CAPTURE ONE 21
Just how much faster and smarter is this new version of Capture One 21? ANGELA NICHOLSON tests it to find out
Just how much faster and smarter is this latest version of Capture One 21? Our expert tester tries the editing software to find out
Capture One was originally developed to process RAW files from Phase One’s cameras, so from the outset it was aimed at pro photographers. But these days it’s a Lightroom competitor that’s compatible with more than 500 cameras from all the major manufacturers, with cataloguing and tethered shooting tools sitting alongside its RAW and JPEG editing features – including adjustment layers and masking.
As with Lightroom, the first step when using Capture One is to import your images. This process has been improved for the latest version, with a larger import window that shows high-resolution thumbnails, clearer terminology, the option to import from several folders at once, and an easier method of selecting specific images to import. Importing is also faster, and a collection of performance enhancements make the software more responsive from the outset.
Capture One’s developers have concentrated on making the software faster and easier to use, and in addition to the slider controls, there are some new Speed
Edit shortcuts that enable quicker editing.
For example, by default, pressing and holding down the Q key while dragging up or down (or using the arrow keys) on the image adjusts the overall brightness. As you make the adjustment, a temporary slider appears under the image, so you can see the degree of edit you’re making. Helpfully, the keys used to access the features are customisable, so it’s easy to develop a system that works for you.
Capture One 21 also enables you to change the size, hardness, opacity, and flow of any selected brush by using a modifier key and a mouse, trackpad or pen. Once you’ve got to grips with the shortcuts, it’s a faster and more intuitive way of working.
In another improvement, Capture One 21 debuts a new set of camera profiles called ProStandard, designed to render colour more naturally. They are said to preserve colour better across contrast gradients and colour transitions, and those colours are maintained when image adjustments are applied.
These new profiles are particularly useful for portrait and product photography, but also for other photographic genres where there are challenging colours or gradations.
At launch the ProStandard profiles are available for a fairly limited range of cameras, but more are being added. The ProStandard profile isn’t automatically applied, as this would impact previously edited images. Instead, it can be applied when editing images via the Base Characteristics tool – it’s just a case of selecting the option from the list. Alternatively, it can be set as the default.
Capture One 21 also introduces a new Dehaze tool that automatically assesses the image, looking for low contrast and saturation areas that need adjustment. When the tool is selected, just drag the Amount slider (or use the shortcut key) to dial in the effect. By default, the software automatically detects a shadow tone, but you can also set one using the dedicated dropper tool.
The Dehaze tool isn’t included in the tools panel, but it’s very easy to add it and others, as Capture One 21 is highly customisable. There’s a sensible array of tools visible by default, and you can collapse and expand them as you need. You can also reorder the tools in the panel by dragging and dropping, and the browser and previews can be shifted to suit your preferences.
While HEIF and HEIC file formats haven’t been widely adopted yet, their availability on Canon’s recent high-end cameras, as well as recent iPhones, makes Capture One 21’s ability to work with them useful. These files can be imported and edited, but must be exported in another format, such as JPEG or TIFF.
Swapping to a new software can seem daunting, but Capture One has an excellent selection of features to help new users get up and running. When you hover over a tool, for example, a short description of what it does appears, and there’s a link to a tutorial video about it. These tutorials are generally less than a minute long, and the longest is about two minutes, so you won’t find yourself stuck on YouTube for ages. Also, the searchable help section shows you how to carry out certain tasks, but also lets you do them with one click, making the software easier to use.