And since Exposure is a browser and not a database, there is no waiting for images to appear while they are imported into a catalog and prepared for viewing. Also, in the revised browser you can import images directly from your camera card to your hard drive. This browser is greatly expanded in the Exposure X standalone edition with the ability to add flags, ratings and color tags, the ability to sort using nine different criteria, and the ability to add and read basic image metadata. Version 7 introduced a simple file browser function to the standalone version of Exposure. What’s new is the further expansion of Exposure from an effects-oriented software to an image-browsing and editing program. The customizable presets are still present, but there were only a few new ones added to the mix and they don’t constitute the main thrust of the update. Users who purchased Exposure editions earlier than 7 or users of other Alien Skin software can upgrade to Exposure X for $99.Įarly versions of Exposure were known for their library of preset effects, ranging from bokeh to lo-fi (cross processed), and its ability to customize and save the result as a user preset for later application.
These are some of the borders you’ll find in the Overlays panel.Exposure X, available for both Mac and Windows platforms, installs as both a standalone program and a plug-in for Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, but its real power is present in the standalone version, which is the one I tested.įor new users, Exposure X is available for $149. Go ahead, enjoy yourself and see what Exposure X has to offer. The Overlays panel is a lot of fun, and if you’ve become accustomed to using Lightroom, which doesn’t have any of these features, you may be like a kid in a candy store at first. If you like a preset, but dislike the texture or border that comes with it, you can change or remove them in this panel. Each setting has a number of presets, all of which are customizable, giving you a wide range of possibilities. There are three things you can do in the Overlays panel: add a border, add light effects, or add dust and scratches. They are found in two panels – Overlays and Bokeh. As this is an introduction to using Exposure X as a Lightroom plugin, I’ll take a brief look at the tools that are unique to Exposure X and that you’re most likely to find useful. Just like Lightroom Exposure X has a series of panels on the right-hand side of the interface where you can apply various adjustments and effects to your photos. It’s in this context that we’ll explore the use of Exposure X in this tutorial. When you’re finished in X, simply close it and you’ll end up back in Lightroom with your newly enhanced TIFF file. Lightroom converts your photo file to a 16 bit TIFF file (actually, the file format of your choice, but TIFF is best as it gives the highest image quality) and sends it over to Exposure X. In this scenario you use Lightroom to manage your photos, carry out basic developing, then send your photos to Exposure X when you want to use its unique tools. If you’re a Lightroom user and you’re happy with the Creative Photography Plan then there’s no reason to explore Exposure X’s Catalog other than curiosity.
As a plugin it extends Lightroom’s capabilities and gives you lots of creative options to make your photos more interesting. If you use it as a standalone product it has an advanced Catalog that makes it a genuine alternative to Lightroom’s Library module (we’ll take a look at that in a future tutorial). What is Exposure X?Įxposure X is a fully featured application that you can use either as a standalone product or a Lightroom or Photoshop plugin. Plugins are easier to use than Photoshop, and Exposure X is one of my favorites. Another is to use plugins like Exposure X. One way to extend its range is to use Photoshop to handle the tasks that Lightroom can’t. Lightroom is a powerful application, but it doesn’t do everything.
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