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REVIEWS (^) › ›
The Best Keeps Getting Better!
Review by Michael Corsentino
Capture One Pro 9, Phase One’s new full-version update
to their flagship RAW conversion and image-editing
software, continues its history as an imaging tool
worthy of love, something users have come to expect.
I use this software every day and am a big fan of
its elegant design, powerful toolset, and best-in-class
RAW conversions.
This is mature software, so the majority of enhancements,
additions, and updates in any new version aren’t earth shatter-
ing, reinvent-the-wheel revelations, but rather those that build
steadily upon and improve Capture One Pro’s already solid foun-
dation. This isn’t to say that there aren’t a slew of exciting new
tools and compelling reasons to upgrade to version 9, because
there are. Here’s a look at some of what’s new and improved.
Keywords: Two new tools have been added to Capture One
Pro 9: the Keyword tool, which enables the addition/removal
of keywords to individual or multiple images; and the Keyword
Library tool, which can be used to create and manage multiple
keyword lists or import them from other sources.
Improved Contrast Engine: The Exposure Contrast slider can
now add contrast, while at the same time preserving hue, satu-
ration, and lightness values. Curves has a new Luma mode that
constrains contrast changes to Luminance only, also preserving
hue and saturation values. Making contrast (and its impact on
color) independent goes a long way toward better, more accu-
rate color fidelity.
Local Adjustments and Masking: Masking Brush Settings now
include Flow and Airbrush sliders, both welcome additions. Flow
and Airbrush controls are especially useful when it comes to
creating complex masks and dodging and burning. Straight Line
Masking lets you create a mask outline by first clicking to define
the desired square, rectangle, or similar straight-line shape, and
then filling it to complete the masked area.
Updated Color Editor Interface: The Color Editor is now a tool
palette that can be undocked from others and resized, when
needed, for improved visual feedback when selecting color
ranges. With the Create Masked Layer from Selection option,
you can now use color range selections to create Local Adjust-
ments Masks. This very powerful feature makes all the tools in
the Local Adjustments toolset available for use with masked
color range selections.
Rescaling Engine: Capture One Pro 9’s Rescaling Engine for
reducing or enlarging images from their original dimensions has
been completely overhauled, allowing users to preserve the qual-
ity and sharpness of their images regardless of output size.
Tethered Shooting Battery Power Status Indicator: A battery-
power status icon has been added to Capture One Pro’s Teth-
ered Shooting toolbar, thus helping to prevent unwanted inter-
ruptions from loss of power.
Import DNG Catalogs: For those considering, or now in tran-
sition from Lightroom to Capture One Pro, there’s good news!
Lightroom catalogs containing DNG file-format images can now
be imported easily into Capture One Pro.
If you haven’t dipped your toe into the Capture One Pro 9 pool
yet, now might just be the perfect time to download the free
30-day trial. Just sayin’. ■
Capture One Pro 9
Company: Phase One Price: $299 (Upgrade: $99); $15/month
single-user subscription
Web: http://www.phaseone.com Rating: ◆◆◆◆◆
Hot: Keyword tools; revised contrast engine; color editor masks
Not: