Capture One 12.1 Announced with New tools and Profile Support for Nikkor Z mount Lenses

Phase One, the company behind Capture One and Capture One Pro RAW processing software has announced 12.1, the first feature release of version 12.0.

New features include a Grid tool that groups the options together from what was previously found under the global Preferences into a separate tool brick. This important compositional aid features a dedicated short-cut and is now separate from the Guides feature. As standalone the Grid tool is both simpler and more logical in use. It’s located under the Lens Inspector, but like the majority of tools in Capture One Pro it can be added to any to the Tool Inspectors or ‘Tool Tabs’. Guides are accessible from the View menu, or toggled on or off from the existing shortcut in the Toolbar, but it wouldn’t be a surprise in a future release to see the Guides get the same treatment. It certainly needs it, If the developers are concerned over the growing complexity and crowding of the UI, it’s easy enough to offer it as an option. After all it can easily be hidden or removed completely.

Capture One Pro is already highly regarded for its interpretation (demoasicing) of RAW files from X-Trans sensors from the start of their support and the company claim that in 12.1 rendering has been improved without ceding performance. Tethering of certain Fujifilm cameras now includes zoom and pan control. 

Further improvement to tethered operation includes an overhaul of the existing Overlay tool. Found under the Camera inspector, the Overlay tool is used for aligning PNG and other file types with a transparent background over the top images. It’s particularly useful as a composition aid for shooting covers where the magazine design including the masthead, headlines, a coverline or any other element can be shown on-screen as the photographer captures the image, literally shooting into the space that’s left. Besides improved slider operation for more precise placement, the overlay itself can be easily resized from the inclusion of corner frames. Not only that but the overlay will be automatically resized during cropping. Other additions to the Overlay tool include a recently used list of files and an option to show or hide the overlay as and when required.

Capture One 12.1 also sees greatly expanded scripting support. Scripting requires knowledge of Apple Script (obviously limited to Apple Macs) but it enables automated routines for repetitive workflows, and can be a timesaver with high volume photography. While the need for it is clear, this is unlikely to have intense appeal outside of large companies with in-house production facilities and suitably trained staff, though anyone with some understanding of Apple Script can benefit from the workflow enhancements. While previous versions had some scripting capabilities the greatly expanded scripting support which is said to cover full feature set coincides with the official launch of Capture One Studio – a special version aimed at this studios with this very need.

Capture One Pro also continues to expand early support for new cameras and lenses which should gain plaudits from manufacturers and users alike. Besides RAW support for the Panasonic LX100 Mark II, Leica DLUX-7, Leica CLUX and Nikon Coolpix P1000, new lens profiles are included for Fujinon XF23mm 1.4R and Canon RF 28-70mm F2 L USM. 

Capture One Pro can now also automatically apply lens corrections to all five current Nikkor Z mount models. It’s not clear at this time if the application can directly access the profile embedded in the RAW file, as it’s likely to be encrypted, or if it’s using an approximation from the DNG spec but images corrected this way display the “Manufacturer Profile” as a useful reminder in the Lens Correction tool. If necessary the profile correction can be turned off and corrected manually. 

Capture One Pro 12.1 is available as a free update and can be downloaded directly from within version 12.0 or from the Capture One website.

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