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Filed under: Design, Internet, Photo, Windows, Macintosh, Adobe, Microsoft

Microsoft offers beta HD Photo plugins for Photoshop

You may recall at the start of the month that MIcrosoft had achieved some recognition of its HD Photo specification, something that has raised eyebrows amongst those of us who don't use WIndows as our Operating System. Much to its credit, however, Microsoft does seem to be working hard to ensure that the format is cross platform, and that patents are freely licenced to ensure the format is adopted. Today sees another step in the pushing of HD Photo, with Microsoft releasing beta (pre-release) versions of HD Photo plugins for Adobe Photoshop CS2 and CS3. Whilst HD Photo is far from prevalent at the moment, if you want to experiment with the format, or a burning desire to work with it, these new plugins will come in handy.

The beta release of the plugins are available for both Windows and Macs, and expires after December 31st 2007.

[Via MacWorld UK]

Filed under: Photo, Windows, Macintosh, Microsoft

JPEG 'XR': courtesy of Microsoft.

Earlier in the year, on the Windows Media HD photo format. According to Computer Buyer UK, the JPEG group is now working on a successor to the venerable JPEG image format - and making extensive use of Microsoft's HD Photo standard within the format.

According to the site, "JPEG says it has received assurances from Microsoft that it will make patents necessary for implementation available free-of charge" - a surprising move, but definitely a welcome one, given the huge "proprietary standard" reservations people generally had toward HD Photo not too long ago. Don't expect to see this new format any time soon, however: it could be the better part of 18 months before the standard is finalised.

Filed under: Design, Developer, Utilities, Windows, Macintosh, Adobe, Microsoft

HD Photo support for Photoshop

photoshop hd supportWhats next for Microsoft? Well, at least one of its eyes is focused on the HD Photo format, once called Windows Media Photo. This is reportedly a better alternative to the standard JPEG format, and of course, it's built into Windows Vista. The new format features multiple color formats for display or print, high dynamic range image encoding, lossless compression, and efficient decoding for multiple resolutions.

Adobe has adopted the technology by enabling Photoshop to read and write images that are stored in Microsoft's HD Photo format. There is a plug-in download ready for Windows users on Microsoft's website. A PowerPC and Intel based Mac download will be ready in two weeks, and a final plug-in release is due for April. This new plug-in allows for Photoshop users to save raw images taken directly from a digital cameras image sensor, as an HD Photo image. This plug-in will work with CS2 and the upcoming CS3.

Microsoft has also announced that many companies will be adopting the raw uncompressed photo type format and digital cameras with HD capabilities are scheduled to arrive on shelves in 12-18 months.

Filed under: Developer, News, Windows, Microsoft

Vista fires warning shot at JPEG images

There are few file formats ubiquitous as JPEG (ASCII text comes to mind). It's almost universally compatible, available in every image handling application you could possibly want to use and, it works swimmingly well. Who could possibly want to change all that? Microsoft, that's who.

Last year Microsoft began promoting its Windows Media Photo format, recently renamed HD Photo (ostensibly to gain a little street cred from public familiarity with HDTV), as a "better" alternative to the standard JPEG. According to Microsoft's specification literature, HD Photo gives twice the quality compared to JPEG at similar file sizes. Vista includes built-in support for HD Photo and, Microsoft has been actively promoting HD Photo to camera manufacturers as a superior alternative to the aging JPEG specification.

Sounds great, where's the catch? Licensing. Patents surrounding JPEG have expired, meaning if you want to include JPEG support in your application, and be universally compatible with other applications supporting JPEG, you don't have to pay fees to any company or individual. HD Photo is a published standard, but it's owned by Microsoft lock, stock, and barrel. If you want your application to be compatible with cameras that use HD Photo, you'll need to sign a deal with the boys in Redmond, and pay the license fees they demand for the privilege. If widely adopted, HD Photo could spell big trouble for compatibility on Open Source platforms, or any platform Microsoft feels presents an undue competitive threat.

Update : HD Photo is licensed under the Open Specification Promise, under which Microsoft vows not to enforce its patent rights as long as developers conform to the specification. Thanks to Bob for straightening me out!

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