My first impression using this software was that it offers a lot of choices, so where do I start? The opening screen after selecting the file to edit offers a versatile menu for selecting color space, white balance, noise reduction, exposure optimization, alignment, and ghost correction. Once you're happy with the settings, you can leave them at the defaults or even turn them off. I mostly used the default settings at this stage, but it's good to have a choice.

 

When you click "Next", the main screen of the program appears with the image in a large window and you have a choice of 134 preset options grouped into 8 sections for different effects, including "Natural", "Surreal" and "Monochrome" in the left pane. These effects are very customizable, and you can create many variations by using a combination of settings and filters and then saving them for later use, which is an excellent feature. There is also an expert mode that gives you ultimate control over the image.

In this RAW single image of an underexposed beach scene, I used the Natural Balance effect to bring out all the details in the image.

Then I tried one of the Monochrome options on an industrial scene, I wanted a gritty effect and used the Monochrome Tritone option shown below - again I was impressed with the ability to adjust the effect.

Next, I decided to try another underexposed image of a street view and used the Natural Backlight preset. This brought out all the details in the image, giving it great impact.

 

Summary

Overall, I was very impressed with this program. It is very customizable, so you can adjust and tweak your images as much or as little as you want, while having a lot of control over the final image. Although it takes a while to get used to the user interface, it is well worth the effort.

 

This software review was written by Bob Turner, ARPS EFIAP.