If you kept Lightroom 1.4 (hoping for a new update from Adobe) and converted files to DNG you’ll need to run that process again. DNG files created under v1.4 can’t be read using LR 1.4.1 due to an error in the processing. Do a search by date for DNG files to identify those you need to redo.

Lightroom users also need to pay attention to the instructions on the download page. Adobe suggests doing a backup of your catalog prior to the update. They have further instructions on what to do if the backup fails the Integrity check. (Fortunately, all my catalogs went fine)

You can get Lightroom 1.4.1 and Camera RAW 4.4.1 from Adobes Updates Download website. Mac and Windows versions are there.

Another round in the game of camera hardware and software Leap Frog. Since a few new cameras have been introduced it’s time for Adobe to push out some updates.

Camera Raw has been bumped to version 4.4 and Lightroom steps to version 1.4. Happy news for certain camera owners and Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard users.

Here’s the skinny -

Added support for RAW files for some of the new cameras. Specifically, the Canon XSi/450D, Fuji S100FS, Nikon D60, Olympus SP-570, Pentax K20D and K200D, and the Sony A200, A300 and A350.

There was also a problem with legacy print drivers under Mac OS X that’s been fixed. The last item corrected had to do with Greyscale conversions. Seems that Color Noise was set to Zero and some B&W conversions looked like Tri-X pushed to 3200! (Or something close to that) Color Noise is back on during B&W conversions.

Dash on over to Adobes Updates Download section to grab these.

Both Photoshop and Photoshop Elements users will find useful special effect actions. A Rubik’s Cube, Puzzle pieces, Cracked Wall painting, Spiral bound book, 35mm Filmstrip, a Stamp. The list goes on and on.

There are over 30 free actions on the PanosFX website. Go check them out and have fun creating some new digital art.

This is The Big Picture and I love the look.

The big debate is over what PPI (pixels per inch) is necessary. Personally, I’ve found that 10×15 and larger prints look just fine at 150-200 PPI. Smaller prints benefit from 300 PPI. Your 16×20 or 20×24 does NOT have to be 300 PPI.

Taking a 3 MP image at 2048×1536 pixels and making a 16×20 directly puts you at around 100 PPI. That’s spreading those pixels a bit thin. You’ll see artifacts and probably won’t like the print. Software to the rescue.

Presuming you have Photoshop or PS Elements, there are basically 3 ways to upsize images.

Stair Step Interpolation - The theory here is to gradually increase the image pixel size, usually in 10% increments, until you hit your final size. If you’re using PS 6 or 7 this may be the best, but the CS versions have better algorithms for image size.

One Shot Upsize - Tim Grey and other PS gurus have stated that using the Bicubic method in the PSCS versions works fine in one step. I’ve found this to be true.

Software Plugins - For years the standard plugin for upsizing images was Genuine Fractals. Now that Liquid Resize was recently acquired by onOneSoftware I would expect to see GF getting even better. onOneSoftware also owns Genuine Fractals.

Can you stretch your 3 MP image up to a 24×30 print?? According to Genuine Fractals the answer is yes. And with minimal loss in image quality.

Try it for yourself and grab the 30 day trial of Genuine Fractals.

Photoshop Elements 6 for Mac is scheduled to ship early in the second quarter of 2008.

When the PC version was announced I wrote a brief article about it. You can check out some of the new features and grab a PDF from the link in this article: Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 announced.

Nikon has updated ViewNX to v1.0.3 and added a number of enhancements. The most important items are an error with IPTC info added from other apps causing ViewNX to crash, and an automatic correction of vignetting with D3 RAW files shot with the 80-200 or 70-200. Grab the Windows version here and the Mac version here.

They also put out a 30 day trial version of Camera Control Pro 2 for Nikon shooters. The software allows you to connect your DSLR via a USB port (or wireless on certain cameras with the WT transmitter added) to your computer and shoot pictures. You can change camera settings via the software and automatically have images download to a folder on the computer. Pretty cool stuff.

Version 1 users can get a reduced price on upgrading. Functions for the D300 and D3 have been added, along with some enhancements and direct connections into ViewNX and Capture NX.

Visit Nikons tech support website and grab Camera Control Pro here.

Adobes latest updates are for Camera Raw and Lightroom. Seems the 4.3 update from a few weeks ago had a few bugs with Nikon D100 compressed RAW files and with Mac OS X 10.5. They are fixed in Camera Raw 4.3.1 and in Lightroom 1.3.1.

Visit Adobe’s Download Updates page to find the appropriate versions for your system. Mac users of Lightroom most likely got an Update warning already. Such a smart operating system!

One of my favorite photo magazines is Rangefinder Magazine. Throughout the year I get inspired by the beautiful work I see in each issue. You’ll learn a lot from Rangefinder also.

Each issue has a theme: The Editorial Issue, The Commercial Issue, The Wedding Issue, the Fine Art Issue. Articles by, and interviews of, photographers from each specialty are intermixed with news on photo gear and software. Not only can you learn new shooting techniques, but you can also get all the info on the equipment and software needed to do it.

You can subscribe to Rangefinder here.

After Capture magazine was started about a year ago and is the sister publication of Rangefinder. As the title implies, the focus of this publication is on what you do with your image files after they’re downloaded.

Photo editing software, computer systems, hard drive systems, and printing and presentation products are the types of things you’ll find here.

The focus (pun intended) of After Capture is on processing of RAW files. Techniques for maximizing your image data are in every issue. Tips for Lightroom, Photoshop, Aperture and other RAW software tools will have you mastering these programs in no time.

Go subscribe to After Capture here.

Both websites have various articles in PDF format for you to download.

Lightroom users will benefit from the update as there are a few enhancements. Automatic XMP writing performance has been improved, Importing can now build 1:1 previews, the Export dialog layout is improved, and Lightroom supports Canon sRAW and Fuji compressed RAF files. Grab the Readme file off the download page for full details.

The updates incorporate support for the MAC OS X 10.5 Leopard and add support for the following new cameras:

• Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III
• Canon PowerShot G9
• Nikon D3
• Nikon D300
• Olympus E-3
• Olympus SP-560 UZ
• Panasonic DMC-L10

The Camera Raw update is for users of Photoshop CS2/3, Elements 4, 5 and 6 and Premier Elements 3.

If you’ve recently purchased one of the cameras above (or are waiting impatiently for your D300 to arrive at the end of this month) go grab the update now.

You can create custom sized mats, use the included number and letter cutouts, and even create digital mats with multiple openings (up to 40!). Being able to exactly match the colors in your image means you get a perfectly coordinated mat.

After printing the 2 sample images available on their website I was even more impressed. Go grab them and print them out for yourself. You’ll be amazed at how real they look.

When you weigh the cost of QuickMats3 against custom matting 10 prints it’s quite reasonable. Imagine how much you could save over the entire year? Since the product comes with a 60 page manual and 24 video tutorials you’ll be up and running in no time.

You can get a free subscription to After Capture magazine at their website.

You can see what’s new in Elements 6 at Adobe’s website. A direct download of the PDF datasheet is here.

Elements 6 has:

• Improved Panorama blending
• Photomerge™ Technology for blending two group shots. It grabs the “good” faces from each photo to make a perfect group portrait.
• Better Help and step by step wizards
• Finer control in Brightness/Contrast, B&W conversion and the Clone Tool
• Improved Selection tools (using Brushes) for quicker selecting and adjusting of areas of your image
• Smart Albums to quickly gather images based on selected criteria

Some of these additions and changes are nice. It appears that the Selections with brushes is like Quick Mask mode in Photoshop CSx; I like that. A few of the improvements seem minor and would make me seriously consider not upgrading. Only you can decide for yourself based on your needs.