10 years after Lightroom made its debut we have a new beta version from Adobe Labs, Lightroom 4! Lightroom’s history is outlined on this Wikipedia page. Beta software is not for everyone so be sure to backup your work, and understand this beta software should be used for learning features, testing and tinkering. The final release may or may not be compatible with what you do in the beta so keep this in mind. Lightroom 4 beta will be available for download until the products expiration on March 31, 2012. We’ll post our impressions just as soon as we have a chance to test it out.

Download the Lightroom 4 beta

Here’s a quick look at the new features from Adobe’s website

New Features in Lightroom 4 Beta

• Highlight and shadow recovery brings out all the detail that your camera captures in dark shadows and bright highlights.
• Photo book creation with easy-to-use elegant templates.
• Location-based organization lets you find and group images by location, assign locations to images, and display data from GPS-enabled cameras.
• White balance brush to refine and adjust white balance in specific areas of your images.
• Additional local editing controls let you adjust noise reduction and remove moiré in targeted areas of your images.
• Extended video support for organizing, viewing, and making adjustments and edits to video clips.
• Easy video publishing lets you edit and share video clips on Facebook and Flickr®.
• Soft proofing to preview how an image will look when printed with color-managed printers.
• Email directly from Lightroom using the email account of your choice.

Adobe Labs has completed beta testing of Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) version 6.6 (adds support for several newer digital cameras). You can get this update by using the check for updates option in your Adobe software or by visiting the Adobe Labs Camera Raw page for this download. This page is the place to visit for the latest ACR release and beta test versions when available.

Lightroom 3.6 has just been released after completion of beta testing. In addition to adding support the cameras above it also addresses some minor issues uncovered in the previous versions of LR. You can get this update by checking for updates inside Lightroom.

Adobe Labs has just released Adobe Camera Raw version 6.6 RC (release candidate – the final step before production and one step past beta) to accommodate several newer digital cameras and lens profiles. This is an Adobe Labs beta product so there can be some issues but for someone who’s just purchased a new camera without current Adobe Camera Raw support, you may want to give it a try. Rest assured though a full tested version will be released soon. If you’d like to try the beta software visit the Adobe Labs Camera Raw page for this download. Please feel free to offer you feedback on this beta product by using the link from the Adobe Labs Camera Raw page listed above. ACR 6.6 RC was recently released and will expire in January 2012 when the official version in released.

• Canon PowerShot S100
• Nikon 1 J1
• Nikon 1 V1
• Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1
• Samsung NX5

Additional Lens Profiles added

Adobe Labs has completed beta testing of Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) version 6.5 (adds support for several newer digital cameras). You can get this update by using the check for updates option in your Adobe software or by visiting the Adobe Labs Camera Raw page for this download. This page is the place to visit for the latest ACR release and beta test versions when available.

Lightroom 3.5 has just been released after completion of beta testing. In addition to adding support the cameras above it also addresses some minor issues uncovered in the previous versions of LR. You can get this update by checking for updates inside Lightroom.

Adobe Labs has released minor update that fixes some minor issues uncovered after 3.4 / 6.4 was released. You can get this update by using the check for updates option in your Adobe software or by visiting the Adobe Labs Camera Raw page for this download. This page is the place to visit for the latest ACR release and beta test versions when available.

Adobe Labs has completed beta testing of Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) version 6.4 (adds support for several newer digital cameras). You can get this update by using the check for updates option in your Adobe software or by visiting the Adobe Labs Camera Raw page for this download. This page is the place to visit for the latest ACR release and beta test versions when available.

Lightroom 3.4 has just been released after completion of beta testing. In addition to adding support the cameras above it also addresses some minor issues uncovered in the previous versions of LR. You can get this update by checking for updates inside Lightroom.

Adobe Labs has just released Adobe Camera Raw version 6.4 RC (release candidate – the final step before production and one step past beta) to accommodate several newer digital cameras and lens profiles. This is an Adobe Labs beta product so there can be some issues but for someone who’s just purchased a new camera without current Adobe Camera Raw support, you may want to give it a try. Rest assured though a full tested version will be released soon. If you’d like to try the beta software visit the Adobe Labs Camera Raw page for this download. Please feel free to offer you feedback on this beta product by using the link from the Adobe Labs Camera Raw page listed above. ACR 6.4 RC was released on 10 March 2011.

• Canon EOS 600D (Rebel T3i / Kiss X5)
• Canon EOS 1100D (Rebel T3 / Kiss X50)
• Hasselblad H4D-40
• Olympus E-PL1s
• Olympus E-PL2
• Olympus XZ-1
• Samsung NX11

Additional Lens Profiles added

Adobe Labs is currently beta testing Adobe Camera Raw Release Candidate version 6.3 to accommodate several newer digital cameras. This is an Adobe Labs beta product so there can be some issues but for someone who’s just purchased a new camera without current Adobe Camera Raw support, you may want to give it a try. Rest assured though a full tested version will be released soon. If you’d like to try the beta software visit the Adobe Labs Camera Raw page for this download. Please feel free to offer you feedback on this beta product by using the link from the Adobe Labs Camera Raw page listed above.

Newly supported camera models include:

• Nikon D7000
• Nikon Coolpix P7000
• Nikon D3100
• Canon PowerShot S95
• Canon PowerShot G12
• Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
• Samsung NX100
• Samsung TL350 (WB2000)

Lightroom 3.3 is in beta and is also available from Adobe Labs.

Nik Software Demo Day 11 – 4 pm, Sat, Sept 25

Two presentations – 11:00 am – 12:15 pm and 2:00 – 3:15 pm

Nik Software Tools, Techniques and Tips for creating your best digital images.

Join us as we explore the various uses and applications of Nik Software within a digital workflow. This seminar will discuss how editing and retouching images can be fun, easy and enjoyable, and result in greater creativity coming through in your photography.

The class will begin with a basic introduction to Nik Software’s collection of plug-ins for Photoshop and proceed through demonstrations of their specific uses. Attendees of this seminar will learn how to trouble shoot images and correctly solve them with the proper Nik Software product.

Nik Software, Inc. is a privately held company that develops software solutions for the growing digital imaging and photography markets. Established in 1995, Nik Software has become the recognized leader in digital photographic filter development and produces award-winning technology and software products for digital photography and imaging professionals including U Point® technology, Dfine®, Viveza®, Color Efex Pro, Silver Efex Pro, and Sharpener Pro software.

Presentations at 11am or 2pm choose one on your registration form

Exploring HDR Photography with Nik Software’s HDR Efex Pro

Join Victor Ha of Nik Software as he reveals the technology and creative possibilities behind Nik Software’s latest creation: software for high dynamic range (HDR) imaging!  Victor will explain the techniques of how to properly shoot HDR for the best results, and then demonstrate an exciting new software product for creating realistic to artistic HDR images.  The software is easy-to-use and has been designed for photographers of all levels, with one-click style presets as well as powerful and innovative controls for advanced editing and experimentation.  Join us as we explore the photographic possibilities of HDR!

Nik Software, Inc. is a privately held company that develops software solutions for the growing digital imaging and photography markets. Established in 1995, Nik Software has become the recognized leader in digital photographic filter development and produces award-winning technology and software products for digital photography and imaging professionals including U Point® technology, Dfine®, Viveza®, Color Efex Pro™, Silver Efex Pro™, and Sharpener Pro™ software.

About the Photographer

Victor Ha, Nik Software’s Channel Sales Assistant Manager, is a former professional photographer of 8 years. A transplanted Californian just recently relocated to New York, he has spent the past three years presenting Nik Software to photographers in the US, Canada and Australia. Well-versed in the demands of today’s working professional, Victor takes a very practical approach in applying Nik Software to his workflow and showing others how they can incorporate elements of his workflow within their own.

Please choose one session to attend ( presentations will be the same)

Adobe has release Adobe Camera Raw version 6.2 to accommodate several newer digital cameras and lots of updated lens profiles. Downloads for MAC and PC available from Adobe Labs.

New lens based distortion correction for geometric distortions, chromatic aberration and lens vignette effects. Includes full manual as well as the abiltiy to create your own automatic lens profiles with the free Adobe Lens Profile Creator. This tool can be a real time saver when corrections for common lens errors can be automatically applied based on image EXIF informaiton.

Newly supported camera models include:

• Casio EXILIM EX-FH100 (DNG^*)
• Leica S2 (DNG^*)
• Panasonic DMC-FZ100
• Panasonic DMC-FZ40 (FZ45)
• Panasonic DMC-LX5
• Pentax 645D
• Samsung NX10
• Samsung TL500 (EX1)
• Sony A290
• Sony A390
• Sony Alpha NEX-3
• Sony Alpha NEX-5

View the complete list of changes to ACR on the Abobe Labs webpage