New Tool for Advanced Photo Editing Available as Open Beta Now

PALO ALTO, Calif. -- Light Crafts, Inc., a photo editing software company based here, today announced it has ushered in a new generation integrated digital workflow tool -- Lightzone 2.0 -- to be announced formally at Photokina Cologne, Sept. 27. LightZone 2.0 is a new intuitive tool which extends the capabilities of professional and amateur photographers, based on Ansel Adams' Zone System. LightZone provides photographers with precise control over exposure, contrast and color, in a straightforward interface that streamlines workflow and dramatically saves time. With LightZone, photographers regain the use of their intuition in processing their images.

LightZone is built on a 16-bit color-managed environment for all images and includes native support for popular RAW formats, as well as TIFF, JPEG and PNG. LightZone offers professional photographers and advanced amateurs an easy-to-use software solution for making precise tonal and color adjustments. In the past, the traditional photo-retouching solutions, originally created for the graphic arts designer, have been expensive, hard-to-learn and awkward to use. LightZone is the first photo imaging and editing solution that allows the photographer of all levels to rapidly make adjustments to their photos, set masks and experiment with enhancements that bring together the best of the old traditions and the new digital opportunities. LightZone redefines the photo editing market by offering a new image editing paradigm with real time non-destructive layers and masks to perform tonal control, High-Dynamic range control, noise reduction, retouching, sharpening, and printing. LightZone's completely modeless user interface is far more intuitive than any other editing tool in the world market.

How does LightZone differ from Photoshop and the other photo editing offerings? LightZone supports all major camera Raw formats with native custom processing. LightZone's imaging engine uses small files to store its image edits, as well as exporting edited images to standard image formats. It is easy to use as its masking tools offer the photographer precise control and focus with a simplicity and ease of use without par. LightZone's small edit files increase the photographers' productivity and minimize the photographer's storage space.

LightZone 2.0 is available immediately as an open beta for download from the company's Web site at http://www.lightcrafts.com.