Zoner has released several major upgrades to ZPS X that improve portraits, enhance workflow, obliterate chromatic aberration and leverage AI to make photo editing easier and more powerful than ever before.

Zoner Photo Studio X continues to get better and stronger with every generation. The current collection of upgrades is mind-blowing. Improving a time-proven editing platform is no easy task. ZPS X has already established a large global user base, offering the best price-performance ratio and professional tools at a low price. It’s been on the market for more than 30 years and has been downloaded by over 10 million users worldwide.

15-Second Description of Zoner Photo Studio X
What exactly is Zoner Photo Studio X? In a nutshell, it’s a single-app solution that provides everything every photographer—regardless of level or camera brand—needs to import, sort, edit, retouch, enhance, catalog and publish photo and video files (including Raw files), plus much, much more.

ZPS X features a unique architecture that’s easy and intuitive to navigate and fun to use. Without leaving the application, users can seamlessly switch between modules labeled Manager, Develop, Editor, Print and program—a major timesaver. There are flexible workspace layout choices, too. And you can select the Browser view and see all images in a specific folder—without leaving the Zoner Photo Studio X workspace.

Watch the Videos
Zoner has added 11 concise videos to their YouTube channel that vividly demonstrate some of the new features.

Download Full-Featured Trial Version Now
Want to see more for yourself right now? Download the full version of ZPS X for Windows 10 and 11 PCs and try it for 7 days absolutely free with no obligation and no credit card required.

Zonerama Photo/Video Storage/Sharing Platform
Zoner also maintains Zonerama, the free-to-all online platform that provides users unlimited space to upload photos and videos where they’re securely stored and shared. Even if you are not a ZPS X user you can open an account on Zonerama. Seasonal Tip: Zonerama is the perfect place for families to privately share images and video with the kiddos who are away at school, or spread the experience of winter vacations with friends and relatives, in a secure, password-protected environment.

Highlights of Current Upgrade
Shoot portraits, family candids, social media selfies or other smiling faces? Of course you do. Several of the Fall 2024 upgrades are designed to improve the editing experience of people pictures—and enhance the awesomeness of your images.

Starting now, Zoner Photo Studio X can:

Choose the best photos with AI close-ups
Zoner Photo Studio X automatically detects and zooms in on faces and displays them next to the photo. You can enlarge previews to compare sharpness and facial expressions.

Remove backgrounds with a single click
The new AI batch filter automatically removes the background from your images. You can then replace the previous background with a transparent one, or fill with a color variation of your choice.

AI presets deliver gorgeous portraits in minutes
The new trio of AI presets automatically creates masks that let you brighten the face and eyes or accentuate the subject’s mouth. Presets detect multiple faces and let you adjust each individually.

Beyond Portraits
In addition to the very robust set of new features that enhance portrait photography, Zoner Photo Studio X engineers have initiated a number of new functions that facilitate post-processing and invigorate workflow.

With ZPS X, users can now:

Invoke AI automatic enhancement
Edit one or hundreds of photos with a single click. Zoner Photo Studio X, with the help of AI, recognizes the scene and applies custom-fit adjustments. This results in photos with dynamic contrast and more vibrant colors.

Select and edit without delay
A new Autostacking feature selects similar images and arranges them into groups. Further, you can expand stacked photos with a single click, and select the main preview image. 

Derive maximum detail and color from Raw images
Raw is often better, right? Not if it’s hamstrung by overexposed highlight areas or underexposed shadows. ZPS X recovers significantly more detail and color in blowouts. The new version of its Raw processing engine considerably improves the handling of highlights, blocked shadows and other exposure parameters. And with the new Color Reconstruction slider, you can color blowouts.

Loading Fujifilm Raw files is now twice as fast
Zoner Photo Studio X engineers have cut the loading time for Raw files from the Fujifilm X-Trans sensor in half. You asked; Zoner heard you and took action.

Note: With this update, you can edit all your Raw images—including those previously edited in ZPS X—with improved Raw processing. For the change to take effect on previously edited photos, change the processing method to the latest method.

Automatically remove chromatic aberration
The new option for correcting chromatic aberration uses image analysis and offers a suitable correction. It works without specifying a lens profile and is compatible with all formats.

Direct support for the Loupedeck+ console
Loupedeck is the top brand in photo and video editing consoles, perfectly designed for pros and beginners. ZPS X now fully supports the Loupedeck+ editing console so you edit photos even faster, more conveniently, and with greater precision.

More keyboard shortcuts for your photo editing
Now it’s even easier to customize ZPS X and make your workflow faster and more personalized. There are more than 1,000 keyboard shortcuts to potentially save hours of editing time.

Align images in your photo books
Keep the images in your photo books neat and straight using grids and guidelines. Plus, ZPS X has updated the process of adding freestanding pictures to make the experience more enjoyable.

Rotate and adjust images in the preview
Today, Zoner Photo Studio X enables you to rotate, pan and resize video clips, images, and text directly in the video preview. You can also now match text styles for an entire video.

Navigator now remembers last opened folders
Pick up right where you left off. Set up (in Preferences) how you want the Navigator to appear next time you open ZPS X.

More HDR on Zonerama with a new photo format
Users can present their HDR work fully on Zonerama, Zoner’s online storage and sharing platform that’s free to all. Zonerama has been able to handle HDR content since June of 2023. And starting now, Zonerama supports HDR JPEG + gain map, so you can share your photos in maximum quality.

New smart canvas prints
Striving to improve nearly every individual aspect of the Zoner Photo Studio X experience, Zoner has expanded Print options. You can try the new canvas prints printed on innovative smart panels. Their lightweight material is durable and resistant to damage during transport.

Mind-Blowing Collection of Enhancements
This concludes the topline peek at the best new features added to Zoner Photo Studio X, and it’s a long list to unpack. To understand why millions love ZPS X and how these improvements work in concert to make a strong product even stronger, download the full version of ZPS X for Windows 10 and 11 PCs and try it for 7 days absolutely free with no obligation and no credit card required.

Don’t miss the concise collection of videos on Zoner’s YouTube channel that capture the excitement of the Fall 2024 upgrades to Zoner Photo Studio X.

Pricing and What’s Included
Zoner Photo Studio X is available for $59 per year, or $5.99 on a month-to-month basis. There’s also a Family Plan. The subscription includes free, automatic upgrades as new features emerge, access from any PC anywhere, English-language tech support, 15 free 4×6 prints (every year), 20GB of secure Zoner Cloud Storage, free presets created by the ZPS X community and Premium-level access to Zonerama.

Most important, a subscription to Zoner Photo Studio X gives your Window 10 or 11 the most powerful photo and video editing you can buy for less than the price of one cup of designer coffee per month. Powerful enough for pros, easy enough for newbies. Give the full-featured 7-day free trial version a spin and find out for yourself how much fun photo and video editing can be with the right tools.

∞ Shutterbug Staff

Earlier this month we featured a photo-gear maintenance guide with the best practices for keep your cameras and lenses working like new. Today’s episode from the Be More, Do More, Have More channel takes a close look at caring for your oft-ignored memory cards so they last as long as possible and don’t fail in the field

Many photographers take memory cards for granted and, worse yet, don’t carry a spare—ignoring the fact that an unexpected breakdown will turn a camera into a very expensive brick. The 12 tips you’ll learn in the next 12 minutes are essential for every photographer who values their work—whether they’re a hobbyist or working pro.

This essential guide is based upon instructor Shawn DaVinci’s 12 years of experience, as well as specific recommendations from memory card manufacturers. DaVinci covers it all, from safe handling tips, proper storage and careful maintenance for preventing data corruption and the headaches that follow.

Perhaps the biggest mistake you can make (apart from failing to carry a spare) is this: While it’s a good idea to reformat cards regularly, NEVER do so on your computer. Instead, follow DaVinci’s advice for reformatting in the camera. And do that using the camera to which the card belongs. If you regularly switch cameras and swap cards, be sure to reformat a card every time you do.

If you’re one of those shooters who invests in high-quality cameras and lenses, but skimps by purchasing low-cost memory cards, it time to stop this dangerous habit now. DaVinci provides several reasons why he always uses high-quality cards from reputable brands. Bottom line: resist the temptation to put your hard-earned photos at risk with cheap no-name substitutes.

At this point DaVinci is just getting started and there’s much more to learn, including why it’s best not fill a card to maximum capacity, how clearing a card often will prevent potential file-system errors, and the safest way to delete unwanted files.

It’s also a good practice to transfer images directly from your camera, rather than removing the card and using a reader. There are several more tips regarding proper storage, handling, and care that are crucial to understand. The Be More, Do More, Have More YouTube channel is a great source of information about choosing and using the equipment that will serve you Best.

And if you missed the camera and lens care guide mentioned above, be sure to check it out.

About four years ago, I came up with a simple goal: photograph 5000 species of birds. How did I even think of such a plan? It all began with two questions: What is that bird over there? How is that bird related to the others? Soon, I started keeping track of all the birds I had seen, and specifically, photographed (that’s how I started identifying them). Before long, I started getting more obsessed with their classification, which opened up a whole can of worms.

If you’re unfamiliar with Lightroom’s powerful Point Color tool there a good chance your edits aren’t as impressive as they could be. We’ll change all that today with the in-depth guide below from the folks at Eastern Shore Photo Instruction.

This is a comprehensive 27-minute tutorial explaining everything you need to know, so we suggest having a pen and paper handy for jotting down some notes before launching the video. Instructor Mickey reviews all the features and functions of Point Color, and he says, “I think it’s one of the more creative color tools available in Lightroom.”

This oft-ignored tool can be used to manipulate specific colors within an image whether you’re making global adjustments or selective enhancements (which we recommend) using Lightroom’s masking capabilities. In either case, Mickey’s emphasis today is adding a bit more artistry to your Lightroom workflow.

There’s a time-stamped “table of contents” in the description beneath the video so you can jump to a specific topic if you’re currently dealing with a problem or confront one in the future, so bookmarking the lesson is a good idea. Mickey illustrates a variety of common tasks with four detailed demos on getting the job done.

The episode kicks off with a quick overview of the Point Color tool before jumping into a variety of techniques. You’ll gain insight into the difference between global and local enhancements and learn why Mickey insists that “Pont Color “provides more features and capabilities for color correction and enhancement than other tools like HSL or the Color panel.

Mickey walks you through the necessary steps for using Point Color filters to refine hue saturation and luminance, and how to use this to with Sky and Linear masks for foreground and sky enhancement. He also demonstrates how to refine hue selection and improve color when processing images of flora.Tips for editing portraits are also included in this guide, and you’ll discover how Lightroom’s Point Color tool can be invaluable when targeting and enhancing a subject’s skin tones for a natural looking result. So check it all out and add these powerful capabilities to your Lightroom bag of tricks.

 If Lightroom is your post-processing software of choice, be sure to visit the Eastern Shore Photo Instruction channel for more great advice.

And don’t miss the earlier tutorial we featured with another image-editing expert who demonstrates a straightforward Lightroom technique for editing photographs of birds and other nature and wildlife subjects.