Software Review of Digital Camera Enhancer By Larry Anders, Librarian, Tampa PC Users Group larryanders@msn.com

I’ve always been a fancier of good software, and, better yet, I’ve always fancied good FREE software. Digital Camera Enhancer (DCE) is both. I’m not really sure how I came across this excellent digital photo utility program but if one of you reading this article told me about it… thanks! If not, read on.

Even with the best digital cameras I’ve found that the average digital photo still needs a little help, especially in the "brightening-up and noise department." DCE solves this problem and so much more. MediaChance, the makers of DCE, bills this software as almost idiot proof, and I agree.

I’ve got some of the best software made for enhancing digital imagery, and some of these programs would probably do a better job than DCE if I learned how to use the software properly. But none of the best stuff does it faster and definitely not easier.

As I mentioned earlier, you will notice the greatest improvement in your photos if there are bad lighting conditions, especially for photos taken inside or in the shadows. But it doesn’t automatically adjust every photo. Sometimes the adjustments are so subtle it’s hard to tell anything changed at all.

Initially, when running the program for the first time it will ask you about your camera and try to set itself up automatically to make the proper adjustments for your specific camera. But if you are not satisfied with the results you can always try your hand at adjusting the settings to your own liking. The DCE window shows your original photo alongside the enhanced photo. There are manual slide-bar adjustments for Auto Balance, Color, Midtones, Enhanced Details and De Noise. I found the auto settings were perfect for my camera and I haven’t needed to touch the slide adjustments on my photos. You can also zoom in and out and preview the changes before applying them. I have a relatively new upper-end Sony, but I was amazed at the difference between the original and DCEnhanced photo.

A Photo of Member, Ed Buzza, enhanced

Once you decide the enhanced photo is the one you want to save, DCE gives you an option of which format (JPG, BMP, PCX, PNG, TGA & TIF) you would like to save it in. I typically choose JPG because that’s the native format of my camera and seems to be the all around best for size, color, etc. DCE also lets me choose the compression ratio I want for my JPGs. Prior to saving, CE adjusts all of the settings previously mentioned above plus it automatically enhances the edges, then saves the new file. If you try to save it using the original name, DCE warns you to use a new name so you can keep the original file intact. One area that DCE excels in is noise reduction and skin smoothing, which makes for some great close-ups!

You don’t have to have a digital camera to use this program. It works well on any digital image that needs a little help. (Remember, if the picture is well balanced DCE won’t make any adjustments at all.) I tried it on some of my older scanned images, and it did an outstanding job. I also used DCE on some of my older digital camera photos and was quite impressed. DCE will also make better images of the photos you capture from the Internet.

DCEnhancer is one of those programs that come along every now and then that’s a real steal… especially at the price! Give it a try and you won’t be disappointed. I guarantee it!

http://www.mediachance.com/digicam/dcenhanc.zip u