There are many photography accessories out there that could be considered essential to our craft. These might be a tripod, a camera case or pack, filters, remotes…the list could go on forever. However, every now and then an accessory comes along that was not expected. That same accessory might just happen to solve a problem or make a process easier. It is rare when something that fits those two criteria arises, but when it does, it is special. The Loupedeck + might just fit that description. The Loupedeck + is the reiteration of the original Loupedeck, which was released in 2017. The 2017 version had major flaws, but was applauded for its innovative design. Fast forward to 2018, the Loupedeck +, essentially version 2, was released this fall. It has seemed to solve all the problems the original had and this could be one of those accessories that you need to add to your arsenal. Let’s start at the beginning though, what the heck is Loupedeck?!
What Is It?
Loupedeck is a Finnish company that originally got their start on Indiegogo (a site like Kickstarter). Their trademark product, the Loupedeck, received $400,000 in funding and started producing. The idea behind their product is simple, create a console that streamlines post-processing and allow creatives and photographers alike to work faster and more productively, and in turn, increase creativity. Loupedeck brought on several designers and engineers from Nokia to design their console. Like I said earlier, they started with a bang, achieving 488% of their goal on Indiegogo.
What Does it Do?
The original Loupedeck and the relatively new Loupedeck+ are essentially keyboards that are optimized for post-processing software. The Loupedeck+ is compatible with Windows and Mac, and works with Adobe Lightroom CC, Adobe Photoshop CC, Skylum Aurora HDR, and Capture One (beta integration right now). Loupdeck promises that additional processing applications will also gain support in the future. The console is an assortment of keys, sliders, and dials that correspond to common adjustments in post-processing applications. There are controls for selections and ratings, color management, lighting adjustments, and then controls that can take on functions, both set and customizable. It’s a pretty cool device, just think, you can rotate a dial on the console to tune to the exact exposure or saturation setting that you’d like. Now apply that for almost every adjustment you usually make to an image and you’re looking at a console that could be a huge time saver, not to mention, it’s fun to use.