ImageNest- Mac Printing Layout Software

ImageNest Discount Coupon:

Use this link and coupon code:
ImageNest discount 10dis

ImageNest is a software Rip for Mac printing that does printing layout and a number of other picture layout tricks very well.  ImageNest works on all printers with Mac drivers : Epson, HP, Canon, etc.  We reviewed  the first version of BlueCubit’s ImageNest here.  There  are so many new printer layout features in ImageNest 2.0, that the new printing layout features deserve  a  review.  I think this is the perfect  iPhoto printing utility.  Apple’s iPhoto printing leaves a lot to be desired, and Bluecubit gives iPhoto users the image layout tools they need for picture printing.

Product manager, Joshua Lubbers has graciously offered to give a 10% discount on all of Bluecubit’s Mac Image Layout Printing  software.

Use this link and code: ImageNest Discount Coupon Code: 10dis

ImageNest 2.0 Top 5 New Features

DNG Printing- ImageNest can easily print outstanding contact sheets from all the major file types, but it really shines for DNG printing of contact sheets.  DNG files have an adjusted JPEG file imbedded in them along with the RAW date and XMP data.  When you make edits to the RAW image in an editor such as Adobe’s Lightroom and push those edits into the DNG file, the adjustments are saved as XMP Data and A JPEG is created.  ImagNest is one of the only ways to access and print that adjusted DNG Jpeg preview.

Metedata Annotations- If your contact  sheet printing, then you likely need to print text, file numbers, names, dates, location or other metedata.  A contact sheet isn’t of much use without the information you need to access the file you or your client want to use. ImageNest allows you to print metedata on all four sides of each image in the printing layout.   Printing text metedata  in the layout is a major power feature that is useful in so many ways.

PDF Creations- Layouts aren’t just for printing, they can be saved as PDF files.  This is an absolutely killer feature of ImageNest. After spending some time creating a wonderful layout of your pictures, you can save it as a PDF.  Contact sheets with file numbers and metedata annotations can be emailed for review.  Because the layout or contact sheet is in a PDF, viewers with Adobe acrobat can put notes about the files they like on the PDF and return it to the photographer.

Image Borders (Frames)- Image frames allow you to layout pictures with borders.  The picture borders can be different  colors and widths.  Image frames are a simple way of really dressing up a print layout.  I regularly use them when  on black and white image layouts.

Soft Proofing- This is a professional  printing feature that armatures could use as well.  It’s designed to help professional photographers who need to soft proof for CMYK printers, but it’s also useful for proofing machine prints.  If your having prints made on a Fuji Frontier or Noritsu machine printer like Costo & SmugMug uses, then you need a way to check color and density before you send the SRGB  files.  The profiles for these printers are available through drycreekphoto as well as most major print vendors.  Imagenest can be used to layout images for these services too.

Those are the five major new features of ImageNest 2.0.  Version 2.0 also has a much improved interface with many improvements under the hood.    64 Bit processing is enabled, but many Mac printer drivers are not running 64Bit yet.  ImageNest is committed to speed and will likely be using CUDA multicore GPU Image processing in their next major release.

This is defiantly the simplest picture layout RIP on the market.  It’s a simple to use  Mac printing layout utility that really doesn’t have a competitor.  under the hood  ImageNest comes in a number of versions based on the size of the layout or printer.

17 Inch $199
24 Inch $399
44 Inch $599
Wide Format $799

Use this link and code for a 10% ImageNest discount:

ImageNest Discount Coupon Code: 10dis

I’ve just returned from a Photoshop World Conference(PSW) in Orlando, Florida. The conference four days of fast-paced Photoshop training. NAPP (National Association of Photoshop Professionals) produces two excellent conferences every year; one on the West Coast and one on the East Coast. For those readers who have never attended PSW, I’ll recap my trip to give you an idea of what it’s like. Read more…

We used to joke about photographers who “had their lights on strings.” This was an old school way of producing consistent results, but not creative ones. The modern version of that is photographers with their flash still on the camera. With all the options for remote-triggering strobes there is no excuse for using just an on-camera flash. That deer in the headlights straight on small light source look look is so tired. Here I light myself with two Canon 580 EX II flashes. I also used a ring light for fill, then added some lens flair in Photoshop
I really don’t need that much power most of the time, so a a battery powered TTL flash is fine. You can control additional flashes from an on-camera flash or use an IR controller.

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There are two simple programs that I can’t live without: Mailwasher and Password Plus. Mailwasher is Windows only, but Password Plus also works on a Mac. These applications are very simple and inexpensive, yet absolutely vital to my computer life.

Mailwasher is a spam filtering tool that works in a very different way than most. It allows you to view and filter e-mail BEFORE downloading it from the mail server. I don’t want to download spam, virus attachments, and garbage to my local machine. It’s especially useful on a slow connection, like my At&t mobile card. There is a free version and a “Pro” version for $37. I find Mailwasher to be very simple and powerful; a must have weapon in the battle against spam.

Password Plus ($30) by DataViz is a is a database to keep passwords and account numbers organized and protected. It’s one of the simplest programs imaginable, but it’s so useful. The information is encrypted and can be exported in a as a comma delimited file for import into other programs like Excel. Password Plus also comes in a version for the Palm OS if you need to take all those logins with you.

I’ve used both of these programs for many years. Trust me you can’t go wrong with Mailwasher and Password Plus.

Quality input devices can save valuable computer time and reduce the likelihood of developing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (hand and wrist pain). Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is no joke. Once you develop a problem it can make computer work very difficult and painful. I had to see a hand surgeon for a stress related injury caused by powering in thousands of screws on a fence. The hand injury made using a mouse very painful. Fortunately, the doctor was able to fix me up with some Cortisone shots. Now I pay close attention to the ergonomics of input devices, and screw guns too.

My computers are set up with a keyboard, a mouse, a tablet, and a NuLOOQ. This may seem excessive, but it saves me time every day and protects my health.

I’ve come to rely on the NulOOQ Design Controller as an essential part of Photoshop. My left hand comfortably controls zooming, scrolling, and seven other functions from the controller. I have set this USB device to control specific functions for different applications. It’s set up for Navigation, Selection, and History functions in Photoshop. I have custom settings for other applications, like Browsers, Word Processors, E-mail, etc.
Side Note: Mozilla Firefox has an add-on called Mouse Gestures which gives you functions at the flick of a mouse.

I’m a big fan of Wacom tablets for retouching, but I still like a mouse when I’m writing text and code. It’s hard to type with a stylist in my hand, so I have to keep putting it down and picking it up. I like the Logitech G5, MX518, and G9 corded laser mice( in that order). I don’t like the cordless models because they aren’t as responsive or well balanced due to the weight of the batteries. They also need to be put on the charger base periodically, and if you forget, you have no mouse at all. The high end Logitech mice have a weight tuning system and super slick Polytetrafluoroethylene feet.

The super slick mouse feet don’t do you much good without a precision mouse pad. The surface I like is called Archetype Surface 1030 by Func Industries(a George Clinton company). A similar surface is used by several manufacturers of gaming mouse pads including Razer. The right combination of mouse and pad will zoom across a 30 inch display and stop on a pixel.

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