Pricing for Capture NX (Full & Upgrade)

FYI - A tech. support answer from NikonUSA lists the following:


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"Nikon Capture NX:
Released in July 2006.
Estimated street price of $149.95*


A 30-day trial download is now available. Follow the links for Mac and Win versions.

Expected to be available from Nikon Imaging Dealers and The Nikon Mall.


A special limited-time upgrade price of $89.95 will be offered to current owners of Nikon Capture 4 software. This upgrade will only be available on The Nikon Mall.

Registered Nikon Capture 4 owners will be allowed one upgrade per legitimate Nikon Capture 4 product key. The upgrade will require certain customer criteria in order to verify ownership. Customers who have not already registered their version of Capture 4 will receive instructions to do so at The Nikon Mall's website.

*Estimated selling prices listed are only an estimate. Actual prices are set by dealers and are subject to change at any time."

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Here's the actual link:
http://support.nikontech.com/cgi-bin/nikonusa.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=14007&p_created=1150729136&p_sid=ByLK4Eci&p_accessibility=0&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPSZwX3NvcnRfYnk9JnBfZ3JpZHNvcnQ9MzoyJnBfcm93X2NudD0xMDQyJnBfcHJvZHM9JnBfY2F0cz0mcF9wdj0mcF9jdj0mcF9zZWFyY2hfdHlwZT1hbnN3ZXJzLnNlYXJjaF9ubCZwX3BhZ2U9MQ**&p_li=&p_topview=1

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1021&message=19217614

Increased size of edited NX NEF files

I'm really liking the new U point controls. However, I just worked on a new NEF file from my D70, added about 15 control points, and the resulting NEF file doubled in size from 5+ MB to 10+ MB. I'm wondering what will happen with the even larger compressed NEFs from my D200 (starting out at 10+ MB?) when it gets back from Melville -- file size bloat from control points? What's your experience been -- and is there any way to hold down the size without giving up some of the editing?

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AviBen
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1021&message=19225196

Re: Increased size of edited NX NEF files
AviBen wrote:
> I'm really liking the new U point controls. However, I just worked
> on a new NEF file from my D70, added about 15 control points, and
> the resulting NEF file doubled in size from 5+ MB to 10+ MB. I'm
> wondering what will happen with the even larger compressed NEFs
> from my D200 (starting out at 10+ MB?) when it gets back from
> Melville -- file size bloat from control points? What's your
> experience been -- and is there any way to hold down the size
> without giving up some of the editing?
> --

Right now, a full size - fine quality JPEG is being saved in the NEF as well as the extra data, this will probably be fixed in a couple weeks...

All said and done it's still a lot smaller than a 16 bit PSD file with layers. And of course you could save as JPG. Perhaps it will get better as the app is tuned in future releases

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-Steve
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1021&message=19225262

Known issue. Hopefully will be fixed soon.
Many have already reported this issue to Nikon. They have acknowledged it and apparently have been passed to the development team as per an email I have received from some "Heinrich B." from Nikon.

This issue was discussed at length here -
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1021&message=19165579
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1021&message=19227519

Example of NX processing

Here's another example of NX processing. First, here's the unprocessed image "before":

Now comes "after" -- and, yes, I know, I overdid it, but it was so much fun! Basic edits were exposure reduction, straightening (so much easier in NX than any other application, with the automatic crop feature), and sharpening. Then came the color control points -- and, wow, this so much more intuitive, precise and easy than anything else has been. Compared to this, adjusting particular colors before NX was like trying to type in mittens. Here's the result:

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AviBen
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1021&message=19225511

5. "Highlight Recovery using Color Control Points-- an exam"

Control Points- Highlight Recovery Example
Often times, the dynamic range of a scene can be much more than your digital camera can handle. You are faced with either blown highlights or an under-exposed subject. When shooting a subject with a super-wide lens, it is very easy for a scene to exceed the overall dynamic range of the camera. However, an advantage of shooting in RAW is the ability to do some major highlight recovery. Here’s an example of how I made a very usable image from something challenging using color control points.

I shot the image below using my D2X and Sigma 10-20mm lens 1/125 sec @f/11.

Clearly, the sky has some blown highlights, and the main subject, my dog, is much too dark.

I brought the image into Capture NX. The first thing I decided to do was change the tone compensation to “Low”. I then wanted to recover the highlight detail in the clouds. So, under “Base Adjustments-->RAW Adjustments--> Exposure Compensation, I dialed in -1 EV. Here is the result:

Now the clouds look good, but everything else is much too dark.

I next added two color control points; one on the blue sky and another on the green grass. I adjusted the radius to cover those respective areas and increased the brightness level of each control point. This is what I got:

Now the sky and grass look pretty good, but my dog is still too dark. I could have added another point in the previous edit step, but I chose to add a separate edit step so that the next control point would be independent of the two previous ones.

Now the image is looking pretty good. I made some final overall levels/curves adjustments, applied my standard USM routine (55/5/4) and here is the final image:

I could have tried using D-Lighting, but I found I got more control by working with the color control points. The D-Lighting settings I needed to use tended to wash out the color of the image and create a “flat” look. The color control points allowed me to customize the local contrast and brightness of different areas on my image. Best of all, because the color control points are saved as “edit steps”, the result isn’t “baked in” to my image. If I decide I want to make a change to the way I processed this image, I can easily get back to my original starting point, without losing any data along the way.

-Jason

http://www.nikonians.org/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=read_count&om=16343&forum=DCForumID36#4

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推薦者: yawli

How to stop NX from opening jpeg's???????

Somehow I clicked something I shouldn't have when I downloaded the trial, and Capture NX is now the default for opening all images. Can someone tell me how to change that?

I can't seem to find it in the manual or help file.

Thanks!!!!
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1021&message=19231425

Right click a JPEG image and select "Open With...."

And then when you select the program you want to open it with, also check on the checkbox that says, "Always use the selected program for this kind of file."

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http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1021&message=19231461

Re: Right click a JPEG image and select "Open With...."

You can also make a change in Folder Options/File Types tab, select Jpeg and then change and select the program you want to use to open Jpeg's.

Personally I use the Windows Pictures & Fax Viewer to display Jpeg's. If I want to edit Jpeg's I use either the Open With right click option or open the program I'm going to use to edit them and select Open from the File menu, then select the images to open. I like the WP&F Viewer becasue it gives me a reference as to how they will look on a website. I find neither PSCS2 or NC 4.4 gives me a true view of the Jpeg's.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1021&message=19231518

NX for dummies - background color change tutorial

Hi all

NX for dummies - people like me, that dont want to get caught up in layers and masks and what have you's :)

Normal shot, background objectionable:

After resizing, and checking for B/W points;
added 1 u-point
adjusted B(brightness) C(Contrast) S(Saturation) all the way down.
right click that u-point.
select duplicate control point
dragged the new duplicate to where seen on the left
repeated for one more point (not visible, below the edit list)

Next, you can work with multiple u-points by shift clicking or ctrl cliking in the edit list

ALL the sliders of the various u-points then move together, eg, B for all, so you dont have to select a u-point, then the next, etc ..

That's it! Background color modified!
Next up, sharpen;

Zoomed in to show hte effect of these sharpening parameters.
Notice how evident the outline sharpness is?
On top, the little brush, click that, then the minus (-) next to it.
This Subtracts from the sharpness you have applied.
Paint over the areas you want to unsharpen (use [ or ] for brush size)
Here is your "mask" of the unsharpened areas;
Press CTRL-Shift-A to get back to u-point.
Right click anywhere, then show selection

How the mask looks

and the final product;

All of 3 mins worth of work.
Now, THIS I can understand :)
Hope someone finds favor in this tutorial.
rgds
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Kevin
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1034&message=19223661

NX tut: Sharpening Selectively

Hi all

this is a quick take on the sharpening abilities of NX, with a very basic workflow process.

First, the original, your everyday prancing zebra shot ... you know, the one which everyone has lying around on their hdd? :)

At any point when you are ready to sharpen, the steps I follow are;
1. EDIT LIST
1.1 Click NEW STEP (bott right)
1.2 Click SELECT ADJUSTMENT
1.3 Select FOCUS
1.4 Select UNSHARP MASK

This opens the UNSHARP MASK dialog with it's parameters.
I have applied 100 / 2 / 5 to start with.

Here (while the USM tool is active) I have zoomed in by pressing (Z) and dragging a zoom box around the hind quarter to demonstrate the USM in progress.

Have a look at the grass to the left of the (everyone has one lying one their hdd zebra pic) and notice the effect of the USM.

Check the stripes on the hind leg too.
Very obvious USM applied.

FURTHER, the USM is applied to the ENTIRE pic, not just a selection. Makes sense so far ...

>>> However! I only want to apply USM to the prancing zebra and the areas which make photographic sense, ie, very close to him (or is it her?) hmmm... <<<

We all know sharpening trees / branches etc really show the effects of USM, so we want to stay away from sharpening there. (Well, I think so at least eh?) ;)

The magic of the NX "mask" / selection process kicks in now.

Still with the USM tool active, press (B) which gives you the Brush tool (sorry, screenshot did not want to include the brush shape here) but its just a circle cursor, with a + or - to indicate, well, + or - USM to apply.

Paint away any unsavoury looking USM applied by left clicking and dragging over areas of the image you want to be left alone (IOW, no USM applied to those areas)

NOTE!

If you feel you have removed USM where you wanted to have it in the first place, simply swap your brush by pressing the inverse key (+ or -) depending on which one you have active then, and paint the USM back onto your pic. Neat!

TIP: At any point you can click the (Z) tool to zoom out and see your results. Click (Z), right click and select 100% zoom.

In the above, I have REMOVED USM by painting over the image (all this, without a mask or selection tool, besides a loose brush, applied anywhere)

Notice, to the left of the hind leg, under the belly, is where I have removed USM. The grass and background and other areas are all still with WIP USM applied.

Here, I am revealing the "mask" that NX has created by using the B tool

Notice how undefined the edges are, how loosely the mask can be applied by painting away / back the tool in use ?

The bright red between the legs is because of reducing the brush size (while B is active, press + or -) to change size.

Further, still with B active, you can right click, and the Brush dialog opens, giving you the ability to change the opacity, hardness, size of the brush on the fly.

When done adding / removing selective USM, click OK on the USM dialog box, and you're done.

Lastly (and only for reasons known only to myself, LOL) I have applied the gaussian blur step (hey, I need to play too eh?) , which once more, applies to the WHOLE image by default.

I then repeat steps above for removing blur from the zebra only (B minus) and painting, very loosely, adjusting B size and opacity for effect.

That's it.
USM and Blur applied, using the loose brush selection.

There are other methods to achieving this too, eg. selecting ONLY the zebra, and working on that, this doesn't cover those options.

Hope someone can use this, and it's straightforward enough in it's presentation.
Hope the pics are presentable, if not, just resize them till they look good :)

Should there be any Q. comments etc, shout please.
Rgds
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Kevin
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1034&message=19240979

Nice try Kevin...

But it still could look a lot better. A lot of haze and it still looks a bit muddy. Here is my try with PSP 8.1. I used a few techniques and did layering. Took about 10-12 minutes. I'm sure the guys with CS could put my try to shame.


My try

Orig retouch

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Leo G

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1034&message=19309488

http://forum.xitek.com/showthread.php?threadid=379693

Nikon NX upgraded user manual

Available since the 28th, the manual has been upgraded (noticed graphic updates on pages 10 and 12). I assume that there are other updates.

http://www.nikonusa.com/pdf/manuals/NX/En_US/Capture_NX_UG.pdf

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1021&message=19414350

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推薦者: yawli