Nik Software Announce Free Update For Color Efex Pro 3.0

Nik software have released an update for Color Efex Pro 3.0. The 3.1 update includes support for Aperture and Capture NX 2, and compatibility with Photoshop® Smart Filters.

Apple Release Aperture 2.1 Update

Apple have released Aperture Version 2.1, a free update which includes an Apple developed plug-in. The plug-in is Dodge & Burn, a tool which adds brushed based tools to lighten or darken, affect contrast and saturation and that can sharpen or blur. Apple will be working with third-party plug-in developers to expand the capabilities with more plug-ins. Visit the Aperture page at Apple

Apple Update Aperture To Version 2.1

Apple have indicated that the 2.1 update "addresses issues related to performance and overall stability." The update also fixes a number of "minor" issues, including Upgrading libraries from earlier versions of Aperture, Publishing .Mac Web Gallery albums, Preview generation and deletion, Creating and ordering books, Appearance of metadata overlays in the Browser, Filmstrip, and on light tables, Watermarking of emailed photos, Highlight Hot and Cold Areas

It also fixes a number of other minor issues, some involving the following areas: Loupe, Smart Albums, Straighten Tool, Filmstrip, Drag and drop import, Thumbnail generation, Import window and Export plug-in reliability. The update is covered in detail here.

Lightzone 3.0 Released

Lightcrafts have released Lightzone 3.o. Sporting a new user interface and several new capabilities. New features include:
Working with Styles (aka templates)
History palette
New Relight tool (aka ToneMapper)
Editing of some key metadata fields
New Lift Tool

I'm very keen to give 3.0 a try but you can read more about it's new capabilities over at DOP

Apple Release Aperture 1.5.3 Update

Apple released an update to Aperture, their Digital Photographers production workflow solution. Aperture version 1.5.3 includes improvement for the software’s overall reliability and performance. According to Apple, key additions and improvements include:

The Generation of thumbnails for adjusted images
Entering and exiting Full Screen mode
Working with large sets of keywords in the Keywords HUD
Restoring from a vault...

Among the specific issues that have been addressed:
Previews now update properly when images are sent to an external editor.- Leaf Aptus 22 and Aptus 75 images are now imported with the correct orientation.
When folders are imported as projects, the folder structure is now correctly preserved when identically named subfolders are included in the hierarchy.
Reconnecting referenced images that have been externally edited now works more reliably.
Setting the ColorSync profile in the Aperture Print dialog now correctly suppresses color management settings in the Mac OS X Print dialog.

Visit Apple for more information and to download the update.