Steve Weinrebe's Mode Studio

Phase One has purchased Expression Media from Microsoft. Expression Media 2 is digital asset management (DAM) software that was originally called iView Media Pro. This is interesting news because Phase One already has one of the most comprehensive RAW processors out there in Capture One. I used Capture One from some of its earliest iterations and it is generally a joy to use (though suffers from some unnecessary complexity). Like Adobe Photoshop, Capture One could use a boost in the file management side of the software, especially archiving images. Photoshop proper (and Camera Raw) lack that ability.

Lightroom puts its library module out front, but it is hardly user friendly except to geeks and, I guess, the developers and others that have helped shape the software. When I’ve taught classes with Lightroom users the number one time consuming problem they had was managing their library of images with Lightroom, something that software supposedly excels at.

Enter Expression Media, which wallowed in obscurity under the ownership of Microsoft. I had many photographer friends that swore by iView Media Pro before Microsoft bought it. Now it will be interesting to see what Phase One does with the software.

Meanwhile kudos to Phase One for making a move beyond the hardware market. The tremendous strides in DSLR capabilities, and the sagging worldwide economy, must have surely put a dent in the market for medium format digital backs costing in the 5 figures. Capture One is startlingly good software and fun to use, and if Phase One can apply that same approach towards upgrading Expression Media, then they may have a winning combination that will create serious competition for Lightroom. For now we have to wait and see, but meanwhile there is a great deal for current Phase One customers to download Expression Media for free. Meanwhile the offer is extended to existing Expression Media owners to download Capture One for free as well. Sounds like a hint that the two are going to be combined in the next version of Capture One.

Posted by Steve Weinrebe