UNIFIED COLOR TECHNOLOGIES ON PHOTOSHOP CS5’s HDR FEATURES: BETTER LATE THAN NEVER, BUT…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
South San Francisco, CA – April 15, 2010 – Unified Color Technologies (http://www.unifiedcolor.com), the experts in high dynamic range imaging (HDR), expressed optimism over the renewed attention to HDR in the latest release of Adobe® Photoshop® CS5, but emphasized that while the package offers some interesting HDR-like effects, it still does not provide the true HDR capabilities that are desired by today’s HDR practitioners.
With the new additions to the tool kit, Photoshop can offer similar results to some of the HDR merge tools on the market, most of which rely on a practice known as tone mapping to make the resulting HDR image “pop.” It’s the tone mapping phase of the process that results in the hyper-realistic, processed, and over saturated color routinely referred to as the “grunge-look” of HDR. To date, only Unified Color Technologies' HDR PhotoStudio software supplies the True Color Results demanded by professionals and enthusiasts looking to comprehensively create and edit their images to accomplish true-to-life HDR results. Additional technology comparisons between HDR PhotoStudio and the newly released Photoshop CS5 can be found online at this link.
“HDR is compelling to photographers because it gives them the opportunity to display more accurately the full range of colors viewed by the human eye. But even today’s modern cameras cannot display in a single capture,” said Alfred Zee, CEO of Unified Color Technologies. “Clearly our industry colleagues at Adobe have noticed the increased demand for functional HDR tools, but unfortunately they’ve chosen to limit Photoshop’s vision of HDR to a flashy special effect rather than embracing full HDR capabilities. There is certainly a time and place for the stylized and over saturated look that Photoshop and others provide, but it is not true HDR as the technique intends.
“For photographers looking to capture the full potential of the HDR technique and avoid the exaggerated ‘grunge’ look that Photoshop and other software tools present as the extent of HDR, only HDR PhotoStudio will deliver the true-to-life images they seek,” Zee added.
Even in its praise of Photoshop CS5, media that had early access to the program recognized the lack of realism in the results from its HDR Pro tool, stating that it works “…whether you're going after something unnaturally photorealistic or a bit more artistic” (Matthew Murray, PCMag.com, 4/12/2010) and that it “…should satisfy all but the pickiest of HDR enthusiasts” (Scott Gilbertson, WIRED.com, 4/12/2010). For those who truly value HDR imaging as a reflection of actual human vision rather than a stylized oversaturated view of real-life, they can still turn only to HDR PhotoStudio to reach the fullest potential the technology has to offer.
HDR PhotoStudio provides photographers with complete control over the colors within an image, without degrading the true image colors, and a comprehensive toolbox to address the effects of merging multiple exposures, while simultaneously improving workflow. HDR PhotoStudio, with its unique 32-bit floating-point technology and Beyond RGB™ color space, is the only application on the market that can accurately depict and edit all the colors the human visual system can recognize. Meanwhile, Photoshop CS5 provides little in the way of color control and professional functionality, for instance requiring several steps just to change the white balance of an HDR image (tone map the image to 16-bit, save it as a TIFF file and open in ACR before this basic processing can even begin).
Users wishing to experience True Color Results with HDR PhotoStudio are encouraged to download a free-trial of the software by visiting http://www.unifiedcolor.com. In addition, Unified Color continues to accept submissions for its True Vision HDR Photo Contest which will award valuable prizes from some of imaging’s most sought-after brands. More details can be found at http://www.unifiedcolor.com/contest.
About Unified Color
Unified Color Technologies is redefining the capabilities of visual technology with a unique color system that powers the next-generation of high dynamic range (HDR) imaging devices and software. A significant improvement over current industry standards, Unified Color’s new Beyond RGBTM color model presents a versatile color platform which is able to map a much larger color space encompassing the full human visual spectrum including colors found in nature and man-made light sources. Beyond RGB is available for licensing to digital imaging companies looking for a competitive market advantage. Powered by the Beyond RGB color model, the company’s flagship HDR PhotoStudio has set a new industry standard for creating, depicting and editing the most realistic HDR images. More information about Unified Color can be found at http://www.unifiedcolor.com.
Contact:
Zachary Heath
Matter Communications
401.351.9503
unifiedcolor@matternow.com