artefacts
Optipix comes with a 60+ page Optipix Guide and has a wealth of other features. It is intended for 16-bits per channel workflow from capture to print.
Comment
Although Optipix can be used by relative beginners, experienced photographers will love features like Power Median which lets you remove noise that has a specific shape or orientation. Another outstanding feature is Blend Exposures which allows you to blend bracketed images together to obtain perfectly exposed highlights, midtones and shadows.
Optipix has been widely praised by reviewers both at its introduction and at the launch of the major 3.0 upgrade. Its price is offset by the inclusion of George DeWolfe's book "Workflow for Digital Fine Printing" (a $75 value), and Dr. John Russ's "Photoshop for Digital Photographers" textbook.
Tech info
- Plugs into: Photoshop 7, CS, CS2 etc.
- OS: Windows 95 onwards; Mac OS X 10.2 onwards
- Price level: Approx. $120
Reindeer Graphics
Reindeer Graphics is one of the industry leaders in affordable image processing and measurement tools for science, forensics, photography, and education. It was incorporated in 1995 and in that year it launched its first product, The Image Processing Tool Kit. It developed the Optipix range in a joint project with photographer George DeWolfe.
From the same vendor:
- Fovea Pro
- Image Processing Tool Kit
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