Adobe Configurator

Adobe recently made available a nifty free utility ‘Adobe Configurator‘ update for download on Adobe labs.

Adobe Configurator 3.1 interface

Adobe Configurator 3.1 enables users to easily create custom panels (palettes) for use in both Photoshop CS5/Cs6 and InDesign CS5/CS6. Users can drag and drop their favourite tools, menus, scripts, actions etc. into a panel design and then export the custom panels for use in Photoshop or InDesign.

In a matter of minutes, I created a quick panel containing my most used Photoshop tools and have it imported into Photoshop CS5. The utility is fun and a joy to use.

Configurator 3 panel in PSCS5

You can visit Adobe labs for more info on Adobe Configurator and download links.

Photo Industry News

Nikon D4 is announced. Here are some of the specs:

• 16.6 MP FX CMOS sensor (4928 x 3280 pixels)
• standard ISO range of 100 – 12,800 extendable to 50 – 204,800
• HD video capture at resolutions up to 1080p/29.97fps
• improved Multi-CAM 3500FX autofocus sensor module with TTL phase detection
• in-camera HDR (2 consecutive jpegs)
• auto timelapse movie creation
• dual card slots – CF and SONY QXD formats
• built-in voice memo mic
• built-in 100Base-T Ethernet wired networking

The D4 will be available in late February 2012 with a retail price of $5999.95.

Joe McNally’s quick review here.
Rob Galbraith’s overview here.

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Adobe Lightroom 4 Beta is announced.

Here are some of the new features in version 4:

• improved video support
• video publishing to Flickr and Facebook
• new Map module
• new Book module
• new Shadow and Highlight controls
• simplified Basic Adjustments
• soft proofing
• additional local adjustments including noise reduction and white balance

For more info, please visit DP Review’s article here and Tom Hogarty’s Lightroom Journal here.

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Fujifilm has announced the new rangefinder style mirrorless X-Pro 1 interchangeable lens camera. Here are the main features:

• 16 MP (4896 x 3264 pixels)
• APS-C sized X-Trans-CMOS sensor
• hybrid multi viewfinder
• Fujinon interchangeable XF Lens and F-Mounts

For more info, go to DP Review’s article here and FujiFilm’s page here.

Sneak Peeks of New Adobe Technology

Adobe has posted videos of the latest technology being showcased at the recent annual MAX conference in Los Angeles. The star of the show was the senior research scientist Jue Wang who demonstrated the new image deblurring technology. It quickly became an internet sensation.

You can catch the video on Adobe TV.