New version of ICE available

An update to ICE is available at: http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/redmond/groups/ivm/ice/

Most of the bug fixes and changes in this version were based on feedback from our users:

• Photoshop layers are back as an output option. We have also added support for the Adobe Large Document Format (PSB), so there is effectively no longer a resolution limit when exporting to Photoshop.  Finally we’ve given users more control over the compatibility mode for PSD/PSB.
• We’ve fixed most of the top issues reported on the forum. Thanks to everyone who shared their problematic photos with us.
• We’ve enabled more of the stitching process to use multi-core, so your stitching projects should now run even faster.
• The ‘jaggies’ on the panorama borders are gone.
• We’ve added support for WIC codecs installed on your PC. This means that if you’ve installed a raw codec from your camera manufacturer, then ICE can directly stitch your raw images. I’m excited about this feature, but your mileage may vary depending on what codec you are using.  Most of my personal raw files are Canon CR2. So, I initially tried Canon’s raw decoder. Unfortunately it is very slow to open files, and because Canon doesn’t provide a 64-bit decoder, users of 64-bit ICE can’t open CR2s. I switched to using the FastPictureViewer Codec Pack and so far that has worked very well. Below is a table of raw codecs that we will try to keep up to date on the ICE web site.  We haven’t tested all of these with ICE, so it would be interesting to get feedback on your own experiences with ICE plus raw.

Name	Supported formats	Cost	Works with 32-bit ICE	Works with 64-bit ICE
Adobe DNG Codec	Adobe Digital Negative	Free	Yes	No
ArdFry DNG Codec	Adobe Digital Negative	$29.95	Yes	Yes
Canon Raw Codec	Canon Raw	Free	Yes	No
FastPictureViewer  Codec Pack	Adobe Digital Negative, Canon Raw, Epson Raw, Fuji Raw, Hasselblad Raw, Kodak Raw, Leica Raw, Mamiya Raw, Minolta Raw, Nikon Raw, Olympus Raw, Panasonic Raw, Pentax Raw, Sigma Raw, Sinar Raw, Sony Raw	$9.99	Yes	Yes
Nikon Raw Codec	Nikon Raw	Free	Yes	No
Olympus Raw Codec	Olympus Raw	Free	Yes	?
Panasonic Raw Codec	Panasonic Raw	Free	Yes	No
Pentax Raw Codec	Pentax Raw	Free	Yes	No
Sony Raw Codec	Sony Raw	Free	Yes	?

 

 

 

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