Exposure Software

Exposure Software and bundles explained

Compared to most publishers, Exposure Software’s proposition is pretty simple. Exposure X is the main product and the one covered on Life After Photoshop, but there are others which are available separately or in a bundle.

Exposure X7

Exposure X7, just released, is a standalone all-in-one photo organiser, non-destructive editor and effects tool. It specializes in evocative analog film looks but it also a very effective all-round photo editor for modern digital effects too. It might not be your first choice for RAW editing, but it also works as a plug-in for Lightroom and Photoshop and as an external editor for other programs like Capture One, so it has that covered. There’s only one edition, and only one purchase option – a perpetual license and no subscriptions, and while Exposure Software does run promotions now and again, there’s nothing like the frantic marketing and bundle deals of some other software publishers. Version 7 brings a new Selection tool, selectable workspaces, a combined crop and transform tool and more.

• Exposure X6 review (Exposure X7 review to follow)

Blow Up 3

This is an image resizing tool that increases the size of digital images while preserving image quality and retaining the appearance of sharp edges. It also installs as a Photoshop plug-in. It’s not the same as having an image of the required size in the first place, but it’s much better than regular image resampling tools. You can buy it on its own, but it’s much more cost effective to get it as part of the Exposure X bundle, above.

• Blow Up 3: $79

Snap Art 4

Photographers often want to turn digital images into realistic-looking paintings, drawings or hand-made illustrations. There are various software tools and plug-ins for doing this, but Snap Art is one of the best. You can buy it on its own but, as with Blow Up 3, it’s much better value as part of the Exposure X bundle, above.

• Snap Art 4: $79

Eye Candy

Exposure Software was formerly called Alien Skin and its flagship product was the Eye Candy design plug-in for creating all manner of graphic effects for illustrations. It’s up to version 7 and still on sale, but not really part of the photography family.

• Eye Candy 7: $89