Kubota Action Packs or ShowIt Effects...aarrrrrr

[newgenphoto]

Okay, so I’m torn on what to do….
I know that I want some cool actions to start processing my pictures but I’m not sure what to get. Maybe you all can help me?
Of course the Kubota action packs are awesome. They produce very nice results but are quite pricey. Then there’s David Jays ShowIt Effects. I’m leaning towards ShowIt Effects because I’ve already purchased David Jay’s Brilliant Bridge settings, which I love. I don’t mind spending the money on the software to help me out but just want some advice is all….. thanks peeps!

[jessiper]

Aren't the Kubota actions cheaper than the ShowIt Effects? I'm probably going to buy the Kubota's first because they have more examples up on the website, although I do like the ShowIt Effects, too. Sorry, that didn't help at all, did it? :P Someone just sent me a link to these which I like as well: http://ittybittyactions.com/ (but I'll probably just buy the borders from them). I should look into buying the Brilliant Bridge settings. DJ explained them to me in a different thread.

[CyberPet]

Bet you'll get as many suggestions as posters... I'm a Kubota fan, like his stuff and I often blend and mix to taste.

[mizuno]

I bought DJ's Brilliant Bridge Settings just yesterday - a huge time saver! I considered developing my own set, but figured that I may as well start with DJ's and adjust them to taste along the way.

Regarding your question, I have a Kubota Action set already - pretty happy with the results.

[Philco]

I can only speak for the Kubota Vol II, which I have found very useful, though I did kick myself after seeing just how simple some of the actions are that I use the most. Using these actions has saved me a ton of time, but I do often find that I have to blend to suite, which adds some time back in. Lord of the rings is great, but I often blend the glow way down, for instance.

My next step is to build a strong set of ACR recipes, which may include buying a set like David Jays. The more you can accomplish in ACR, the faster your workflow will be since you won't be reopening files in Photoshop at all, so in a way, I think it makes sense to start with ACR, since you can easily process 90% of your images fully without ever having to open them in PS (save for the image processor when converting to jpg) I feel like I went about it backwards by focusing on photoshop actions when so many things I acheived w/ photoshop would have already been achieved in ACR.

[jessiper]

Sorry, dumb question, can you use the Kubota and ShowIt actions in ACR, or do you have to open the file in CS2? Thanks. I'm assuming you do have to open them in CS2, or else why would DJ make settings for ACR? Did I just answer my own question? :oops: :rolleyes:

[picturecrazy]

Get both. You can use your kubota actions within showiteffects. This is what I do.

Also, jessiper, you can't use any of these in ACR... you gotta be in CS2 itself.

[islandphoto]

The kubota actions are absolutely worth every penny! I haven't used Showit yet but it looks pretty cool too. I'm not sure if it serves as the same purpose?

[islandphoto]

oh... because I watched David Jays demo on showit and he said that you could add your own actions so I think you could incorperate the two to make life way easier. I'm not absolutely positive though. Can anyone clarify? DJ?

[motogeno]

Don't know about Showit, but love the Kubota's - big time saver and nice variety, especially the black and white actions:D

[Michael]

Islandphoto, I'm 99.9% sure after watching DJ's video that you can place any action in ShowIt, and add a picture for it too. I'm buying ShowIt Effects, Brilliant (Bridge Presets), and ShowIt Web soon! What are the Kubota actions like?

[picturecrazy]

Wow, did nobody read my post? I said I use kubota actions WITHIN showiteffects. The two can be used together easily.

[newgenphoto]

Yes, Lloyd is correct. You can use both at the same time and DJ's videos do show how to add other actions INTO ShowIt Effects easily. It's just a LOT of money to spend on actions all at once. I think I'll go with ShowIt for now and maybe pick up Kubotas in Vegas (WPPI) this March... that trip is going to cost me sooooooooooo much money, but totally worth it!

[subtle_spectre]

I have ShowIt and it is okay...a little quircky sometimes. What I found, though, is that almost every effectin ShowIt is available for free as an action at different sites on the web...some even better. Also, if like me, you will only like or regularly use 2-3 of the effects. But, you won't truly know any of this until you buy it...

[islandphoto]

Lloyed - did read it quickly but I guess I didn't see the word "within" I was thinking you just used both and they both saved you time... I guess I should carefully read better before posting a question to your answer haha...next time.

[coreypolis]

Both

I would consider effects more of the editor and Kubota more of the actions.

[jessiper]

Also, jessiper, you can't use any of these in ACR... you gotta be in CS2 itself.

That's what I figured. Thanks, Lloyd! :D

[TheSteveMadden]

The ShowIt effects software combines workflow with actions. It's designed to quickly process a set of favorite small jpg files selected in Bridge and processed in CS2 between the wedding and the reception right from within bridge, allowing you to save the effect to the jpg file and go the the next image quickly and easily. No need to individually open, modify, flatten and save each file, you just select the effect you want and go to the next image.

From what I understand, David Jay shoots RAW + Small JPG just for this purpose. This facilitates getting a high quality slideshow up and running in minutes as small JPG files download quicker and are faster to preview for selection, but large enough for a quality slideshow.

ShowIt Effects also saves what effect was applied to each small jpg file for the slideshow so you can batch apply the same effects to the high resulution RAW files when the wedding is over, automagically and with very little intervention.

A video demonstrating ShowIt effects in action is here (http://www.opensourcephoto.net/videos/demos/Effects2.mov) on the www.opensourcephoto.net "Video Vault" forum.