nik Sharpener Pro™ 2.0 Software Now Available
nik multimedia, Inc. today announces nik Sharpener
Pro™ 2.0 is now available through the nik multimedia retail Web site (
HYPERLINK "http://www.nikmultimedia.com"
www.nikmultimedia.com)
and specialty camera stores. nik Sharpener Pro 2.0 provides the easiest way for
photographers and digital artists to optimally sharpen their digital images and
achieve the best possible detail in their final prints. As a plug-in to
Adobe® Photoshop® and other image editing applications, nik Sharpener
Pro 2.0 is the perfect addition to a photographer’s digital
workflow.
New features in nik Sharpener Pro 2.0 include
16-bit compatibility for sharpening 16-bit images, a larger preview area to
allow users to see how the sharpening alters their images, and new tools
offering more control of where sharpening is applied to the image.
“Serious photographers deserve
professional level tools to enhance their digital image files,” said
Parker Plaisted, manager of product marketing for nik multimedia, Inc.
“nik Sharpener Pro 2.0 adds greater productivity to a photographer’s
busy schedule.”
nik Sharpener Pro
2.0 applies optimal sharpening to an image based on image resolution, viewing
distance, paper type, and printer resolution rather than the traditional radius,
amount, and threshold values used by other sharpening software. Many digital
photographers do not know how to correctly select the optimal radius, amount,
and threshold for sharpening their digital images and frequently over- or
under-sharpen them. nik Sharpener Pro 2.0 removes the guesswork and provides
controls that photographers understand. The software then does the work of
calculating and applying the optimal sharpening for an
image.
When preparing an image for
printing, it is important to consider the printing process before sharpening the
image. Each type of printing process has its own image rendering
characteristics that influence the sharpness of detail in the print. nik
Sharpener Pro 2.0 is designed to address the image rendering characteristics of
different printing processes (traditional halftone, dye sublimation, inkjet, and
digital photographic) and even differences between inkjet printer manufacturers
(Canon, Epson, HP, and Lexmark).
nik
Sharpener Pro 2.0 also features a new RAW Presharpening filter. With the
increased popularity of digital cameras offering the RAW file format, there is a
growing need to presharpen digital photos from digital cameras. Presharpening
is different from sharpening for final print. The RAW Presharpening filter is
designed to enhance the detail in digital images that are converted from a RAW
file format. The RAW Presharpening filter is controlled with a simple slider
and a preview area. Although most digital cameras offer some presharpening, the
nik Sharpener Pro 2.0 RAW Presharpening filter enables users to see and control
the amount of presharpening in real
time.
Two
Editions
nik Sharpener Pro 2.0 is offered in
two editions: nik Sharpener Pro 2.0 Inkjet Edition and nik Sharpener Pro 2.0
Complete Edition. The Inkjet Edition is designed for professional photographers
and photography enthusiasts that only use inkjet printers to print their
photographs. The Complete Edition is designed for professional photographers
that work with photo labs, dye sublimation printers, traditional halftone
printers, or a Fuji Pictrography printer in addition to inkjet printers. Both
editions contain the RAW Presharpening filter and the Display filter. The
Display filter is designed to sharpen images that will be viewed on a computer
monitor, plasma screen, LCD display, television, or projection
screen.
Pricing and
Availability
nik Sharpener Pro 2.0 is now
available in North America through specialty camera stores and the nik
multimedia retail Web site ( HYPERLINK "http://www.nikmultimedia.com"
www.nikmultimedia.com).
International versions are expected to be available in Europe on August 1st,
2005. The nik Sharpener Pro 2.0 Inkjet Edition is available for $169.95, and
the nik Sharpener Pro 2.0 Complete Edition is available for $329.95. Registered
owners of nik Sharpener Pro 1.0 qualify for special upgrade pricing. For more
information about the two editions and upgrade pricing, call toll free (U.S.
only) 1-888-284-4085 (Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. PST) or
visit the company’s Web site at: HYPERLINK "http://www.nikmultimedia.com"
www.nikmultimedia.com.
Compatibility
nik
Sharpener Pro 2.0 is available for Microsoft® Windows® and Apple®
Macintosh® OS X systems and is compatible with Adobe Photoshop 5.5 –
CS 2.0; Adobe Photoshop® LE 4.0 – 5.0; Adobe PhotoDeluxe® 2.0
– 4.0; Adobe Photoshop Elements 1.0 – 3.0; Jasc® Paint Shop
Pro® 6.7 – 8.0; Corel® Photo-Paint® 8.0 – 10.0; Ulead
PhotoImpact® 4.2 – 7.0; and Microsoft Digital Image Pro®
10.
About nik multimedia,
Inc.
nik multimedia, Inc. is a privately held
company providing innovative software solutions for the emerging digital
imaging, photographic, and print markets. nik multimedia, Inc. produces the
award-winning nik Sharpener Pro, nik Color Efex Pro, Dfine, and penPalette
software, which have become the leading software plug-in products for digital
photography and imaging professionals. The company’s products use a range
of innovative, patent pending technologies that make digital imaging and
photography easier and more powerful. nik multimedia, Inc. is headquartered in
San Diego, California with its European office in Hamburg, Germany. nik
Sharpener Pro, nik Color Efex Pro, Dfine, and penPalette are trademarks of nik
multimedia, Inc. All other trademarks and service names are the trademarks of
their respective owners.
Posted: Mon - June 13, 2005 at 10:34 AM