Corel has released AfterShot Pro 2, an upgrade to its photo management and Raw conversion package, featuring 64-bit processing for a faster workflow, an assortment of new features, and a lower price.
Available for Mac, Windows, and Linux, the software preserves original shots while facilitating non-destructive photo edits and adjustments.
Generally, when photographers think about photo management, Apple’s Aperture or Adobe’s Photoshop Lightroom come to mind. But they’re not the only choices. Corel debuted AfterShot Pro a couple of years ago to respectable reviews, and this update provides additional functionality. Corel now offers AfterShot Pro 2 for $79.99, with standard and competitive upgrade prices at $59.99. It’s now the same price as Aperture and nearly half the price of Lightroom.
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The app’s new 64-bit performance supports much larger images than the previous version, including files of up to 250 megapixels and TIFFs larger than 30MB. According to Corel, the upgrade is 30 percent faster than the original version and four times faster than the competition. The newly added Athentech image noise removal technology automatically adjusts lighting for every pixel in a shot while maintaining color without clipping.
The update includes 26 additional Camera Raw profiles for a total of more than 250 supported cameras, including Raw formats from all major manufacturers. New camera profiles will be updated throughout the year, Corel says.
AfterShot Pro 2 has an updated interface with an enhanced zoom that promises better previewing of smaller images. A new Image Reset button lets you revert to your original photo in one-click, even after a series of edits.
AfterShot Pro 2 also features new High Dynamic Range (HDR) tools, starting with the Windows version, and coming later to Mac and Linux. The HDR features let photographers combine multiple exposures to create a single HDR photo. Choose from Smart Photo Fix, White Balance, Brightness/Contrast, Fill Light/Clarity, Local Tone Mapping, High Pass Sharpening, and Digital Noise Removal. Complete HDR tools are now included with the Windows version and will be coming to Mac and Linux versions as a free update in late summer.
Redesigned batch processing controls make it simpler and faster to configure batch processing tasks while new manual red eye removal gives you better control. A new local contrast feature lets you recreate high-end camera lenses by bringing out more texture and dimension in your photos.
AfterShot Pro 2 is available now in English, German, French, Dutch, Italian and Japanese for $79.99; the upgrade price is $59.99. For a limited time, AfterShot Pro, PaintShop Pro X6, Apple Aperture and Adobe Lightroom 5 registered customers can purchase AfterShot Pro 2 at the upgrade price.
A free trial version and more information are available on Corel’s Website. Volume licensing for commercial and education organizations is also available.
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