Expected to be released publically in early 2012, Photo Mechanic 5 and Photo Mechanic Catalog boost the already lightning-fast browsing capabilities that professional photographers now depend on to process and edit photos in just minutes. The software enables users to quickly compare multiple images and retains all the features that Photo Mechanic users have come to know and rely upon. The new Photo Mechanic Catalog enables rapid photo searches through the Catalog, as well as multi-user capabilities, especially useful for large organizations needing to identify, tag and publish photos on tight deadlines. New features of both versions include:

Photo Mechanic 5:

• New and improved professional look and feel with additional features in the main contact sheet view.
• Non-modal preview window can be kept open on a second monitor. Thumbnail strips can be either on top or on left.
• Crops can now be rotated to arbitrary angles to match the horizon, and the crop that is stored is compatible with several other popular applications.
• Previews can display blown/clipped highlights and underexposed/clipped shadows.
• Movies can be played internally and frames can be extracted with a crop applied.
• New and improved Export plug-ins.
• Ingest can now automatically begin upon flash card mount.
• Improved speed of browsing and operation by using internal database caches for user command and “sort/filtering” preferences.

• The SQL database backend provides top-notch speed and search flexibility. Search through hundreds of thousands of photos in seconds.
• Proxles are stored separately from the SQL database files so the catalog size is only practically limited by disk space.
• The Scanner tool lets you select folders to scan for photos and movies, and also lets you ignore folders that you don’t want scanned. Photos and movies that are discovered are added to the catalog.
• Photos can be added to the catalog during ingest and live ingest.
• Searches can be as simple as entering a few words, or can be very complex queries based on dates and times, keywords (or their absence), and can be specific to certain IPTC metadata fields.
• Catalogs can be shared with multiple users on a LAN (Local Area Network).
• Designed with the capability of world-wide access to support advanced applications such as remote editing.

"As a photographer and workshop facilitator, I need to be able to import images, apply IPTC data, select the best images from a sequence and then quickly export the images for processing or viewing. Photo Mechanic does all of that plus a lot more. I’ve tried other photo editing programs that were difficult to operate, couldn’t be customized and left me feeling frustrated.

The first time I used Photo Mechanic, I was impressed with the speed and ease of operation. As my images were being imported, I was rating and selecting images in the Preview mode while the import function was still running. Photo Mechanic quickly became a permanent part of my digital workflow. Customization of Photo Mechanic’s features is a snap. I tell other photographers and my workshop participants that this is the best bang for your buck program that’s available. If you’re looking for a photo editing program that will import images, select, rate, export, print and even apply GPS coordinates, then Photo Mechanic is for you."

Winston C Hall, Tuner Photography

http://www.tunerphotography.com

"Momenta Workshops is proud to endorse Photo Mechanic and all the staff at Camera Bits for their continued support of our educational workshops. Our instructors and staff all use Photo Mechanic as our primary editing tool on every Momenta workshop and our students all receive an extended demo copy from Camera Bits. Momenta staff believes so strongly in the product that we have incorporated a hands-on instruction session for Photo Mechanic in our orientation lectures. Every day of our workshops, our students are using Photo Mechanic with the staff to edit their amazing photographic work.

This easy-to-use and vital editing tool has helped us teach documentary photojournalism in an effective, hands-on learning environment that is unparalleled with any other editing product on the market. Camera Bits' dedication to photographic education is laudable and we look forward to working with them for years to come."

-John C. Anderson, Founder,

Momenta Workshops | a division of Momenta Group LLC

http://www.momentaworkshops.com/

"Just wanted to compliment Photo Mechanic regarding its outstanding tech help and customer service. Your tech reps have been incredibly patient and thorough helping me analyze the software for our needs before purchasing, and then helping me understand how it works and how to set up after purchase. The in depth help has been invaluable and notably different than technical help from other companies!

Thanks for another great reason to use your Photo Mechanic!!"

Marna Zanoff

"I use Photo Mechanic because it makes viewing my photos easy. When I’m on a big photo shoot I need to move fast and have true rendering of what I am shooting. Photo mechanic does that and kicks ass.

I love it!"

Nikki Sixx

http://www.myspace.com/nikkisixx

"Nothing can be too intuitive for me but Photo Mechanic is the most intuitive program I own. It's strong and fast and clear and you don't have to learn another language to use. But a program can only be as good as it's support and nobody - not one body - beats the support of Photo Mechanic. As with other software support, you don't get the disembodied and Orwellian, "You're phone call is very important to us... If you need 6, press 9; if you need 12, press 8 now...if you're looking for lost luggage yadayadayaya." OR, "Leave a message and we'll respond by email in 72 hours when the deadline has past and it don't matter no more." When you dial Photo Mechanic, you hear, "Hello." A person. And in the Continental United States, if that's where you consider Portland to be. And if they don't handle your question on the spot, go get a cup of coffee, a danish, eat an egg, they will have returned your call by that time. And with a solution. And not rushed like you're with an HMO. And, like Jimmy Durante in "You're in the Army Now, they're open to suggestions. Once, when they couldn't help me because the program couldn't do that, within 2 weeks, there was a patch for it. They thought it was a good idea too...Or maybe it was more than once. And when we have a special project and need something off the beacon track, that's an email away.

Well, you all get the point. An extraordinary product with extraordinary, accessible service. And open to new ideas. Always, it seems, looking to innovate. If they made a car, I'd exchange my clunker for it."

Steve Friedman, New York

http://www.stevefriedmanphoto.com

E.L. WOODY "THE KING of the PAPARAZZI" SAYS PHOTO MECHANIC IS ESSENTIAL!

"There are two essential applications a paparazzi photographer must have, PHOTOSHOP and PHOTO MECHANIC. I love my PHOTO MECHANIC! Handling large numbers of images is a snap! I have used it for years without any problems.

When I bring my images into my Mac, or handle photographic images in any way, I always use it. I put IPTC information, tags, and any other data I desire, on any picture. I can go back months, or years later, and read everything about that image. Day after day, except for my NIKON, PHOTO MECHANIC by Camera Bits is the tool I use most. Thanks Camera Bits! You are the best!"

E.L.Woody "King of the Paparazzi"