2004
27 Oct '04: I've created a new utility script, Preferences Manager, available for free download. It backs up Photoshop Preferences settings so they can be easily restored in the event of a corruption.
26 Oct '04: Added a review of a new Photoshop plug-in called Shadow Illuminator.
Adobe has gathered some useful looking articles by authors such as Jeff Schewe and Michael Reichmann here.
18 Oct '04: Assuming your new 20D isn't an expensive, but cool looking brick as a result of a failed firmware upgrade, rush over to Breeze Systems and get v1.5 of Downloader Pro, which for the 20D and 1D MkII does all the things we expect - also support for downloading of Panasonic DMC-LC1 and Leica Digilux 2 raw images.
15 Oct '04: Watermark Variations Plus II has been released. This is a much improved version combining the functions of both Signature Variations and the old version of WV+ to create a watermark using both text and an image and a bunch of other new features.
12 Oct '04: BreezeBrowser 2.11 beta 2 is - Canon EOS 20D, PowerShot G6 and PowerShot S70 raw conversion; 20D focus point overlay display and the ability to display Adobe Digital Negative files.
6 Oct '04: Just posted a new gallery of some of my first shots with the Sigma 180 macro.
27 Sep '04: Adobe have released v2.3 of Camera Raw - more cameras including the 20D - and a new (digital negative) format they are promoting for archiving.
VS-FontLister a utility script that identifies the Postscript names of fonts for use with Signature Variations and Signature Variations Plus.
I've been getting some bounces messages for Variations Suite users. If you change your e-mail address, please let me know (old and new address), so you don't miss notices about free upgrades and new scripts.
23 Sep '04: As you can see rogercavanagh.com has been moved to the new Dreamweaver-built design. This does mean that some old links will no longer work, although most (some bits still to do) of the old content has been transferred - unavoidable, I'm afraid - sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.
Chris Breeze has released a of BreezeBrowser with Canon EOS 20D raw conversion. EOS Viewer 1.1 must be installed for this to work until a new SDK is available.
21 Sep '04: Canon have announced the 1Ds Mark II. On-line details , download a PDF.
20 Sep '04: Now available: a new Variations Suite script: Watermark Variations Plus. It's a companion to Signature Variations Plus and available only as part of a combo package.
BreezeBrowser 2.10 is out. Headline enhancements are raw conversion for the 1D Mark II, PowerShot Pro1 and S60 and Raw+JPEG viewing, renaming and copying for the 1D MkII and 20D, and Nikon D70 and D2H.
23 Aug '04: Two new galleries for your viewing pleasure: Hever Castle and Hever Castle Gardens. I've also republished some old galleries. Check the Galleries page.
18 Aug '04: I've added an new article about creating composite images from two conversions of the same image. A free Photoshop action can be downloaded.
9 Aug '04: I've started reviewing Power Retouche, a set of plug-ins for Photoshop. I've decided to create mini-reviews for each plug-in as the mood takes me. The first, on PR Sharpness, has now been posted.
29 Jul '04: Finished my project in Lausanne - managed to take the 10D and stay over during the middle weekend of the Montreux Jazz Festival. I created a new gallery with . There are also several old galleries that have been recreated: , , and .
V1.4 of Downloader Pro has been released. Chris Breeze says "This is a minor update which adds support for downloading Kodak (DCR) raw files and includes a new "Downloads today" counter (token %R). This release also allows the date and time and owner string to be set for Canon Powershot cameras connected to a PC using a USB cable". The update is free to registered owners.
4 Jul '04: Things will be quiet for a while. I have unexpectedly picked up a project that will keep me away from home for, at least, a couple of weeks.
27 June '04: Onwards and upwards! I think I've sorted most of the link in the published content. The Links section is still empty, but the Etc Profiles pages have been added and they now include several 1D Mk II examples courtesy of of Hans Van Rafelghem.
29 June '04: And now DPP examples have been added to the Mk II examples.
26 June '04: Things are moving forward: yesterday's problem turned out to be wrong advice from the telephone support staff, but the correct advice did mean I've had to rename most of the pages to have an .stm extension - one page at a time. 
There is still some content to be restructured and published, but everything that's on the dropdown menus should be here, though there may be some broken links around.
Meanwhile on rogercavanagh.com, I've added a couple of examples using 1D MkII images to the Etc Profiles page.
18 Jun '04 Advance Notice: Updates to the site have been thin on the ground recently, mainly because I have been trying to get to grips with DreamWeaver. FrontPage Extensions caused so many site problems over the last that I am going to be testing DW on the pixelpixel.org site. rogercavanagh.com will remain as is until I'm convinced DreamWeaver is a better bet, but at some point (not sure when) I'll switch pixelpixel. The layout and structure will be somewhat different, and initially not all the content will be transferred. Just wanted to warn regular visitors who use pixelpixel rather than rogercavanagh.com.
4 Jun '04: Following the furore over their upgrade policy, Phase One have relented and put back support for 16-bit TIFF and third party profiles in C1LE and C1SE. A v3.5a version can be downloaded from RawWorkflow.com. They have also changed the cost of the update to zero dollars or, for a limited time, you can buy a bundle of five major upgrades. It's obviously money up front for Phase One, but given what they initially wanted to charge for this upgrade it looks like a good deal for committed raw shooters. I was reminded that I hadn't posted this news by Nick Wilcox-Brown who's an avowed raw fan - he uses a 1Ds and converts with C1 - good to know he's still enthusiastic enough about C1 to bother to drop me an e-mail.
3 Jun '04: Posted a new review of a handy image-sorting program, Pixort.
1 Jun '04: Today's new posting is a fascinating essay, On Composition, by CJ Morgan.
28 May '04: Phase One have just released new versions of their highly regarded Capture One software. The new version - 3.5 - amalgamates the digital back and the DSLRs products to facilitate development in the future. Phase One have managed to shoot themselves in the foot by removing support for 16-bit TIFF and external profiles in the LE version. This caused such a storm of forum flak to hit them that they have relented and promised updates next week. Michael Tapes - the Voice of Capture One - has publicly apologised for the kafuffle, but one cannot help but be left with the feeling that the Danish management have their heads up their... Depending on your current version and when you purchased, upgrades are free or not. The downloads can be found on the Phase One site or RawWorkflow.com.
21 May '04: Back from Florida after some golf and lots of pictures of my friend's new holiday home. It was my first attempt at serious interior work - not easy, especially without proper lighting - the pictures are not special, but the villa is very nice. So, if you are looking for a family holiday in Orlando, is worth checking out.
Canon has released its replacement for FVU - EOS File Viewer. I haven't tried it yet, but one download location is here.
Users of Camera Raw may be interested in a new Bruce Fraser article: Calibrating Camera Raw in Photoshop CS.
7 May '04: After several people reported problems with my new gallery, Heronry at Kelsey Park, I have bitten the bullet and decided to change the delivery/presentation system. For the time being I will, like many of you, be using BreezeBrowser to generate the basic HTML. Heronry at Kelsey Park is working OK now - sorry to anyone who got stung by the problems. I'll gradually update the existing galleries to this new format. There are two new links on my Epson R800 page.
Please note that I will be away from tomorrow until May 15. I don't know yet whether I will have Internet access to respond to any e-mails or donation for Variations Suite scripts, so apologies in advance for any delay in replying.
6 May'04: I've added my first new gallery for a long time: an assortment of shots of the Heronry at Kelsey Park.29 Apr '04: I've posted a short piece about my new printer, the Epson R800. There's also a link on the page to download the print profiles that don't come in the box for UK (and perhaps European) buyers. There's been another small update to my article BP-511 Batteries.
27 Apr '04: Adobe have released v2.2 of the Camera Raw plug-in for Photoshop CS. Downloads for both Mac and Windows are listed on .
Bunch of new links added this page - the big JPG vs. Raw row cropped up again on Pekka Saarinen's forum. Nobody came up with anything to make me change my mind, but I gleaned another couple of links for the end of my article. I've also started a new page in the Software Reviews section where I will add links to good reviews by other people.
30 Apr '04: All you lucky devils out there with a new 1D MkII will be pleased to know that Chris Breeze has just announced BreezeBrowser v2.9: "Canon EOS-1D Mark II, Canon PowerShot Pro1, Sony DSC-F828 and Nikon D70 owners can use this popular workflow tool to view both raw and JPEG images. BreezeBrowser v2.9 now displays Paint Shop Pro files and introduces raw conversion for the Nikon D70, Pentax *ist D, Minolta DiMAGE 7i, A1 and A2 and Olympus E-1, C5050WZ, C5060WZ, C8080WZ cameras" says the press release - no date yet, however, on raw conversion for the MkII as Canon must release a revised SDK.22 Apr '04: Chris Breeze has issued v1.3 of Downloader Pro. New in this version: thumbnails of download images, more tokens and improved workflow folder management, and support for more cameras.
5 Apr '04: V4 of NeatImage is available. among other improvement, the NI boys boast of better quality filtering and faster performance.
1 Apr '04: No April Fool jokes on this site, but I have published a review of an interesting Photoshop plug-in, Curvemeister.
25 Mar '04: The latest script in the Variations Suite is now available. Grain Variations is, at this time, only available as a free extra to donors for B+W Variations.
19 Mar '04: Kodak announced the DCS Pro SLR/c yesterday - a Canon EOS mount version of their full-frame digital camera. This extra competition for Canon is great news. The press release can be read . There's a fascinating new article on Rob Galbraith's site: Sports Illustrated's Digital Workflow.
17 Mar '04: Chris Breeze has announced . It has display support for Paint Shop Pro files, and images from the Canon 1D Mk II and Sony F828. There is also "experimental" raw conversion for Pentax, Minolta and Olympus raw formats, plus a few other bits and pieces.
16 Mar '04: The article, IS Facts, has been updated with new information from Chuck Westfall.
11 Mar '04: Plus II upgrades have been released for both Tones Variations and Velvia Variations.
6 Mar '04: A major upgrade to B+W Variations Plus is available, so if you have been wondering about whether to donate, maybe this version will persuade you. There have been quite a few changes, including the addition of a further 24 conversion options. You can read more about the new version here. Registered donors have been e-mailed with details of how to download the new version.
1 Mar '04: Phase One have released V1.3.1 of Capture One DLSR for the Windows versions of Rebel/300D, LE, SE and Pro. The latest Mac version for SE and Pro is 1.2.3. As well as the Phase One site, downloads are available from PictureFlow.
16 Feb '04: Signature Variations is now available. The standard version has been available for some time under the name Signature CS. We have now produced an enhanced Plus version that offers a number of new features including the ability to use tokens to represent variables from Photoshop File Info and some EXIF data, multiple lines in signatures, and 11 positions for the signature.
13 Feb '04: Adobe have released a 2.1 update to the Camera Raw plug-in for Photoshop CS. It provides support for quite a number of extra cameras and several bug fixes, including an EXIF-related issue that prevented EXIF data being available in places other the the CS XMP file. Adobe says that EXIF data should now be "visible in Photoshop 7.0 as well as other applications that only support TIFF tags". Downloads for both Mac and Windows are listed on .
5 Feb '04: A new script in The Variations Suite has been available for a few days. If you haven't done so yet, check out Temperature Variations.
I've made a few additions to my article, Are Your CDs Safe?, following the publication of a report by a US standards organisation.
*** links adjusted down to here ***
27 Jan '04: Updated 1.5 versions of Velvia Variations Plus, B+W Variations Plus and Tones Variations Plus have been posted on the Plus Download page. Passwords have been e-mailed to registered donors, but with the current virus infection, if you have not received an e-mail, please get in touch. It's a maintenance release that fixes a couple of bugs that, hopefully, no-one's fallen foul of since we haven't had any complaints. I hope to have updates the standard versions available for download tomorrow or the day after.
Chris Breeze has announced the availability of DSLR Remote Pro, for tethered operation of the Canon EOS-1DS, EOS-1D, 10D and Digital Rebel/300D.
Canon France have managed to leak details of the Canon EOS 1D Mark II: an 8.2 megapixel CMOS capable of 8.5 fps with a 40 frame buffer for large JPEG and 20 for raw. There were PDFs posted on the French site, but they quickly disappeared - though not fast enough for copies not to have escaped.
25 Jan '04: A new Variations Suite module is available: Filter Suite Variations. The latest versions of all the standard scripts are available for download on this page.
22 Jan '04: New versions of Velvia Variations, B+W Variations and Tones Variations are available. The standard versions are available for download from this site. Registered users should have already received the Plus editions. There is new page, Plus What?, that describes the differences between the Plus and standard version in more detail.
I've added a few new links on Other People's Stuff and Photo Sites that you might like to check out.
20 Jan '04: A firmware upgrade is available for the 10D. All Canon say it's for is "Correction of the LCD monitor display in firmware version 2.0.0". My advice is, as always, follow the instructions carefully.
16 Jan '04: Any 300D owners out there with Photoshop 7 and the original Camera Raw plug-in, who don't want to take the plunge with CS, may like to read how Malcolm Dougall successively hacked the raw plug-in file. I have added his method to the original pages describing the hack: Hack Camera Raw PC and Hack Camera Raw Mac
14 Jan '04: The third module in The Variations Suite makes it appearance today: Tones Variations - an invaluable companion to B+W Variations that adds that elegant touch to your B&W prints.
11 Jan '04: A new version of Velvia Variations is available for download. It's much faster and has more features. And just released is B+W Variations. If you haven't visited the site in a while, take a look at the information page for The Variations Suite - Velvia and B+W are the first two offerings for users of Photoshop CS.
There was a problem with the links for B+W Variations earlier. It's fixed now - sorry, if you got caught out.
Our first maintenance release: v1.21 of both Velvia Variations and B+W Variations is available for download. This fixes a problem that occurs when Photoshop preference setting for ruler units is not pixels.
7 Jan '04: Back on line - not sure what proportion of my troubles were caused by hackers, ISP systems or Microsoft. Apologies to anyone who could get access. We're now on multiple, load-balanced servers, so hopefully service will be more reliable.
5 Jan '04: I'm pleased to announce the launch of The Variations Suite. The first script, Velvia Variations, is now available for download.
6 Jan '04: For anyone who has discovered that www.rogercavanagh.com is out of action, apologies and thanks for coming here. The rogercavanagh site is being moved to load-balanced servers to improve access (and hopefully performance) and should be back on-line later today. My ISP suffered hacker attacks yesterday, which affected pixelpixel - sorry, if you got caught by that.
1 Jan '04: Another year gone! Another year older, wiser and closer to the grave. Here's wishing you all a happy, peaceful and prosperous New Year and great shooting!
On the first day of the year, it seems appropriate to tell you about a new project: The Variations Suite. It's a collaboration between Paul Jaruszewski and me. You can find some pre-release information here.