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manipulation is the specialized task of noise reduction, which can be performed within
Photoshop, Adobe Camera Raw, or tools like Bibble Professional. There are also spe-
cialized tools just for noise reduction, such as Noise Ninja (also included with Bibble)
and Neat Image. Some programs, like the incomparable DxO Optics Pro perform mag-
ical transformations that you can’t achieve any other way.
Each of these utilities and applications deserves a chapter of its own, so I’m simply going
to enumerate some of the most popular applications and utilities and tell you a little
about what they do.
DxO Optics Pro
DxO Labs (www.DxO.com) offers an incredibly useful program called Optics Pro
($170-$300) that is unique in the range of functions it provides. Ostensibly an image
quality enhancement utility that “cures” some of the ills that plague even the best lenses,
the latest release also features a new RAW conversion engine that uses a new demosaic-
ing algorithm to translate your NEF files into images with more detail, less noise, and
fewer artifacts. These features meld well with the program’s original mission: fixing the
optical “geometry” of images, using settings custom-tailored for each individual lens.
(I’m not kidding: when you “assemble” the program, you specify each and every cam-
era body you want to use with Optics Pro, and designate exactly which lenses are
included in your repertoire.)
Once an image has been imported into Optics Pro, it can be manipulated within one
of four main sections: Light, Color, Geometry, and Details. It’s especially useful for cor-
recting optical flaws, color, exposure, and dynamic range, while adjusting perspective,
distortion, and tilting. If you own a fisheye lens, Optics Pro will “de-fish” your images
to produce a passable rectilinear photo from your curved image. A new Dust/Blemish
Removal tool operates something like a manual version of the D7000’s Dust Off
Reference Photo. The user creates a dust/blemish template, and the program removes
dust from the marked area in multiple images. Figure 13.7 shows you DxO Optics Pro’s
clean user interface.
Phase One Capture One Pro (C1 Pro)
If there is a Cadillac of RAW converters for Nikon and Canon digital SLR cameras, C1
Pro has to be it. This premium-priced program from Phase One (www.phaseone.com)
does everything, does it well, and does it quickly. If you can’t justify the price tag of this
professional-level software (as much as $399 for the top-of-the-line edition), there are
“lite” versions for serious amateurs and cash-challenged professionals for as little as $130.
Aimed at photographers with high-volume needs (that would include school and por-
trait photographers, as well as busy commercial photographers), C1 Pro is available for
both Windows and Mac OS X, and supports a broad range of digital cameras. Phase
Chapter 13 ■ Useful Software for the Nikon D7000 451