Many of the best astro images can combine 10-20 (or more) photos and star trail images can be 100+, so this feels like an issue with PD13’s suitability. Now, here’s where some astrophotographers may balk at PhotoDirector 13 - you only get a maximum of five images to automatically merge here, which can create workflow problems if you’re trying to combine a large number of night sky images. The guided area will also help with things like HDR and panorama merges too. ![]() We were impressed with the control this app gives you over bokeh effects. What doesn’t really impress as much are the sparkle and light hit effects - they lack subtlety, and we just couldn’t find a way to make images better-looking when they were applied. What we love is the ability to freeze any part of the image (by using a brush tool), so you can animate very specific areas. Drawing an arrow onto the image dictates the direction of motion, and there’s a slider for speed. In the Guided area you’ll also find photo animation effects, and they’re surprisingly simple to use. You can even brush in areas of focus or bokeh to really nail the detail of the image you’re trying to craft. We played around with the tool to create a very specific portion of an image sharp-focus, while giving the rest a super-soft focus. Also new to PD13 is the Bokeh edit tool, which is extremely detailed. We love the light ray effects, but would advise you to use them sparingly as it’s easy to over-edit photos with some of these tools. One of the major issues with sky replacement is that it can be hard to get the lighting levels to feel natural, and you’d usually do that with a layer mask, but here it’s all built into the same tool. ![]() What we really appreciate is the ability to adjust not only the sky, but also the lighting on the foreground/land too. The accuracy of the blend between ‘new sky’ and foreground is very good, and the process is achieved in less than a second. ![]() The AI-driven sky replacement is new for PhotoDirector 13, and it’s extremely powerful. There are a series of drop-down menus where you can do things like create animation effects, dispersions, light rays, and sky replacement. Next is the Guided area, and it’s there that all the ‘bells and whistles’ live. It's accessible for photographers of all levels, yet includes enough depth to enable serious photographers to get the most out of their shots.Light rays can add drama to any scene. PhotoDirector offers a competitive package with comparable value. However, for the few who take their discipline more seriously, that lack is a differentiator. That's not a deal breaker, since most photographers will find 90 percent of their needs met by PhotoDirector's tools. Lens profiles: PhotoDirector lacks some of the more precise lens perspective profiles that Lightroom has. Batch load times were noticeably inconsistent compared to those of other photo editors like Lightroom. Varying import times: Our import times varied when importing about 40 raw images. Performance: Version 5 takes advantage of 64-bit processor-powered machines, which is critical for loading images at higher resolutions, especially when entering Retina and 4K territory. You can manage your photo gallery through tags and labels, and you can sort by flags, color, edit status, and stacks. ![]() Manual-adjustment sliders give you incremental control over every aspect of your photo file, from standard color-correction, brightness, and noise-removal tools to more perspective-altering adjustments like lens correction.įiltered management: Get as basic or as granular as you please in organization. Primary adjustment and management tools are in menus that are aligned to the screen edges. Intuitive interface: PhotoDirector shares many traits with tried-and-true workflow interfaces like Lightroom. For new users and photography veterans alike, PhotoDirector has robust tools to help you perfect each snapshot. PhotoDirector is an all-in-one photo editor and manager that gives you complete control over your digital photography workflow.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |