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View Full Version : Imaging Resource Reviews Optipix 3 Plug-ins


James Fee
09-01-2004, 02:00 PM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.imaging-resource.com/SOFT/OP3/OP3.HTM' target='_blank'>http://www.imaging-resource.com/SOFT/OP3/OP3.HTM</a><br /><br /></div>"The Optipix plug-ins enhance either 8- or 16-bit images, improving contrast, removing blur, averaging images, blending bracketed exposures, enlarging images without artifacts and sharpening without color shifts. With version 3.0, Optipix has improved the existing plug-ins and included four new tools:<br /><br /><b>Interactive Interpolation</b> enlarges digital images, allowing you to fine tune how the interpolation is performed in an interactive preview that shows you what you're going to get. <br /><br />The <b>Refocus</b> tool is a blur remover for correcting focus problems and blurring caused by image processing. <br /><br /><b>JPEG Cleaner </b>is a one-step tool for removing artifacts from JPEG images. <br /><br /><b>Grain Maker</b> adds a realistic grain-like texture, rather than pattern, to an image. "<br /><br /> <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/optipix3cover.png" /><br /><br />Trying to do complex operations in Photoshop or other software packages is virtually impossible for most people. Even with books and online tutorials, fixes such as trying to refocus your photo can be near impossible. Why spend hundreds of dollars on your camera and photo software and not get the best results?<br /><br />Optipix 3 is $149.95, but has a $15 discount if you buy from their <a href="http://www.reindeergraphics.com/online-store/scstore/">online store</a> until September 16th.

Jason Dunn
09-01-2004, 02:11 PM
Looks cool, but $150 for three plugins? That's $50 a plugin! This must be aimed at the professional market... 8O

Neil Enns
09-01-2004, 04:01 PM
Why on earth would someone pay $150 for this? Jason, I don't see how they could be targeting professionals since, aside from the JPEG artifact plug-in, the rest looks easy to do without any plug-ins. Interactive interpolation? Just resize your image in 10% increments and run an unsharp mask pass afterwards ($10 says that's what their plug-in does). Refocus? That looks like two passes of USM at different settings. Grain maker? There's a grain filter in PS already :)

Money might be better spent on getting something like Noise Ninja or another grain removal tool for high ISO images, plus FocalBlade for sharpening.

Neil

James Fee
09-01-2004, 05:34 PM
NoiseNinja and FocalBlade will cost you about what this does. I agree, I wouldn't spend the money, but I you want to acomplish these tasks and have some money to spend on it, I would say its worth it.

I can do most of the things plugins for Photoshop do by hand, but my time is too valuable to waste on playing around with the unsharp mask.

Neil Enns
09-01-2004, 05:39 PM
Noise Ninja, to be fair, really doesn't do anything that's covered in the above package. So FocalBlade (or any of the similar apps) would be the only one you need. It's only $50, and provides quite a bit more flexibility. It also covers two of the tools in the above package (resize cleanup and focus fix), and is a HECK of a lot easier than the USM filter.

Ah well :) As long as you're happy!

Neil

Jason Dunn
09-01-2004, 06:00 PM
Battle of the plugin geeks! :lol:

FIGHT!

:D

James Fee
09-01-2004, 06:06 PM
Ah well :) As long as you're happy!
Actually I am because I personally use NoiseNinja and FocalBlade. 8)

I'm not defending the value of the product, but I can see spending $200 on plugins if they solve my problems.