Applied Science Fiction (ASF) was acquired by Kodak. Now, Kodak makes Plug-ins for Adobe Photoshop™ computer users.

Applied Science Fiction™ (ASF) developed ASF plug-in filters software for Photoshop users for both Mac and Windows platforms. The Kodak plug-in filters are available as an Internet download.

You can go to the Applied Science Fiction™ website store www.asf.com/store for downloading the trial versions of Kodak plug-ins. Also, you can check for new ASF programs at their website.

Trial Version Watermark Kodak Plug-in

In the trial version of the Kodak plug-in, each processed image is watermarked with the “Applied Science Fiction™.” To prevent the watermark from appearing on future images, you need to purchase and register the Kodak plug-ins. Until you register your plug-ins, a “Buy and Register” button will appear in the top left corner of the Kodak plug-ins windows.

After buying the Kodak plug-ins, you will receive a purchase confirmation e-mail. This contains the information you will need to register your ASF Plug- in software.

Working with Kodak Plug-ins in Photoshop CS

DIGITAL SHO Pro Plug-In letters stand for Shadow and Highlight Optimization. I find that using DIGITAL SHO Professional brings out precise details in the shadows and the highlights in my photos. Now, I can balance the density ranges in my digital images by using DIGITAL SHO Pro plug-in.

DIGITAL GEM Pro Airbrush smoothes skin surfaces of your photographs. The amazing DIGITAL GEM Airbrush will soften the lighting of portraits. Also, using the plug-in, you can remove aging shadows without losing the character of the person's face. You can use DIGITAL GEM Airbrush for school portraits and wedding proofs.

DIGITAL ROC Professional plug-In letters stand for Reconstruction of Color. DIGITAL ROC Professional plug-In restores and balances color. The DIGITAL ROC Professional allows you to correct, restore, and balance the color quality of your DIGITAL photos.

Using DIGITAL ROC Professional Plug-In, you can analyze color gradients in your images. Also, you can remove colorcasts, tints and restore faded or lost colors.

DIGITAL GEM Professional plug-in letters stands for Grain Equalization Management. The DIGITAL GEM plug-in reduces noise and grain in your DIGITAL image photos.

Kodak Plug-ins "Hands-On" Features

I enjoy retouching family portraits with the various Kodak Plug-ins. I keep the size of my DIGITAL photographs at the JPEG fine setting. The TIFF setting at ISO 100 camera speed is the best for taking photographs and editing with Kodak plug-ins. The minimum size requirement is 512 x 512 for editing with the Kodak Plug-ins.

Pro Reaction

Kodak Plug-ins for Adobe Photoshop works fast. They allow you to correct your photo images in Photoshop's RGB format. I find learning how to use the Kodak Plug-ins sliders fun to use. You can download the free PDF manuals from Kodak’s Austin Development Center. The trial version works quite well and gives you the feel of the program.

Con Reaction

Kodak Plug-ins for Adobe Photoshop has small preview windows and there are no printed manuals.

Final Notes

The Photoshop plug-in software products were developed by Kodak’s Austin Development Center, formerly Applied Science Fiction.

Kodak Plug-ins works quite well with digital image files by using special algorithms. Kodak plug-ins filters works with your film scanners, flatbed scanners, digital cameras, CDs and the Internet.

The Kodak Plug-ins are compatible with Adobe Photoshop and other Photoshop plug-in compatible programs and supports both Windows and Macintosh platforms.

E-mail from Michael K. Conley, Marketing, Kodak's Austin Development Center on this review:

“We agree with your comments on the preview screen and you will note that the Professional versions do have a larger preview screen, additionally we will be making improvements in all the Plug-Ins and will notify existing customers to download the free updates later this year.

Your point about not having printed manuals is valid, but as an Internet download that would be difficult, but we do need to add information to our Help files on how to use and optimized these products.”

Window System Requirements:

Requires Adobe Photoshop 5.0 or greater, Adobe Photoshop Elements 1.0 or greater, Adobe PhotoDeluxe Home Edition 4.0, or Jasc Paint Shop Pro 7.0

Computer requirements:

Pentium II or greater CPU, 128MB RAM, Adobe Minimum display resolution: 800 x 600 pixels.

KODAK, DIGITAL GEM, DIGITAL GEM Airbrush, DIGITAL ROC, and DIGITAL SHO are trademarks of Eastman Kodak Company.

Purchasing Kodak Plug-ins

Kodak Professional Plug-ins for Adobe Photoshop retails for $99.00 US. They are available for download at The Kodak store