Photoshop
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Adobe adds 3D printing tools to Photoshop CC, MakerBot and Shapeways support in tow
With the emergence of desktop 3D printing, a long-trusted name in creative software is looking to offer tools for the task. Adobe has announced an update to Photoshop CC that includes 3D printing capabilities as a means of "simplifying the 3D print process." The new functionality allows you to refine, preview, prep and output those three-dimensional creations. Starting from scratch or using an existing model, Photoshop's tools like automated mesh repair and support structure generation lend a hand with final production. The software will also add scaffolding under your creations so that they don't collapse during the production process and automatically check for watertightness. When you're ready for printing, Photoshop CC has built-in support for four 3D printers (more on that in a bit), Shapeways online community/marketplace for printing away from home and publishing models via Sketchfab. Using Sketchfab's 3D viewer, projects can be posted to Behance for online portfolio purposes. Support for directly printing from Photoshop to 3D Systems Cube, MakerBot Replicator 2, MakerBot Replicator 2x and Zcorp Full Color is baked in, as is the ability to export an STL file. You can also preview finished prints from each device and the Shapeways marketplace to achieve a more accurate final product. Photoshop even allows for the selection of materials and provides pricing, if you choose to go with the online printing company. Support for more of "the most popular" printer models is said to be on the way. "Before today there was a gap between the content produced by 3D modeling tools and what 3D printers need in order to deliver high quality results. Now, by simply clicking 'Print' in Photoshop CC, creatives can bring 3D designs to the physical world," said Winston Hendrickson, Adobe's VP of products, Creative Media Solutions. What's more, the outfit says that it expects current users to stay in Photoshop to 3D print items such as packaging mockups and more. Don't worry, tools for regular use are included in the update as well. Perspective Warp allows you to change an object's viewpoint and Linked Smart Objects to improve collaborative efforts with automatic updating. All of the new tools and features are available now as a free update to Creative Cloud subscribers.
Adobe extends holiday deal on Photoshop Photography Program until Dec. 8th
If you're a pro photographer or just an enthusiast who is still waiting to bite the bullet on Photoshop CC and Lightroom 5, you have a few days left to take advantage of a pretty sweet deal from Adobe. Originally, the holiday promotion on Adobe's Photoshop Photography Program was set to expire on December 2, but now, thanks to popular demand, the company has decided to extend it until this Sunday, December 8 at 9 PM PST. The Adobe Photoshop Photography Program offers access to the latest versions of Adobe's professional photography apps -- Photoshop CC and Lightroom 5 -- in addition to updates and upgrades as they are available, 20 GB of cloud storage and the Behance ProSite, for only US$9.99 a month as an annual subscription. After December 8, the Photoshop Photography Program will continue to be available for $9.99 a month (annual subscription) until December 31. However, in order to qualify for the promotion after December 8, you'll need to be an existing owner of Photoshop or Photoshop Extended, version CS3 or later (CS3.x, CS4, CS5.x or CS6), as a standalone product or as part of a suite edition to qualify. If you want to take advantage of this deal, click on over to Adobe.com to join up.
Compromised Adobe account tally rises to include at least 38 million users
It seems that the initial report of 2.9 million compromised user accounts from Adobe's security breach earlier this month was a mere drop in the bucket. Krebs on Security reports that at least 38 million active users were were impacted by the incident and that the swiped source code included the Photoshop line of offerings in addition to Acrobat Reader and ColdFusion. If you'll recall, the breach nabbed encrypted credit card info as well as a then unknown number of user ID and log-in credentials alongside the aforementioned code. Adobe claims that all customers with a stolen ID have been contacted and that no "unauthorized activity" has been seen with any of the compromised log-ins. Of course, it will take some time to determine the full extent of the damage, but for now, the creative software giant's push to subscription-based releases is sure to take a bigger hit.
Photoshop and Premiere Elements 12 now available, learn editing preferences
Adobe's Creative Cloud not your thing? Photoshop and Premiere Elements 12 have just arrived to please your subscription-averse (and beginner-level) nature. The latest version of the outfit's photo suite features Content-Aware Move for shifting objects within a photo and having the resulting gaps filled in, the ability to correct flash reflections in animals' eyes and 64-bit support for Macs. Elements Mobile Albums are new to this release as well, and they let users view, edit and share photos on mobile devices through the firm's Revel solution. Premiere Elements boasts motion tracking to move graphics, text and effects with objects, upwards of 250 sound effects and more than 50 soundtracks that rearrange themselves to fit the length of footage. Both the video and photo editing packages sport Auto Smart Tone, which learns a user's editing preferences and serves them up in a one-click option. While both programs have picked up a healthy share of upgrades, the pricing model remains unchanged. Mac and Windows versions are now available online from Adobe for $100, or $150 when purchased in a bundle. Upgrades are set at $80 for each, or $120 when the pair are snapped up together. As for boxed copies of the software, they'll be available soon form brick-and-mortar shops and online retailers.
Adobe announces Photoshop CC and Lightroom plan for $9.99/month
At the Photoshop World conference in Las Vegas yesterday, Adobe announced a new special subscription price for those that sign up for a Photoshop CC and Lightroom plan before December 31. The new subscription plan is for current owners of Photoshop CS3 or higher and offers the latest versions of Photoshop CC and Lightroom, 20 GB of online storage and a membership to Adobe's Behance portfolio website all for just US$9.99 a month. In a blog post, Adobe explained the reasoning behind the move: Since introducing Photoshop CC, we've listened to feedback from a spectrum of our customers, from advanced professionals to casual enthusiasts. One common request was a solution specifically tailored for photographers. We listened, and at Photoshop World we're announcing a special offer for our loyal Photoshop customers. Beginning today, customers who own Photoshop CS3 or higher are eligible for a special Creative Cloud membership offer that includes all of the following for just $9.99/month. Currently, a Photoshop Creative Cloud membership for new users is $19.99 per month and that doesn't include Lightroom, so the two flagship apps for $9.99 a month is quite a good deal (if you don't mind subscriptions). Though the offer is not yet live, Adobe says it will launch in the next few weeks when it rolls out the Lightroom 5.2 update.
Adobe to offer $9.99/month Creative Cloud subscription for a limited time
Adobe announced today that, for a limited time, it will offer a $9.99 per month subscription package to Creative Cloud as a part of its Photography Program. Naturally, there are a few caveats involved: the offer is available only to existing Creative Suite customers who own Photoshop CS3 or above and sign-ups close on December 31, 2013. The low price tag won't get you the full Creative Cloud treatment; the Photography Program will grant you access to the diet version, which includes Photoshop CC, Lightroom 5, Behance ProSite access and 20GB of storage space. It's a smart move on Adobe's part, considering that the company has been fielding complaints from disgruntled customers over its subscription pricing model. You'll have to wait until September 17th for the offer to go live, but the good news is that the $9.99 monthly rate isn't an introductory price, therefore it won't increase so long as your account remains active. For more info, check out the source link below.
Composite lighting technique lets amateurs produce well-lit photos in minutes (video)
Hobbyist photographers don't often have the luxury of elaborate lighting rigs. However, Adobe and Cornell University have developed a new software technique that could bring pro-grade illumination to a wider audience. Known as computational lighting design, the solution simplifies a familiar trick that combines shots taken with a camera's external flash placed in different positions. The software uses multiple sample photos to create composite images that emphasize color, edge lighting and fill lighting; editors just have to balance those three light values to get the desired effect. While the code is still unpolished, it's good enough that even beginners can produce well-lit masterpieces in less than 15 minutes. Adobe believes that the technique could reach future versions of apps like Lightroom or Photoshop, so don't be surprised if still-life photography catches on in the near future.
2013 Macbook Air update fixes flickering screen and WiFi, available now
If you've been experiencing unstable WiFi as well as flickers while Photoshopping on your new mid-year MacBook Air, Apple's got you covered. The tech giant reports that the patch addresses the aforementioned issues cropping up in "rare instances," as well as a bug that causes audio levels to jump around during video playback. The software update -- 1.0, if you're interested in the details -- is available from Apple Support in the links below.
OS X 10.8.5 update will reportedly fix MacBook Air/Photoshop flickering issue
There's a new annoyance bothering current-model MacBook Air owners who use Photoshop. It seems that the MBAs with Haswell processors have issues with Adobe's flagship software. In particular, many MacBook Air owners noticed severe screen flickering while using brush tools in Photoshop. When news of the flickering first surfaced, an Adobe representative said he believed a GPU issue or a driver bug was causing it. Now MacRumors is suggesting that the flickering is a result of a software glitch. Apple has released a new build of OS X 10.8.5 to developers and the Photoshop flickering issue appears to be resolved. As MacRumors reports: Today, MacRumors tipster Todd Davis tells us the flickering issue has been fixed in the OS X 10.8.5 beta released to developers today. The bug made Photoshop nearly unusable for a number of MacBook Air users. Some users have previously suggested that upgrading to the developer release of OS X Mavericks solved the problem, so the fix may be a matter of Apple pushing upgraded code sooner than it planned. There's no word on when users can expect to see OS X 10.8.5 released to the general public. If the latest build does indeed fix the MacBook Air/Photoshop flickering issue, chances are good that Apple will push it out sooner rather than later, since it doesn't want their newest Haswell laptop to present problems with such popular software.
Adobe releases latest Creative Cloud apps, surveys disgruntled customers about pricing
Love it or hate it, Adobe's Creative Cloud subscription-based software is now the only way to get your favorite apps like Photoshop, Premiere Pro and the like. The company has just released the latest versions of most of those programs, now dubbed CC, which can be installed alongside the current apps for those afraid to change mid-project. Meanwhile, Adobe's trying to tempt previous suite or apps owners to transition to the new system for up to 60 percent off for CS6 owners during a 12-month period, or 40 percent off for those on CS3 to CS5.5. According to Photo Rumors, Adobe is also considering a new pricing structure in response to a massive online backlash against the subscription model from existing clients, who feel it's too expensive. The company sent out a survey asking some of them what they thought about paying $10 per month for three years for Photoshop, or $30 for the entire suite, while being able to keep a permanent CS6 copy of either at the end. Considering the level of vehemence we saw earlier, we'll have to wait and see if that'll fly. Meanwhile, check the PR after the break to see what's new in all the apps.
Photoshop Express brings its quick photo fixes to Windows 8 and RT
Adobe's Photoshop Express has been taking care of our botched photos on Android and iOS for quite some time, but it hasn't had its turn on a desktop-class platform. That changes with today's launch of a version for Windows 8 and RT. Like their mobile counterparts, Windows users can now make basic edits, apply filters and sync photos to Revel in a touch-friendly interface; the chief difference is the landscape-oriented Windows Store look. If you've wanted to use your Surface as a mobile photo workshop without paying for apps, you can grab Express for free at the source link.
Adobe's move to the cloud: What it means, and why it isn't so bad
In case you haven't heard, a chapter in the history of Adobe's venerated Photoshop (and other Creative Suite applications) has just snapped shut. That's because all future versions have been moved to the Creative Cloud and renamed "CC," meaning that the only way to grab anything after CS6 will be to sign up for an internet-only subscription. Now, many of Adobe's customers for those apps (at least those who actually pony up for it) are pros who use it for paying gigs, and as Apple discovered with Final Cut Pro X, they're a vocal bunch when they see any threat to their livelihoods. You may not be sure whether to get angry and look for an alternative (good luck with that), or to just go with the flow and regard the whole thing as inevitable. Luckily, we've been using the Creative Cloud since it came out and Creative Suite before that, so our rundown after the break should help you make up your mind.
Adobe rebrands Creative Suite to focus on Creative Cloud, outlines new features for Photoshop (update: subscription only)
When Adobe first offered up Creative Cloud to those opting for its design software, the outfit promised that those members would get access to new features first. Now, the company has rebranded its Creative Suite to keep the creativity cloud-focused. Adobe has announced an entire line of CC apps at its annual MAX event, replacing the CS naming convention to follow up on last year's CS6 release. There's no word on if those numerals are gone for good too, but what we do know is that the list of newfangled tools for Photoshop CC includes revamped Smart Sharpen, upsampling for low-res images, support for Camera Raw 8 (as editable layers, too), editable rounded rectangles and more. Additionally, a few tools that were only available in the Extended versions of Photoshop (3D editing and image analysis items) are now available in this Creative Cloud version. Join us on the other side of the break for a quick rundown of the digital workbench that will arrive in June. Update: The Next Web reports that from hence forth, Creative Cloud apps will only be available through the subscription-based service for $50 (£38.12 ex-VAT) a month. Subscriptions are discounted for Creative Suite owners for the first year and both education and team-based pricing is available. CS6 will still be available for purchase, but will not receive the support of updates and bug fixes.
Samsung NX1100 ILC now shipping for $600 with bundled Lightroom 4
Samsung's quietly introduced replacement for the NX1000, the NX1100, just hit stores today with a $600 price tag. The camera, which sports a 20.3-megapixel CMOS sensor, 921k-dot, 3-inch LCD, 8 fps RAW and JPEG shooting, a top sensitivity of ISO 12,800, 1080p video capture, built-in WiFi and an Android and iOS companion app, comes bundled with a copy of Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4, which typically carries a sticker price of around $125. You also get a 20-50mm f/3.5-5.6 lens and an external flash in the box, making this quite an appealing offer for beginners looking to step up from a point-and-shoot.
NIK Software creates bundle of Mac Plugins, drops price 70%
NIK has announced all 6 of its high-end photo editing tools for Mac and Windows are available as a US$150 bundle. The new bundle is a set of plugins that previously cost $750.00, and includes tools to help you create black-and-white photos, selective color adjustment, sharpening, and of course HDR and color enhancements. These plugins are designed for Photoshop, Aperture and Lightroom. NIK is offering a 15-day trial. Even better, current owners of any part of the latest versions of the NIK bundle can upgrade to the entire collection for free. Some registered users are getting emails about the free upgrade. NIK Software fans have been on an uncertain road since Google acquired the company last September. Google turned its Snapseed photo enhancer into a free app and halted development on the Mac and Windows versions. The future of the NIK professional tools, like HDR Efex Pro and Color Efex Pro has been in limbo, although Google had said the pro tools would stay around. It's nice to have gotten some clarity. NIK has been well-regarded for 17 years. I'm not sure if these applications will continue on a rapid development schedule, but I think this offer represents a real bargain. [via The Next Web]
Adobe outs Photoshop Touch for phones, ready to outfit pockets for $4.99
Jealous about your mates' ability to edit photos and whatnot via their mid-sized slates? Well, Adobe has just announced a solution that's ready to equip your handset of choice. That's right, the pro design software outfit added Photoshop Touch for phones that wields "core" Photoshop capabilities, Scribble Selection and supports those high-res snapshots. The app also sports Camera Fill and other special effects alongside the option to share creations via Facebook, Twitter, email and other applications. Creative Cloud access is here as well, with auto syncing across a device arsenal and a free 2GB storage account to boot. For iOS, you'll need an iPhone 4S, 5th-gen iPod touch or later to get in on the action while the Android version requires Ice Cream Sandwich. Ready to take the leap? A $5 purchase from iTunes or Google Play stands between you and slice of Adobe on that GS III or iPhone 5. %Gallery-179978%
Daily Update for February 15, 2013
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get all the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the inline player (requires Flash) or the non-Flash link below. To subscribe to the podcast for daily listening through iTunes, click here. No Flash? Click here to listen. Subscribe via RSS
Photoshop v1.0.1 released free to everyone, including Australians
Our Antipodean chums might be getting a raw deal on modern versions of Photoshop, but at least they can try 1989's vintage without paying. The Computer History Museum, with Adobe's permission, has released the source code to version 1.0.1 free to citizens of the world, just as it did with MacPaint back in 2010. It's just a shame that current CEO Shantanu Narayen isn't feeling so generous to those on the southern hemisphere.
Surface Pro lacks full pen support in key apps, Microsoft says it's on the case (updated)
At least some of the tablet-loving public picked up a Surface Pro this weekend. Those earliest of early adopters have discovered an unpleasant limitation, however: the vaunted pen input doesn't have complete support in important apps. Microsoft is using only an official driver without any current option to install an alternative, leaving artists without eraser or pressure support in creative industry staples such as Adobe Photoshop. While there's no immediate fix, a Microsoft spokesperson tells us that it's working with the "necessary partners" to expose full pen functionality; we've reached out to Adobe as well, and will let you know if it's one of the chosen few. In the meantime, Surface artisans who need full pen recognition may want to consider an add-on tablet as a stopgap. Read Microsoft's full statement after the break. Update: Adobe tells us it's "working with [its] partners to explore the possibility" of support, which suggests that we'll need to be patient. [Thanks, John]
Adobe announces Creative Cloud updates to Muse and Photoshop, team subscriptions and more
If you jumped on the Creative Cloud bandwagon, you're about to cash in one of the major perks of taking said leap. Keeping its promise to roll out new features to the aforementioned members first, Adobe has announced updates to Muse and Photoshop alongside Creative Cloud training materials and team subscriptions. Let's hit the highlights, shall we? Muse can not only help you publish websites without writing a line of code, but the software now offers assistance with smartphone and tablet-friendly versions of desktop sites, too. As far as new features for Photoshop CS6 are concerned, conditional actions (if this, then that), expanded Smart Object support, improved 3D effects and default type styles all settle in on the tool bench. Looking to opt in to Adobe's software service for your entire studio? No worries, the company has also outed Creative Cloud subscriptions for teams -- complete with centralized admin tools and expert support -- for $69 per month. That's not all. Less than a month ago, the wraps were taken off of Creative Cloud Connection for sharing all of those essential project files. Now, said functionality is being trotted out in proper fashion. From what we gather, this will be a Dropbox-esque affair complete with drag-and-drop functionality that extends across Touch apps, too. Clients can also view design files here, like those from InDesign, even if they don't have the requisite software installed on their machines. If that wasn't enough, training materials are on the way in the form of exclusive content for card-carrying members. Get all that? Good. For the full rundown on all of the new features, consult the full PR that follows.
