123di V5: A Review of the Digital Photographer's Library In A Box
 Royce Tivel

Most of the books I've purchased about digital photography have
only one or two sections I find useful when processing my images.
This means that I've had to acquire a huge -- and expensive --
library of books, each having something I need from time to time,
but no one book being comprehensive enough to serve as a
first-choice reference. This means that, when I need information
about some aspect of the digital workflow, I have to remember
which book it's in, put my hands on the book, and then find the
right page. Sound familiar?

Wouldn't it be great to have a comprehensive reference and be
able to find needed information quickly and easily?

123di, "The 123 of digital imaging Interactive Learning Suite"
seeks to fill this need for photographers at all skill levels.

Nearly all of my digital images need some processing after image
capture. Taking those great pictures can be loads of fun, but the
resultant images can be disappointing. When I need information
about how to fix image problems and convert the throw-a-ways to
keepers, I want to find it quickly.

As a photographer, being able to find the information I need
*quickly * is *very* important. I found that 123di offers several
ways to do this. In addition to reading the manual like a printed
book, you can quickly find the information you want through

* interactive Photoshop graphical user interfaces,

* digital imaging workflow diagrams,

* custom bookmarks,

* interactive slide show,

* index,

* before and after images, and

* frequently-asked digital imaging questions.

Common image problems I often have to fix with post-processing
include

* posterization,

* loss of shadow detail,

* white, overexposed areas,

* dust spots,

* a crooked horizon,

* wide-angle lens distortion,

* and distracting flash reflections.

Why do these problems show up in images? If you are like me,
sometimes you just want to point and shoot. I don't always fuss
with camera settings -- or sometimes I just forget a critical
camera setting.

For instance, overexposure can usually be avoided by setting the
camera to underexpose images by -1/3 to -1 stop: if this is done,
detail in bright highlights are not likely to be lost. The
camera's exposure compensation is adjusted to do this. Do I
always do this? Nope! That's one reason I need a tool like
Photoshop to correct such image defects -- and why I need a
comprehensive reference manual like 123di to tell me *how * to
use the tool.

123di makes it easy to find solutions to image problems like
those above. For example, I had an overexposed image I wanted to
use for a slide show. The image required a fix for posterization.
A quick search of the 123di manual for "posterization," using
the search feature in the extended version of 123di, turned up 48
references! Compare this result with what you find in the index
of your favorite book on photography!

It should be noted that several problems might have to be
corrected in any given image. Many techniques are sometimes
required to bring out the best in an image. I confess, I haven't
taken the *perfect * image yet; but, since I am not a
photo-journalist, I don't have to deliver my digital images
untouched by processing. I can use any of the techniques
discussed in 123di to either make my images look closer to the
scene as I saw it or just to make a beautiful picture.

Assisting the photographer to find information of interest was a
primary goal of 123di from the start. In fact, the 123di manual
includes a special section dedicated to how to find topics of
interest quickly. This section is found in Appendix B, "How to
Quickly Find What You Want in 123di." One of the ways uses an
"Index of Keywords" that enabled me to quickly find appropriate
sections containing solutions to the problems I often have to
fix.

I accessed the index and easily found a tutorial on posterization
with links to relevant sections for additional information.
Solutions to the other problems listed above were also easy to
find through the index, including how to remove disturbing flash
reflections.

Having access to the index is great, particularly if you have the
standard version of 123di. With the extended version, it is
possible to search the manual for a single word and have all of
the references visible as links in the search-results box. This
single feature makes the extended version worth serious
consideration for purchase even without the other features
included with the extended version. The standard version can be
upgraded to the extended version at any time.

The only real complaint I had about the standard version was that
it did not have a similar search feature. Initially, I had
purchased and installed the standard version. When I attempted to
research the "posterization" problem, I spent a little time
trying to find a search box in which to enter the search term. I
ended up using the index to find the information I needed. I have
come to expect an easy-to-find search form on the web pages I
visit -- and the better web sites all have this feature as a
usability enhancement. I would certainly welcome such an
enhancement to the standard version of 123di. Also, although the
extended version does have a search icon in the navbar, the
search only allows a search for a single word. Many times, I do
searches on the Web for phrases like "luminance masking." In
123di, I have to search for "luminance" and "masking" which
complicates finding the information I need. A more enhanced
search capability in all versions would be very useful.

123di has done a good job of helping users learn how to use the
manual most effectively. My advice is to take the time and
carefully read the first five introductory pages of the manual.
These pages contain important information about the best way to
use the manual and also provide an overview of the manual's
content. As an example, on page 2 of the "Introduction," there
is a section for "Practical Image Editing Techniques." Clicking
the link to "image editing tutorials" from this section links
to a list of drop-down selection boxes for problem-oriented
tutorials. The drop-down boxes are

* Overcome Scene Limitations,

* Overcome Camera Limitations,

* Overcome Lens Limitations,

* Enhance Detail,

* Enhance Composition,

* Enhance Color and Contrast,

* Add Effects, and

* Create.

The drop-down box for enhancing color and contrast has choices
for using levels and curves and for white balance. These are
essential topics for image processing with Photoshop and are well
covered.

If I had not spent a little time exploring the introductory
pages, I might have missed this useful 123di drop-down feature.

123di features how-to coverage of several software packages for
image organization, editing, and presentation.

Although I use Photoshop CS2 for my processing, it's nice to
know that is it *not necessary * to purchase such an expensive
piece of software to benefit from 123di. Image-editing tutorials
in the essential sections are based on Adobe Photoshop Elements
2-3-4-5-6, a much more affordable software package that is often
included free with today's digital cameras. Other software
packages, besides those from Adobe, have similar methods of
correcting image problems: the tutorials in 123di can point you
in the right direction.

The image-editing tutorials in the advanced sections are based on
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, Photoshop CS3, CS2, CS, and 7,
including Photoshop CS3 extended features that are relevant for
digital photography.

Once the images have been taken and processed, they can be
optimized for presentation or display. Since most photographers
are going to want to share their images on the Web, in slide
shows, in screen savers, or with prints, knowing how to do this
is very important. 123di shows how to do all of these things.

Perhaps the most valuable content in the 123di manual -- for
photographers at all levels -- are the materials showing how to
*avoid * image problems in the first place. This content begins
with topics about digital cameras and their sensors and then
thoroughly presents processing techniques that not only prevent
or overcome problems -- but also make the images "pop."

123di is a digital manual available either through download or as
a boxed set, and periodic updates keep the material up to date.
123 has versions for both PC and MAC users. There is also a
special version for Nikon Camera users with coverage of software
supplied by Nikon with their cameras.

123di allows installation on multiple computers. I particularly
like this benefit as I use a desktop in the office and a laptop
in the field. It is nice to know that I don't have to purchase
an additional licence or unlock key for this. 123di allows
installation on three personal-use computers and can supply
additional unlock keys upon request.

123di contains much more than just the practical tutorials for
image processing. It has comprehensive theoretical coverage on
the technical aspects of digital photography. These sections are
great for understanding technical areas and can even help you
select your photographic equipment and use it effectively. 123di
explains both the *why * and the *how * of digital photography.



Written by Royce Tivel
For more information about 123di:
http://www.selectdigitals.com/123di/

For additional content of interest to photographers:
http://www.selectdigitals.com/