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SEPTEMBER 02, 2003 Reindeer Graphics Optipix 2.0
This new method is just ideal for pulling forward the underlying texture of an image without generating a tremendous amount of noise and without affecting your image's colors. The images below show a shot of a flower before and after Detail Sharpening.  [an error occurred while processing this directive]Before Detail Sharpening After Detail Sharpening The last new plugin is more of a complete compositing engine than just a filter. In case you haven't noticed, Photoshop doesn't provide any layer compositing options for 16-bit images, so you're stuck with downsampling to 8 bits per channel in order to work with multiple layers. But Optipix 2.0 provides a workaround for this in the form of a plugin called Layer Modes. With Layer Modes, you can add an image to the plugin's image buffer and then composite it with another image.  The plugin provides not only every layer mode currently offered by Photoshop (multiply, darken, screen, overlay, etc.) but also includes six additional modes, including subtract, highlight, shadow, remove, ratio and compare. It also offers opacity controls and sub-pixel nudging. What can I write about this that isn't immediately obvious? What was previously impossible in Photoshop is now entirely possible: 16-bit image and color correction combined with full compositing capabilities. This plugin alone may be worth the price of admission for many of you. And if it's not, well, the new Auto Contrast and Detail Sharpener filters, along with all of the other tools that have made their way up from the 1.x release, ought to convince you. This is simply a terrific package for anybody who works with photographs in Adobe Photoshop, and essential for those who work with 16-bit images. The bottom line Optipix 2.0 will be a valued addition to the repertoire of any professional photographer working with 16-bit images. It's functionality goes way beyond the limited tools that Photoshop provides in this area. But it will also be a valuable addition to the toolset of any graphic artist who performs image correction and manipulation, as well as color restoration. It provides a wide array of unique tools with the professional in mind but at a price point that won't break anybody's budget. I give it a Strong Buy recommendation. Reindeer Graphics Optipix 2.0 is available now for Mac OS 9, Mac OS X and Windows for $149.95 for the full version ($134.95 through Nov. 1) and $75 for the upgrade from version 1.x. It also includes two complete texts in PDF format for digital photographers: "Digital Fine Print Workflow," by George DeWolfe, and "Photoshop for Digital Photographers," by John C. Russ. For more information, visit http://www.reindeergraphics.com. Contact the author: Dave Nagel is the producer of Creative Mac and Digital Media Designer; host of several World Wide User Groups, including Synthetik Studio Artist, Adobe Photoshop, Mac OS, Adobe InDesign, Adobe LiveMotion, Creative Mac and Digital Media Designer; and executive producer of the Digital Media Net family of publications. You can reach him at dnagel@digitalmedianet.com. Prev 1 2 3 4 Related sites: • AV Video • Creative Mac • Digital Media Designer • Digital Producer • The WWUG Related forums: [an error occurred while processing this directive] 
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