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Thanks, Danny. I missed the box when I have exported.
I've been using ACDSee Pro 5 as both my RAW editor and DAM, but it's slow, requiring periodic database maintenance, and the workflow is inefficient.
Now that I have switched to PhotoDirector for my out-of-camera work, I want to make certain I'm getting everything I can handled by that application.
For the rest of my images, I've been tinkering with Zoner Photo Studio 14 FREE as a replacement for ACDSee Pro. It seems to be very fast. I know that Faststone has a large user base, indicating its value to many photographers.
Bob
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There will be some situations when it is necessary to use a file exported from PhotoDirector 3 in an outside image editor: the need for application of external plugins, complex layer situations, etc. Assuming the finished file is saved in a folder from which PhD3 imported files, is there an easy way for PhotoDirector to add the file to its library? The user will need access to that externally-processed file when publishing from PhD3
When working with the external editor -- Photoshop, PhotoLine, Elements, PaintShop Pro, PhotoPlus, etc. -- the best strategy would be to save a copy of the file in the external editor's native format in addition to making a JPG or TIF copy that PhD3 could read.
Maybe I've missed something in the capabilities of PhD3, but it seems to me most users will need a 2nd DAM for all of those other image files and perhaps non-camera produced JPGs and TIFs.
Thanks for all the good answers I've received here!
Bob
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Here is the text of an inquiry I sent to Cyberlink:
I would like to inform you that, you are eligible for PhotoDirector 3 free upgrade and in the middle of the March you will get the official E-mail from CyberLink in which you will find the download link of PhotoDirector.
Please feel free to contact us back for any further clarification or for any assistance related to CyberLink Products. Use the below mentioned link to get back to us for your further queries:
https://membership.cyberlink.com/prog/support/cs/support-login.jsp
Thanks and Regards,
Gaurav
CyberLink Technical Support
Bob
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PIX, thanks for the new information on the tutorials.
I have been having lots of fun with PhotoDirector 3, importing almost 18,000 files into the database. I've even redeveloped some old RAW images, getting better results with PhD3.
I have experienced a couple of crashes. But in each case there's been a process dump report that goes to the CyberLink engineers. I have been impressed with the lack of major bugs I've encountered. Usually a company's marketing department's push to get a new version of an application out the door results in numerous bugs that don't get fixed until the first patch.
It is obvious to me traditional photo editors will play only a minor role -- mostly work requiring multiple layers and plugsin -- for pro and serious amateur photographers in the future as a result of non-destructive editors/DAMs like PhotoDirector 3.
I hope PhD 3 will add Google+ as an upload choice sometime soon. G+ has become a main venue for professional and amateur photographers to show off their work.
Bob
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So far my only real complaint about PhotoDirector 3 is the Help file. Although PhD3 is very intuitive, the Help file is a little short on explanation. It tends to make assumptions, as if it were written by one of the programmers familiar with the program, rather than from the perspective of the user coming to PhotoDirector for the first time.
Example: there's no full explanation on how to modify the Watermark Templates.
Bob
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PIX, I appreciate the additional explanation with the graphic. You guys rock!
Bob
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Thanks for the information, Danny.
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I am new to the concept of non-destructive editing. I looked at several competing products before purchasing PhotoDirector 2011 at a great price a few weeks ago. So, now I'm running the trial version of PhD3 awaiting instructions on making my upgrade.
PhD3 does a great job of developing ORF RAW files from my Olympus E-620 camera.
I am impressed with the adjustment and edit tools in the application. Based on limited testing, I am really impressed with Background Removal. I do a lot of photo object work, and this tool appears to be on a par with the expensive external cutout plugins available from third parties.
I do have a couple of questions.
1. PhD3 appears to have no way to associate an external editor that can be called from the program. Is that correct? Thus to do additional work on a file in an external editor, I should finish all processing necessary in PhD3, then export to a file for my photo editor?
2. The User Preference options in PhD3 seem extremely limited. There's no choice on changing the quality option on a JPG export, for example. Based on what I have seen other programs doing, I'm guessing the JPG export quality for PhD3 is 95%. Thus, an image being prepared for the web would have to be processed outside PhD3 to get it to web efficiency?
3. I see no indication of a need for periodic compaction of PhD3's database. Does this mean that the application's performance will not suffer as more folders are added?
Bob
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