ART121.rev82 83ART121.rev82 83, DESIGN, March 2006 Computer Arts Issue 121 PDFs, CA121
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//-->|REVIEWSBETAREVIEWMore than just an updated File Browser,Lightroomprovides powerful file-management and search tools that can be used to organise large collections of imagesStreamline your workflow by preparing as many output styles as you want for printingand exporting with this handy new freeXTensionfrom QuarkLightroomADOBE RELEASES ITS OWN RAW WORKFLOW TOOL AS A FREE BETA DOWNLOADdobe must have been a bit miffed by therelease ofAperture,Apple’s workflow toolfor Raw image files (see page 78, issue 120, fora full review). Apparently, Adobe had beendeveloping a similar app for years, but didn’tquite know how to market it. Once Apple pavedthe way it didn’t take long for Adobe to make abeta of the app, calledLightroom,available.Launch the program and it initially opensinto Library mode, which displays each of theimages in your library. New photos that youimport are initially stored as a ‘shoot’, but youcan then create ‘collections’ of photos and addindividual photos to multiple collections.The Library mode also includes a searchoption and a Quick Develop palette thatprovides basic colour, lighting and exposurecontrols. To perform more preciseadjustments, simply click a button at the topof the screen to switch into Develop mode.Lightroomrestricts itself mostly to colourand lighting adjustment, and doesn’t attemptto compete with the more detailed editing toolsfound inPhotoshop.In fact, right-clicking onany image inLightroomwill open a new copyof the image inPhotoshop,which can be savedas a separate file in yourLightroomLibrary.It’s still a good six months from completion(possibly more), and Adobe hasn’t given anyindication of pricing yet, butLightroomhasobvious potential as a workflow tool that canbe used in conjunction withPhotoshop.There’snothing like it on the Windows side, and ifAdobe includesLightroomin the Mac versionof itsCreative Suite, Aperturecould well finditself dead in the water.AMACYesPRICEPCYesQuark OutputEnhancement XTPRINT AND EXPORT QUARKXPRESS 6.5 LAYOUTS IN BATCH STYLESTBCCONTACTAdobe020 7365 0733www.adobe.co.ukFOR• Fast, efficient organisationof large photo collections• Keyword searching• Integrated withPhotoshopAGAINST• Unfinished beta• Could compete withAdobeBridge• Pricing unknownVERDICTStill a work in progress, butLightroomlooks like it will be avery useful tool for professionalphotographers and designerswho work with large collectionsN/ABETA REVIEWntil recently, every time you exported anAdobe PDF, EPS or PostScript (PS) filefromQuarkXPress,you had to set all theoutput options manually. But with theintroduction of theOutput EnhancementXTension– available free from the Quarkwebsite –QuarkXPress 6.5now enablesmultiple presets for printing and exporting, andyou can also trigger them singly or in batches.TheXTensionis essentially a development ofPrint Styles, radically expanded to encompassother forms of output. An Output Styles dialogwindow, found under the Edit menu, presentsall the options available to you for generatingPDF, EPS or PS files, or for printing. So, forexample, you could prepare one style forexporting archival PDFs, another for web-ready PDFs, another for press-ready PS files,and so on. To export a layout to any of thesepreset styles, it’s as easy as going to File>OutputStyles and picking one.Even more powerful is the ability to buildOutput Style Groups, enabling you to exportmultiple styles at once. To say that this willsave you time is an understatement.There is also an automated file-processingfeature, but the commands were greyed out onour system. Another disappointment was the‘placeholders’ function, which looks powerfulbut is incomprehensible in practice. Still, inevery other respect,Output Enhancement XTis as well designed as it is indispensable. Andwhat’s-more, it’s free.UMACYesPRICEPCYesFreeCONTACTQuark+41 32 720 1414FOR• Comprehensive rangeof export options• Very well thought-out• FreeAGAINST• Couldn’t use hot folders• ‘Placeholders’ function ispoorly explained• No troubleshooting guideVERDICTThis freeXTensionis just whatprint production desks need,and more besides. The presetoptions and batch output couldshave hours off your workload★★★★★82|April 2006ART121.rev82_83 8228/2/06 5:20:40 pmREVIEWS|BETAREVIEWThe one-inch drive insideIomega’s MicroMini isone-third the size of aconventional hard diskQuarkXPress 7’s familiar Measurements palette has had a bit of a makeover, and nowgives you direct access to a range of OpenType font featuresMicroMiniTHE MICROMINI IS COMPACT AND OFFERS MORE CAPACITY THAN A FLASH DRIVEQuarkXPress 7.0WILL THE LATEST XPRESS BE ENOUGH TO STOP YOUR DEFECTION TO INDESIGN?MACYesPRICEPCYestorage devices that use flash memory canbe incredibly compact – as demonstratedby the almost wafer-thin design of Apple’sflash-based iPod nano. The only problem withflash memory devices is that they’re currentlylimited to a maximum capacity of around 4GB.If you need something that provides a bitmore storage, the obvious option is to buy agood old-fashioned external hard disk drive.Conventional hard disk drives can providehundreds of gigabytes of storage, but do tendto be a bit on the bulky side. However, Iomega’snew MicroMini drive is based on the latestgeneration of compact hard disk drives, andcomes close to matching the compact, easy-on-the-eye dimensions of flash drives.Iomega’s tiny USB 2.0 hard disk measurestwo inches wide, 2.75 inches deep and just 0.5inches thick. It also weighs less than twoounces and features drop-shock technology, soit’s small and sturdy enough to slip easily into apocket or drop into your briefcase along withyour laptop when you’re on the move.The MicroMini also provides more storagethan a flash device and comes in 4GB, 6GB,and 8GB sizes. That obviously can’t comparewith the hundreds of gigabytes you get from afull-sized hard disk drive, so you won’t be ableto back up your computer’s entire main harddisk. However, it’s ideal if you just want a reallycompact device that will enable you to back-upsome work files, MP3 tracks or video clips.The MicroMini is a little pricey, costing £113for the 8GB model, but it’s worth it if you need areally compact back-up device that you cancarry around when you’re away from your desk.S4GB £86.306GB £99.508GB £113.15CONTACTIomega020 7216 0003www.iomega.com/ukFOR• Compact• Lightweight• No power supply needed(USB-powered)AGAINST• Expensive• Relatively small capacityVERDICTIt’s expensive for the amount ofstorage, but the MicroMini drivewill appeal to laptop owners whowant a compact and super-lightweight back-up device★★★★★uark is the company every print designerloved to hate. Irregular, tardy softwareupdates with minimal new features; onerousprices; customer service and support reps thatnotoriously offered everything but... the list ofQuark’s past sins goes on and on.But withInDesignnow a valid alternative toQuarkXPress,Quark is cleaning up its act.QuarkXPress 7,still in beta, has a list of newfeatures as long as your arm, designed tomake you pause for thought before completingyourInDesignescape tunnel. However, mostare the kind of minutiae tweaks you’d expectfrom a product that’s been around for over adecade, and aren’t really very exciting. Themajority do help with everyday productivity, buta few others actually hinder.Nevertheless, there are some genuinelyworthwhile features. It’s possible to have morethan one user working on the same document,for example, which will be a godsend for manypublishers, even if implementation is a littlecumbersome. It may even be the single bestreason for sticking with QuarkXPress.Built-in drop shadows, transparency, alphachannel support and JDF workflows are verywelcome. There’s also plenty of catch-up beingplayed, with some decent OpenType supportfinally making the cut, taking Quark’stypography features way aboveInDesign’s.TheXPress 7beta isn’t perfect: it doesn’tquite have theCreative Suiteintegration ofInDesign,the new features won’t quite completeyour wish-list and performance is poor on G4s.Nevertheless,QuarkXPressis once again theone to beat, so don’t jump ship just yet.QMACYesPRICEPCYesBeta freeFinal price TBCCONTACTQuark+41 32 720 1414FOR• Multi-user documentsencourage collaboration• Effects capabilitiesAGAINST• Most tweaks are unintuitive• Doesn’t integrate with otherdesign programs• Likely to have big price tagVERDICTOnce again,QuarkXPressis themost powerful page layoutprogram around, with newfeatures that should steeranyone away fromInDesignN/ABETA REVIEWApril 2006|83ART121.rev82_83 8328/2/06 5:20:43 pm [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] |
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