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Published 01/10/2012
Kubota Image Tools
A less familiar name to the photographer in the street perhaps, but a no less formidable range of imaging tools, comes via Kubota, another US-based outfit. Two of its newest products, which should be fully available via its website when you read this, are the magnificently named Kubota Action Dashboard and the Kubota Artistic Tools 'InstaLooks' Mini Pack.
Dashboard Pro 4 is a Photoshop plug-in for CS5 or newer that was available for Mac users at the time of writing and should also be for PC users by the time of publication. What's even better news is that it's free to download - including to those who don't currently own a Kubota product. The new update offers over 50 actions and a slick preview feature to try any action before implementation, while the Dashboard interface helps users search and launch any action within Photoshop at a lightning quick speed, according to Kubota. The Dashboard also allows for keyword tagging, the marking of favourites, descriptions to be added and actions to be categorised.
The 'InstaLooks' Mini Pack meanwhile offers a range of what are described as simultaneously fresh and modern yet retro 'hinting' effects, the 12 options on board aimed at transforming digital images from your camera as easily and readily as an 'app' for your smartphone might do. A single click can adjust and enhance an image, including the ability to add texture and a border if so desired. Full access to Photoshop layers is maintained, therefore adding flexibility via customisation options. This mini package retails for $39 direct from the Kubota website.
US-based photographer Dave Hakamaki of Cutting Edge Photography is something of a Kubota evangelist, having been using Image Tools for four years. Based in what he describes as a small rural area in Michigan, he says that living in a far-flung place has necessitated going that extra mile to catch the attention of clients instead of being 'just another photographer.' Dave says "What brought me to Kubota was the ease at which it allowed me to master images, become more efficient and get time back with my family.
Not only can you use one or more actions together, the Dashboard builds the layer masks so I can manipulate each action to my tastes. It creates a situation where the actions are much more customisable. The Dashboard speeds up my workflow and gives my images a custom look. It has reduced time spent in Photoshop by more than 50%."
Naturally by spending less time with Photoshop, Dave is also able to use that time for making money - whether shooting, selling his images or marketing his business. "The biggest advantage of using the Kubota Image Tools Dashboard is that it makes my images look superior to my competition.
This allows my work to attract new clients, because my work stands out and I am then not considered based on price; I do have higher prices than my competition. It's helped our wedding images gain national recognition. In a nutshell, the Dashboard has increased my efficiency in mastering images, made my work stand out from the crowd and created a situation where I have a completely customised look."
"How I would sell it to another photographer is like this: They have to ask 'do I like spending time editing images?' How would they feel if they could reduce their time processing images, while creating a situation where their images have a very distinctive look? Well, the answer to that is to find a way to make their processing more efficient and incorporate something like Kubota Image Tools into their workflow."
www.kubotaimagetools.com
www.cuttingedgephoto.net
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