on 5/11/04 6:54 pm, Clive Bubley wrote: > I just had a look at the info on Core Image, the graphical part of > Tiger http://www.apple.com/macosx/tiger/core.html > > Some of the facilities listed look awfully like those currently > offered by PS CS: I wonder whether there will be a new integrated > version of PS that will take advantage of these new OS "Image Units" > as Apple calls them. > > Or are Apple planning to offer these system based graphic facilities > as an alternative to PS?
These features are being offered as something that an innovative OS can do - not to provide competition to Photoshop. It's worth noting that Apple *haven't* created an application that can be used as an alternative to PS. However, they have created a set of tools that will allow developers to create image editing apps that PS will have difficulty competing with in terms of speed. This is because there are two especially interesting areas for pro imaging. Firstly, the move to offload as much image processing on to the GPU (graphics card) rather than the CPU. Games programmers have been doing this kind of thing for years because the CPU cannot compete with a modern GPU when it comes to crunching through pixel calculations, and because of the bandwidth restrictions of getting lots of data all the way from the CPU to the screen. Secondly, Apple will be providing a powerful set of tools that enable you to create your own filters with a minimal amount of code. At one of the developer conferences the attendees were treated to a demonstration of how you could create a motion blur filter with a few lines of code that would run approximately 100 times faster than the same filter in PS! > Whichever way it pans out, the next phase of digital image > manipulation software for professional - and amateur - imagers looks > like being quite comprehensive, and, er, fast. I agree. Tiger will also be supplied with a drag-and-drop programming environment (Automator) that will allow users to create powerful workflow solutions without having to learn any AppleScript syntax. I doubt it will be very long before you'll be able to create your own image editing filters and workflows without having to learn C. These features will only appeal directly to a minimal number of users. But, for the majority, it means that you should be able to find fast and cheap solutions to image editing and handling problems with a quick Google. And Adobe will have to continue to develop and improve Photoshop against competition from a bunch of innovative small developers. Which is a good thing, because none of us would like such a dominant app becoming the next XPress... Regards -- Martin Orpen Idea Digital Imaging Ltd -- The Image Specialists http://www.idea-digital.com =============================================================== GO TO http://www.prodig.org for ~ GUIDELINES ~ un/SUBSCRIBING ~ ITEMS for SALE
