Top 10 Best Digital Photo Tools to Make Your Photos Better
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Gigapixel AI
Enlarge pictures and stop compromising quality with a tool that will help you increase your pictures' resolution without losing detail.
Gigapixel AI is a tool meant to help you get the clearest image quality after considerably enlarging the original. It uses machine learning technology to maintain accuracy and upscale your pictures' quality at the highest standards.
Gigapixel AI in context
Gigapixel AI offers performant upscaling for all kinds of pictures. The goal is to enlarge a picture and preserve quality, which is a difficult thing to do. Indeed, most upscaling programs offer a slightly modified version of the original by adjusting the edge contrast and the picture's sharpness. Some of the most well-known graphic editors offer advanced techniques for picture refinement by using different, combined functionalities such as shake reduction, duplicating and editing blur traces, artifact suppression, and much more.
However, although we can't know for sure what kind of technology Gigapixel AI integrates, the tool is really performant compared with others in its league. It manages to increase pictures' quality even at high scale enlargements. The tool's developers announced their latest machine learning developments and some of the Gigapixel AI capabilities were associated with these new implementations.
Upscaling at high-resolution
Indeed, no matter the back-end functionalities and implementations, the tool does work and does make qualitative, highly enlarged photos. The new feature called Face Refinement, which uses machine learning and image recognition, manages to produce really good outcomes for portraits and face enlarged photographs.
The tool system is well-built and the GUI looks modern and minimalistic. Gigapixel AI is not a sophisticated and overly-complicated program. It has the essentials and performs its tasks smoothly and gracefully. It is easy, simple, and pleasant to use the program. You can open multiple pictures and select the ones you want to apply the modifications to. The commands in the right-side panel are simple and customizable: the scale options, the width and height adjustment, noise suppression, blur adjustments, etc.
Conclusion
To summarize, Gigapixel AI is a qualitative tool. It is well-built, performant, and does not have any noticeable issues at a normal, non-expert end-user look. The price seems a bit too high; however, if you find Gigapixel AI to be what you need after finishing the trial, go ahead and buy a license. After all, the price can be justified by the program's efficiency and capabilities.
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ON1 Resize
Resize and enhance the clarity of your photos as you see fit, or use the software's presets, designed to help optimize the proportions of your images.
When printing photos, you have to be aware of a few things, or else the result will be less than satisfactory. For instance, you have to account for the page you're printing on, the contents you want to imprint, and the printer device itself. Failing to heed those elements usually results in you having to redo the process, wasting ink for carelessness.
More often than not, there are issues pertaining to how the photo fits on a page. It either comes out overly stretched, doesn't use the space properly — leaving you with white bars around it — or, in rarer cases, the result turns out as it should.
Using software to resize your photos for certain formats, whilst also enhancing their clarity, wouldn't be a bad call, and ON1 Resize has got you covered on that front. Batch image processing, printer presets, and an intuitive interface are the highlight features of this app.
Prepare for printing
Upon booting the software, you'll get the option to add the folder containing the photos you would like to resize. Thereafter, interacting with the Resize button will open up the editing menu of the chosen photo: you can crop it based on the printer format presets available in the app, and you can also make some adjustments to its overall look.
Concerning the presets, they are grouped based on the manufacturer and paper type. For instance, there are Canvas, Matte, and Resin Coated options for Canon, and they are also available for HP and Epson printers. Resizing for social media, as well as for e-mail, are some of the other available options.
Enhance your photos
Whether you're editing one or multiple photos, the workflow is very much alike. Batch processing is done by selecting the images, then clicking the Export button, which will open up a context menu. The menu will offer you the choices of sharpening, tiling, gallery wrapping, and even adding in film grain to the respective elements, each able to be customized per your requirements.
Resize is a solid app. The presets are helpful, and the sharpening feature can be of great aid when you want to enhance the clarity of your photos.
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Zoner Photo Studio X
View, organize, and edit images using a set of advanced tools, import photos from connected cameras, rate pictures and set map locations, and adjust objects’ colors.
Zoner Photo Studio X is a professional software application specialized in managing large collections of images and editing photos.
Well-organized layout
The tool impresses with a coherent feature structure that allows you to quickly get an idea about how to make the most out of its features. A tutorial is also displayed when you run the utility for the first time so you can get acquainted with its key functions.
When it comes to photo importing tasks, you should know the program is able to automatically add photos from a connected camera. Plus, the best part about this process is that images are automatically sorted, and you may also rename and back them up.
You may acquire files from a scanner, take screenshots using different modes (e.g. whole screen, active window), extract photos from PDF files, and grab JPEG images from files.
Organize photos using dedicated features
Zoner Photo Studio X lets you work with multiple image catalogues. In order to clean up the ‘mess,’ which may result from handling a huge collection of files, you can add colored labels, set up map locations, perform searches, as well as rate items according to your preferences. Plus, you can preview images with the aid of thumbnails and zoom in or out of photos.
Editing capabilities
A smart feature offered by Zoner Photo Studio X, called Develop module, offers you the freedom to boost the image quality without affecting the source photo. There are a lot of editing modes that you can play with, such as you may apply all sorts of effects (e.g. Warm Colors, Black and White, Sepia, Noise Reduction) and alter white balance (e.g. temperature, tint), exposure (e.g. contrast, shadows, clarity), color (e.g. grayscale effects, RGB adjustments), tone curve, sharpness, noise reduction, HDR, and lens parameters.
A histogram is also integrated in the main window. In addition, the app is resourceful when it comes to letting you edit images. You may adjust all sorts of parameters (e.g. curves, color enhancement, blur, noise removal, vignetting, interlacing), resize items, and work with a multitude of effects (e.g. Cartoon, High Pass, Pencil Drawing, Pixelize, Emboss, Texture).
Photo conversion and other extra tasks
Zoner Photo Studio X helps you convert images to different file formats (e.g. JPG, PNG, TIF, TGA, BMP, TCX) and make use of batch actions for editing and processing multiple photos at the same time. Batch processing can also be used for assigning the same EXIF data to a large number of files, as well as rename items.
You are allowed to synchronize folders, sort pictures, find duplicate items, create videos (MP4) based on multiple images and set the background music, generate panorama photos, design 3D pictures, make HDR images, as well as build postcards and PDF slideshows. Exporting options empower you to generate contact sheets or calendars, print files, and export data to various formats (e.g. BMP, PDF).
Final verdict
All in all, Zoner Photo Studio X comes packed with several advanced and comprehensive tools for helping you view, organize, and edit images. There’s also support for a free edition of the app, called Zoner Photo Studio FREE, but unlike the PRO version it does not come with support for RAW files, selection features, HDR, tone mapping, tilt-shift, 3D picture creation, content-aware resizing options, lens flare, high-pass filter, cartoon effect, duplicate finder, and image comparison.
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Download Hubs
Zoner Photo Studio X is part of these download collections: View CR2, Open ARW, Edit RAF, View PEF
Picture Control Utility
Easily enhance your pictures by tweaking their contrast, brightness, saturation, hue or sharpening using this specialized software solution.
Picture Control Utility is an application designed to help you tweak and enhance RAW pictures that you capture using Nikon cameras that support NCP and NP2 custom picture controls.
Comes with a modern and intuitive interface
The setup is quick, intuitive and does not require any special attention from your part. The program comes with a sleek and stylish interface design with hues of black and gray. The UI is comprised of larger working area and numerous other panels that you can undock and place in a location that meets your working style and preferences.
It is necessary to mention that the program works with several types of Nikon cameras, namely the ones that support NCP and NP3 custom picture controls. A few examples in this sense include COOLPIX A cameras, all Nikon 1 series cameras, D5, D750, D5000 or D6210. You can import the footage directly from your camera if you do not want to store them to your hard disk.
Includes presets, but also permits manual adjustments
You should know that the application comes with several presets that allow you to quickly apply a set of modifications suitable for various situations, such as Portrait, Monochrome, Flat, Landscape, Vivid, Neutral and Standard. However, you should keep in mind that the utility does enable you to modify the various parameters – brightness, clarity, contrast, sharpening, etc. – manually as well.
Depending on the complexity of the project you are working on, you can open a few more tool panels. For instance, you can set the app to display the histograms of the RGB channels for the pictures you are working on and edit the distribution of the brightness, if necessary.
A useful app for enhancing your pictures
In the eventuality that you are using a Nikon camera for grabbing pictures, but feel like you need to have more control over the quality and output of the images, then perhaps Picture Control Utility might be the tool to lend you a hand.
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WIA-Loader
An accessible application that allows you to easily transfer images from your digital camera to your computer in just a few steps.
WIA-Loader is a lightweight and user-friendly piece of software developed to offer you the means of moving your photos from your digital camera or memory cards to your computer, allowing you to organize your collection or automatically rotate the skewed ones.
Simple and approachable appearance
Subsequent to a brief and uneventful installation process, you can launch the application and start working with it right away, as it requires a limited level of prior knowledge in order to handle.
The basic yet straight-forward two-panel interface helps you quickly get the hang of using WIA-Loader, enabling you to view the source files along with their corresponding path.
Swiftly create your work profile and import, rotate or scale our pictures in just a few moves
For starters, you will need to create a profile in which you can add all the actions you want the utility to execute when transferring your photos. As such, you can click on the ‘Edit Profile’ button and begin entering a name, then adding the actions you want to be performed from the ‘Next Step’ menu.
You can execute a script, create a variable, apply EXIF changes, upload the pictures to a FTP server, rotate or scale them, use the DNG converter, and many other options, which will need individual configuration to suit the process you are using them for. The created profile can be used several times over, whenever you need it and edited for the operation at hand.
When done, you can select the source from the dedicated menu, supporting even devices such as iPhones or Windows phones, iPads and others. You can then choose the preferred profile and press on the ‘Start Import’ button to retrieve your images.
Handy instrument for moving photos from cameras to your PC
To summarize, WIA-Loader is a useful program, and while it may encounter some responsiveness issues during its runtime, it is intended to help you transfer your digital pictures from the capture devices onto your system, by partly automating the procedure in order to save you time and effort.
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Exif Pilot
Edit or add EXIF data for JPEG image files, or view the same information for other formats, making sure you either extract or complete the story for any important image you've got.
Exif Pilot is an application that spells out its purpose from the start. Yes, it's got to do with EXIF information contained by various image formats. You can edit or add that info as you see fit. This leads to the ability to correct certain mistakes and errors that are registered when snapping the picks with various malfunctioning devices. Adding more information, provided it is real, gives the image more authenticity, allowing other users to accurately trace its origins.
Plenty of formats to work with
The app doesn't really look surprising, nor does it contain innovative features. It's an editor, no matter how you look at it, but it is an efficient one at that. You can easily view EXIF, GPS, and IPTC data. The app becomes more useful when you deal with JPEG images because for this particular format the user has the option to edit the information. For PNG, TIFF, DNG, and other formats, the only thing one will be capable of doing is to view the contained information.
Editing JPEG EXIF info
Once you decide to add information to a JPEG file, keep in mind you need to have some basic intel on your image's origins, if you want to add accurate information, of course. You can edit or add things such as camera manufacturer and model, artist, and copyright data if any exists. You can also add an image description, helping others validate the authenticity of your file. Add comments and change dates if there are inadequacies. The most important information relates to the coordinates of where the image was shot.
Exif Pilot is a useful application for individuals dealing with JPEG EXIF information on a daily basis. It offers a simple interface for adding the information and also allows users the ability to view EXIF data for other image formats. It might not be the best solution out there, but it's a reliable one.
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Download Hubs
Exif Pilot is part of these download collections: EXIF Editors, EXIF Managers, EXIF Viewers
Photo Supreme
Password-protected application which enables you to organize your images in catalogs, edit and share them through your e-mail or Facebook accounts.
Photo Supreme is a software tool that was developed specifically so as to aid individuals organize their photos in a more efficient manner, as well as edit and share them with friends and family members.
Modern environment and impressive import capabilities
The interface encloses a modern and neatly organized design, and therefore, all types of users can quickly access all the options available. It contains a menu bar, a few buttons, a panel to display all imported images and toolbars which can be easily hidden or shown.
This software program supports a wide range of formats, from JPG and TIF, to PPM, CR2, CRW, DCR, MRW, ORF, RAW, KDC, DNG and RAF. In fact, novice users can also access a wizard so as to import all the pictures they want.
Efficiently organize and edit pictures
There are multiple categories that the utility comes bundled with, yet you can also edit them or create new ones with just a few clicks. Aside from that, you can view detailed information regarding all imported photographs, including copyright message, supplier ID, date and time, focal length and GPS coordinates.
It is also possible to tag pictures, add them to favorites, as well as crop, scale, rotate, straighten and flip them. You can add watermarks and captions, control the contrast, brightness, hue, saturation and temperature levels, establish shadow and highlights strength, blur, smooth or sharpen images.
To conclude
Taking all of this into consideration, we ca safely say Photo Supreme is an efficient and powerful piece of software when it comes to editing pictures. It has a modern and intuitive environment, it does not put a burden on your computer’s performance and encloses sufficient options to keep you tweaking all through the night.
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ON1 NoNoise AI
A professional-grade noise removal application ready to enhance the quality of your photos easier, with support for RAW images from various cameras.
No matter the camera you use, your photos might still need retouching. Imperfections such as picture noise alter the quality of the photo but there are specialized editors that can help you get the sharpest details. ON1 NoNoise AI is a professional-grade noise removal tool that promises to deliver the tools you need to obtain perfect photos without a lot of hassle.
AI-based noise processing and sharpening
As its name suggests, ON1 NoNoise AI relies on state-of-the-art AI-based processing algorithms that use machine learning to provide optimum editing suggestions. Based on the characteristics of the photo, the application automatically removes noise and luminance while preserving details to get high-fidelity photos.
Of course, you get to decide upon the level of luminance, detail, color and sharpening. And speaking of sharpening, it is worth noting that ON1 NoNoise AI comes with exclusive progressive algorithms that allow it to use the size of the details in the photos as a starting point fro enhancing the photo’s sharpness. ON1 NoNoise AI also allows demosaicing raw photos.
One plus of ON1 NoNoise AI is that it allows you to view the results and compare the before and after pictures. Changes are applied as you make the desired adjustments.
Use the learning hub to get the best results
While the application itself and all its controls are intuitive, ON1 NoNoise AI does come with various video tutorials and a learning hub available in the “Help” menu, where you can get tips on how to intelligently obtain the best results and the perfect photos.
Additionally, not only that you can use the standalone editor to process photos, but you can also integrate the ON1 NoNoise AI into your favorite photo editor as a plugin. Support for the most popular editors is available, such as Photoshop, Lightroom, Capture One, Affinity Photo, Apple Photos, Corel and more.
Versatile noise reduction tool for Windows
ON1 NoNoise AI ensures AI-based noise reduction and demosaicing, with extra care for details and sharpness to get optimum results. It features almost instant results preview and a limited number of controls to make the application easy to use. Also, it comes with support for a wide range of photos taken with over 800 camera models, in different formats, including raw images and common graphic file types, which makes it quite versatile.
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ExifTool
Command-line tool for reading, writing and editing metadata information for images, audio and video files, featuring extensive file type support.
ExifTool is a command-line application built specifically for helping you read, write and edit metadata information for images, audio and video files.
Extensive file type support
The program works with a wide range of file formats, such as 3GP, FLAC, MP3, MP4, GIF, MOV, FLV, AVI, SWF, MPG, PNG, TIFF and BMP. It offers support for batch processing, which means you can perform operations for multiple files at the same time.
Extract and change EXIF tags
You can view information stored in the raw file’s metadata, rename files according to their creation date, move or copy files into other folders by year and month, extract the preview image embedded in raw files, copy metadata from one file to another, as well as overwrite original information with something else.
Any EXIF tags can be edited, copied, removed or extracted from the files, while the tag orientation can be modified. Furthermore, the software application lets you read or write compressed information, preserve the original date and time stamps for the new files, set the file processing order, filter files for processing by extensions, as well as execute multiple commands at the same time.
Evaluation and conclusion
During our testing we have noticed that the application carries out a task very quickly and without errors throughout the entire process. All things considered, ExifTool comes packed with a complete suite of dedicated command-line parameters for helping you manipulate metadata in an easy way.
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Download Hubs
ExifTool is part of these download collections: EXIF Editors, Open EXIF, EXIF Managers, EXIF Viewers
digiCamControl
Remote control your DSLR camera and import the pictures along with all the EXIF data, with the aid of this powerful software solution.
Digital cameras are designed to be hand held but sometimes handling it remotely is a much more desirable scenario.
digiCamControl has been designed exactly for this purpose, as it allows control over a camera from the computer. The connection between the two devices is enabled through an USB cable.
GUI and functions
The interface of the program is nothing fancy, but it is intuitive and straightforward. Menus are lined up in the upper part of the screen while their options run down in the right hand part of the screen.
The list of actions that can be carried out by the camera from the computer includes image triggering and viewing the picture on the computer monitor, taking bracketed shots with arbitrary shutter speed and exposures as well as create time-lapse projects.
From the list of options you can select the mode for the camera, ISO value, shutter speed, aperture, white balance or exposure.
The application comes with support for handling multiple cameras and it can also show the histogram and the metadata of the picture. These details can help with the taking the next step in the image processing operation.
Configuration panel
digiCamControl does not come with complex settings and most of them are easy to understand. Of course, some knowledge about photography is an advantage.
The general configuration options includes options relating t0 the looks of the application and the default image viewing utility. A richer choice is available for previewing the image, which can be done automatically for a specific period of time.
Snapping an image can be done through user-defined keyboard triggers using any key combined with one of the supported modifiers (Alt, Ctrl or Shift).
Conclusion
digiCamControl is not the most complex program for handling cameras straight from the computer but it does incorporate useful functions and features, especially for the photography aficionado. However, before trying the application make sure that your camera is on the list of supported devices.
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