Adobe release Camera Raw 5.2 update
Adobe recently released Camera Raw 5.2 to make it more compatible with Lightroom 2.0 and the upcoming Lightroom 2.2 update.
You can download it from the Adobe website or use the Updates command in Photoshop CS4. If you own an earlier version of Photoshop, don’t waste time downloading it because it will not be recognised.
It comes with new Adobe custom profiles that more closely mimic the proprietary looks you get with your camera.
Unfortunately, the Read Me file (available on the Adobe site) but not included in the download, doesn’t really explain the new features. Here’s a quick rundown that should get you up and running:
Targeted Adjustment Tool (TAT)
The tool lives in the toolbar. It’s pretty easy to use. Select the tool and then one of the modes from the pop-up menu. Click in the image and drag to make an adjustment. The corresponding panel opens when you click in the image.
TAT shortcuts are listed in the menu. They look daunting at first sight but are actually easy to remember. Just hold the three modifier keys and then press the T, H, S, L, G keys to access the adjustments for Parametric Curve, Hue, Saturation, Luminance, and Greyscale Mix, respectively.
Snapshots
You can create snapshots from any panel by pressing Cmd+Shift+S. View the snapshots from the new Snapshots panel.
Rename snapshots using the context menu. You can also use the context menu to delete a snapshot without selecting it or update it with current settings.
Note: you cannot view snapshots from Bridge CS4.
Output sharpening
You can elect to apply output sharpening for print or screen. The sharpening adjusts depending on the pixel dimensions and the paper you have selected: glossy or matte. You can set the Amount to Low, Standard or High. Leave it on Standard if unsure which one to use. Note, the sharpening is applied on top of the capture sharpening in the Detail panel.
To apply output sharpening, click on the link located at the foot of the Camera Raw dialog and choose an option in the Workflow Options dialog when it opens.
Profiles
If you installed the Adobe custom profiles, you can access them from the Camera Calibration tab by clicking on the Name pop-up menu. You can use these profiles instead of the default to generate the looks that you can create in-camera. Of course, you can also modify them if you wish.
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