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Tom Hogarty, Senior Product Manager for Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, Adobe joins host Scott Sheppard for an update and discussion on the latest release of Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2. Tom explains the background and differences between image tools in Adobe Photoshop, Bridge, and Lightroom. Lightroom was specifically developed to meet the needs of professional photographers and has many features to help optimize your non-destructive workflow. Unlike Photoshop for example, Lightroom does not work at the pixel level but within the metadata of the image.All Lightroom’s editing tools do not actually modify the original image file so experimenting with adjustments is easy and safe - and available in batch mode letting you apply adjustments on the fly. Lightroom is built to handle multiple image files where Photoshop focuses more on the detailed editing on a single image.

One of the key new features, Tom discusses is the new version’s built-in local adjustment brush that includes a "dodge and burn" tool which allows you to selectively modify images rather than apply changes to the entire images. In addition, Lightroom 2 also features 64-bit processing support that optimizes the available memory on both your Mac and Windows version making working with your images faster and more efficient. Tom assures us that some of the performance issues including camera support have been updated and are available online.

Another feature inherent to RAW image capture is color management and camera profiles. Lightroom 2 includes improved camera profiles for a large range of popular systems including Canon and Nikon. Tom explains that Adobe Labs has also released a free camera profile editing tool "DNG Profile Editor" which allows you to completely customize your profiles on various levels.

For more information visit: http://www.adobe.com/lightroom/ or Tom’s blog at: http://blogs.adobe.com/lightroomjournal/

For additional resources and training on Lightroom visit: http://www.adobetv.com or http://www.adobe.com/designcenter/photoshoplightroom/

The McNamara Report on Inside Digital Photo with Michael J. McNamara
This week’s topic: Kodak + Motorola = 5MP Camera Phone

Camera phones have been part of the digital imaging landscape for the last five years, but you don’t see any landscape photographers using them! That might change soon as decent cameras start appearing in affordable camera phones (they’ve been around for a while, but who could afford $500 or more for a 5MP or higher phone?) The Motorola MOTOZINE™ ZN5 camera phone, priced at only $99 with a two year contract, might be the first of a new breed with its 5MP camera engine designed and manufactured by Kodak. It also features an autofocus lens, 2.4″ LCD screen, and many other features that appear to make it a camera first, phone second. Plus, it integrates with Kodak’s online photo sharing and processing tools. Ok, it’s not an iPhone 2.0 or a Nokia N95, and its missing a fast 3G internet connection, but for the price and image quality potential it might be worth considering. Find out more on the phone at: http://tinyurl.com/motozine , and listen in on the McNamara Report segment to get more insights and analysis from Mike McNamara at: http://www.mcnamarareport.com.

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Steve Anchell, Photographer, Trainer, and Author, Steve Anchell Workshops, joins host Scott Sheppard for a lively discussion on analog vs. hybrid workflows and his latest book "The Darkroom Cookbook". Steve and Scott discuss how to get the best results using both worlds by capturing the original image on film and then scanning the negatives into a digital environment. Steve explains details on his workflow which include tools such as the Epson Perfection V750-M Pro with a fluid mount accessory for wet mount film scanning to help reduce scratches and adjust grain. Once the negatives are prepared and scanned, Steve prepares them for output at 13 x 19 on his Epson 2400 for pleasing results very close to what you might see on standard film processed prints.

Steve shares some tips about digital color spaces and gamut in a hybrid workflow. Although he is considered a master in a darkroom, Steve discusses his experiences in working with scanned images and explains how a hybrid workflow can gain a larger range from your images seeing greater details in darker areas and shadows than working directly in film. He also advises rather than take a hard position that one method is "better" than another method, part of the beauty of photography and imaging is the range of options available and treating each method as part of the art involved in great printmaking. Steve prefers to shoot digital for his color work but again accepts each method for their inherent benefits and capabilities.

Since 1979, Steve has run a popular series of location based workshops including teaching courses at the Santa Fe Photographic Workshops, and the longest running workshop on figure photography in the world, The Nude at Big Sur. To find out more about his work and latest workshops visit: http://www.anchellworkshops.com/

The McNamara Report on Inside Digital Photo with Michael J. McNamara
This week’s topic: The paint never dries in photoshop and the ink never dries on the web.

In today’s economy keeping up with the latest versions of every software program you own can be a difficult decision, especially when some image retouching programs cost hundreds of dollars to upgrade and there are lower cost alternatives on the market. In this segment, Mike tackles the tough issue of “to upgrade or not to upgrade?”, sharing his own experience testing and using every version of Photoshop since it was a Beta version in 1989, and having witnessed every conceivable computer crash caused by new operating system software, corrupt printer drivers, and not-ready-for-prime-time releases. Bottom line? For best results, upgrading software often requires updating hardware, on both Macs and PCs.

In this segment, learn about options for getting what you need without paying for features you don’t. For example, Mike suggests trying to master Adobe Photoshop Elements 7 on your PC before emptying out your back account for the latest Photoshop CS4 version, or opting for the Adobe Photoshop Elements bundle that includes Premiere Elements 7.0 for movie editing.

Listen in on the McNamara Report segment or get more insights and analysis from Mike McNamara at: http://www.mcnamarareport.com