Review Digital Camera World 05-10-2013

Digital Camera World

Photoshop CC: the 10 most important features in Adobe's new software May 9th 2013, 23:01 The next version of Photoshop has been announced – dubbed Photoshop CC – and its pricing model is already causing some controversy. However you look at it, Creative Cloud and Photoshop CC is here to stay. So here are the 10 most important features this new Adobe software has to offer. Words and images by Steve Caplin A new version of Photoshop is always cause for celebration, as users look forward to new features and enhanced workflows. This time, the usual 18-month to 2-year cycle has been cut to just a year, as Adobe feels pressured to deliver more frequent updates to its Creative Cloud members – and it shows. There are few major new tools in Photoshop CC, although there are some useful new ways of working. The biggest fuss has been caused by Adobe's branding of this version not as CS7, but as Photoshop CC, which is their way of moving all users away from outright purchase and onto a monthly subscription model. The Photoshop community has been up in arms about the cost implications – although, as we see it, it can work out to be a very cost-effective way to get Photoshop. See the Subscriptions Info panel at the end of this feature for details on how the costs pan out. Click below to watch our in-depth video discussing these 10 important features in Photoshop CC; alternatively, scroll through this post to read about each Photoshop CC feature individually. Photoshop CC Key Features: 1. Shake Reduction The "deblur" filter, which caused so much fuss when it was leaked, is now included in Photoshop CC – to an extent. Given the right starting image, it can go a long way towards reducing a very particular kind of blur: but it doesn't like noisy images, or motion blur. It works by tracing ghosting and calculating the blur path. You can set up multiple blur paths for different regions, and even draw your own; Photoshop will blend all the regions together smoothly. Photoshop CC Key Features: 1. Shake Reduction Photoshop CC Key Features: 2. Dynamic Round Corners Photoshop CC Key Features: 3. Smart Sharpen upgrade Photoshop CC Key Features: 4. Sharing data and information Photoshop CC Key Features: 5. 3D layer enhancements Photoshop CC Key Features: 6. Image Size Photoshop CC Key Features: 7. Smart Object Liquify Photoshop CC Key Features: 8. Camera Raw filter Photoshop CC Key Features: 9. Improved path operations Photoshop CC Key Features: 10. Conditional Actions READ MORE 101 Photoshop tips you really have to know Adobe Lightroom: what every photographer must know about the ‘alternative Photoshop’ Adobe Lightroom 4 review 34 Photoshop effects every photographer must try once DIY Photography Hacks: how to use your car as a mobile hide for bird photography May 9th 2013, 10:00 In our latest DIY Photography Hacks post we show you a simple way to bag frame-filling pictures of wild birds from the comfort of your car’s bucket seats. Find out how you can ditch the uncomfortable hides for good! Image by Mark Hamblin One of the most frustrating things about photographing birds is finding a way to get close without scaring them off. However, a tried and tested technique is to use some kind of portable hide, and what could be more portable than your own vehicle? Using your car as a mobile hide is perfect for approaching many bird species and has the advantage that you can change position easily, quickly move on to new locations and have a warm, comfortable place to wait for the action to unfold! So what do you need? Well a top of the range 4WD would be nice! But any vehicle will do just fine. The important thing is the support for the camera. It's possible to simply rest the lens on the glass of the open window, but this won't provide much stability. A beanbag (or perhaps a bag of lentils!) is a much better bet, or you can splash out on a purpose-built window mount with a tripod head to attach the lens. This has the advantage of keeping the lens in position while driving. It can help to drape some camouflage netting over the window and lens barrel to conceal your face and hands. There are some road safety issues to consider with this technique, so only attempt it on quiet roads where it's safe to pull over. It's much better and safer if someone else is driving so you can concentrate on photography, with the added benefit that you can have your lens ready on the beanbag to start shooting as soon as the car comes to a halt. How to photograph birds on the move the DIY photography way Provide support Use a beanbag to keep your lens steady and prevent camera shake. One that looks like two bags sewn together (www.wildlife watchingsupplies.co.uk) is ideal, as these have a gap that drops snuggly over the glass to form a solid platform to rest the lens on.   Be prepared to shoot Before you approach, set your camera up. Set the exposure in Manual mode by taking a meter reading from a nearby midtone. An aperture of around f/5.6 is ideal, and use a shutter speed of 1/250th sec or faster to stop unwanted blurring.   Make your approach To stalk roadside birds, reduce your speed to a crawl, and as you get closer, turn off the ignition (to prevent vibrations and noise) and coast into final position. Ensure you stop at the right spot, as starting your engine again may frighten the bird away. READ MORE DIY Photography Hacks: make your own tripod holder DIY Photography Hacks: build an anti-flare shield with wire and black card Free bird photography cheat sheet Wildlife photography made easy: simple techniques for pro-quality pictures

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