ShutterBug 2.3 released

XtraLean Software today released an update to its website creation tool ShutterBug, bringing it to version 2.3. The software boasts eighteen new features and improvements, including new image rendering capabilities. XtraLean believes the new photo rendering engine will greatly increase the quality of photos that are destined for online distribution as it offers the ability to run them through several filters, such as sharpness, brightness, contrast, and saturation. Each of the settings are user-adjustable, while also offering quick-access settings with a single-click. The HTML output has been substantially improved, including faster speeds and smoother slideshows.

ShutterBug v2.3 also bring compatibility with iPhoto and iMedia Browser, enabling users to directly access their ShutterBug photos. Another addition to the application allows for looping QuickTime extras, whether they be movies, Flash animations, or MP3 audio files.

In addition to improvements in HTML coding, ShutterBug can also configure the LightBox script without knowing any additional code. LightBox is designed to allow users to superimpose a hyperlinked image over a grayed-out view of the website, removing the constraints that cascading style sheets and column width place on how large an image can be, without ruining the layout of the page.

ShutterBug 2.3 can publish to .Mac as well as via WebDAV and FTP/SFTP -- where it will create a folder containing the site. It is available from XtraLean's website for $40 CDN. A demo is available as well, but the application places watermarks on the images, rather than supplying a time limit.

ShutterBug's main window