Virtual Lens, Filter and Specialty Camera Plug-in for Photoshop
Offers Photographers Vast New Possibilities for Emphasizing Focal
Points, Creating Bokeh and More

DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Topaz Labs announces the release of Topaz Lens Effects, a creative and
new Photoshop plug-in, designed to help professional and amateur
photographers quickly and easily achieve a wide range of lens, filter
and specialty camera effects – without pricy equipment.

“This has been an
exciting project for our team and we sincerely hope that our avid and
loyal customers will find it equally inspiring.”

Topaz Lens Effects, which simulates 20 different styles of filters,
lenses and specialty cameras, and includes over 150 presets, provides
photographers with the flexibility and convenience of adding in-camera
enhancements after the shot. With Lens Effects, users can create
realistic enhancements for emphasizing focal points, creating bokeh to
blur distracting backgrounds, adding vignettes, and balancing color tone
– in just a few clicks. Also achievable with Lens Effects is a variety
of other popular photography styles such as miniatures, fisheye
distortions, motion blur and more – for countless ways to take images to
the next level.

“Cameras, lenses and filters are a necessary part of every
photographer’s camera bag, and are heavily relied upon to help achieve
artistic vision. However, equipment can be expensive, often cumbersome
and is limited to use at the time of the shot,” said Ashley Robinson,
product manager for Topaz Labs. “Topaz Lens Effects makes it possible to
still achieve that perfect shot. Its robust toolset makes it the ideal
accessory for any photo enthusiast – allowing them to do more with less.”

“In addition to a novel approach of creating accurate depth maps for the
most realistic depth-of-field simulation, Lens also uses brand new
architecture that gives us the unparalleled agility to enhance our
software’s capabilities and functionality with new ideas and suggestions
that we constantly receive from the Topaz user community,” said Jawad
Malik, project leader for the new Topaz Lens Effects. “This has been an
exciting project for our team and we sincerely hope that our avid and
loyal customers will find it equally inspiring.”

Topaz Lens Effects is a plug-in that works with Photoshop, Photoshop
Elements and PaintShop Pro. It is compatible with Windows XP or later
and Intel-based Macs running OS X 10.5 or later. Photographers and
graphic designers looking for an easier and more affordable way to
achieve lens, camera and filter effects are invited to try out the new
Topaz Lens Effects plug-in for free using the 30-day free trial. Topaz
Lens Effects retails for $79.99, but is being offered at a special
promotional price of $49.99 until June 1, 2011. Lens Effects will also
become a part of the Topaz Photoshop Bundle, which offers photographers
a complete image enhancement toolbox for all of their post processing
needs. The bundle, including Lens Effects retails at $249.99. For more
information about Topaz Lens Effects, visit the homepage at http://www.topazlabs.com/lenseffects.

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Unparalleled photographic expertise from the author of The
Photographer’s Eye

WALTHAM, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Michael Freeman’s international bestseller The
Photographer’s Eye, published in sixteen languages
and with 100,000 copies in print in the US alone and 300,000+ worldwide,
has a brand new “app”
on iTunes. Created specifically for the iPad, this digital
version of the bestselling book features a video introduction,
interactive elements including diagrams, and numerous recordings of the
author.

In this new “app”
Michael Freeman’s voice recordings talk photographers through the
thinking behind certain shots. There are interactive presentations,
including one where photographers can alter the composition of the image
by adjusting the horizon. There’s also a video introduction and complete
horizontal and vertical layouts all the way through so you can read in
your choice of comfort (many apps like this only have one or the other).

Now in this new
digital format, The
Photographer’s Eye, published by Focal Press in North
America and Ilex Press elsewhere, continues to speak to photographers
everywhere. Both the book and the “app” show how anyone can develop the
ability to see and shoot great digital photographs. The book explores
all the traditional approaches to composition and design, but crucially,
it also addresses the new digital technique of shooting in the knowledge
that a picture will later be edited, manipulated, or montaged to result
in a final image that may be very different from the one seen in the
viewfinder.

About the Author:

Michael Freeman is a renowned international photographer and writer
admired for his work in travel, architecture, and Asian art. He is
particularly well known for his expertise in special effects. He has
been a leading photographer for the Smithsonian magazine for many
years, and has worked for Time-Life Books and Reader’s Digest.
Michael is the author of more than 40 photographic books, including the
hugely successful Complete Guide to Digital Photography and The
Photographer’s Eye. For his photographic educational work he was
awarded the Prix Louis Philippe Clerc by the French Ministry of Culture.
He is also responsible for the distance-learning courses on photography
at the UK’s Open College of the Arts.

About Focal Press

Focal
Press has been a leading publisher of Media Technology books for 70
years. We provide essential resources for professionals and students in
many areas including: film and digital video production, photography,
digital imaging, graphics, animation and new media, broadcast and media
distribution technologies, music recording and production, mass
communications, and theatre technology.

Follow us online!

• Twitter: www.twitter.com/focalpress
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/focalpress

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