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Post by BuckSkin on Sept 13, 2020 0:43:33 GMT
Does anyone have experience with any of the various Franzis photo editing packages ? www.projects-software.com/I got curious after member "popcorn" asked a question about it; so, I looked it up and downloaded their two free packages and thought I would give them a try. I am a photo program hog and have dozens upon dozens installed, yet I had never heard of them before. |
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Chris
Established Forum Member
Posts: 490
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by Chris on Sept 24, 2020 19:45:19 GMT
I have an earlier version of Frantzis sharpen projects software. It works well as a stand alone software or as a plug in top PS Elements. But later, Topaz introduced sharpen AI which blew the socks off everything else I had. I haven't tried Frantzis other software.
Kind regards
Chris
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Post by BuckSkin on Sept 25, 2020 5:57:23 GMT
I have really been using the free program "HDR Projects 4 Professional"
I like what it does with my outdoor/landscape images when using the single image HDR feature.
I found and downloaded the plug-in files, but the oldest Elements that a plug-in is available for is Elements 11; I put that file in my Elements 7 plug-in folder; it now shows up in "Export" but I only get an Error when I try to use it; it works fine in our Elements 12 however.
I was surprised that the program will accept a layered PSD and provide a PSD layer as the finished product; most non-Adobe programs seem to be limited to TIFF and jpegs.
I can save a layered PSD in Elements 7, load that PSD in HDR Projects 4, and send the finished product directly back to the Elements 7 Editor as a PSD layer; doing thus is almost as quick as if the plugin had worked.
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Chris
Established Forum Member
Posts: 490
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by Chris on Sept 25, 2020 9:15:52 GMT
Thanks very much Charles. I just downloaded the free version of Frantzis HDR and will check it out. I do quite a lot of HDR with extreme lighting. I mainly use HDR photomerge in LR6 for a natural look and the Photomatix plugin for LR for a more surreal look. It will be interesting to try something new.
I believe Frantzis make good user friendly software, although they are not so well known. These days there is so much photo software out there, we are spoilt for choice.
Kind regards
Chris
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Chris
Established Forum Member
Posts: 490
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by Chris on Sept 26, 2020 13:00:12 GMT
I have now installed HDR Projects but can't find any 8bf plug in files to install in Photoshop elements. Where did you find the plug in files you mention? I would like to try them out. Kind regards Chris Update. I found the PS Elements plug ins can be downloaded here after scrolling down to HDR projects 4. www.projects-software.com/supportUnfortunately they will not work with PSE 2020. But I can use the work around you suggested. Thanks for the tip! |
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Post by BuckSkin on Sept 26, 2020 20:44:42 GMT
I have now installed HDR Projects but can't find any 8bf plug in files to install in Photoshop elements. Where did you find the plug in files you mention? I would like to try them out. Kind regards Chris Update. I found the PS Elements plug ins can be downloaded here after scrolling down to HDR projects 4. www.projects-software.com/supportUnfortunately they will not work with PSE 2020. But I can use the work around you suggested. Thanks for the tip! In HDR Projects 4, I set Elements as an "External Program"; it is almost as good as being able to send straight from Elements. |
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Post by BuckSkin on Sept 30, 2020 3:17:24 GMT
I just had a plug-in breakthrough ! ! !
When I downloaded the plug-ins, there were two packages, 70513 and 70514; I just got them both.
Once I got them foldered away and un-zipped, I took a look and thought the contents were the same; I copied the Elements 11 plug-in in my Elements 7 and hoped for the best = no go.
Then, just a few minutes ago, I got to studying the plug-in names a bit more closely; and, I found that the 70514 plug-ins do not say "Pro" in their file names, whereas the 70513 plug-ins do.
I had installed the 70514 Elements 11 plug-in, HDRProjects4_PH5_x86, and it was not working.
I took it out and installed the one from the 70513 package, the one that says "HDRProjects4Pro_PH5_x86"; and, lo and behold, IT WORKS !
When I go File > Export > HDR projects 4 professional, unlike most programs, it does not bring the HDR Projects 4 Professional window to the front; in fact, it doesn't look like anything has happened; but, when I mouse over and click the HDR Projects 4 Professional icon on the task-bar, then click the bottom-right arrow that is in the message box, there is my image file, loaded and ready for editing.
This sure beats having to save the file and then dig the file out of the folder; now, I can click back and forth, from one program to the other.
I suggest you check to see which plug-in you installed and try the other one, unless of course you have already tried both.
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Chris
Established Forum Member
Posts: 490
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by Chris on Sept 30, 2020 19:34:00 GMT
Thanks for the update Clive. I'm glad you got the 32 bit plug in working for PSE7! I could not get any of the 64 bit plug ins to work with PSE 2020. The good thing though is that the Lightroom plug in works fine with LR6. With PSE 2020 I can always use the work around you suggested.
Kind regards
Chris
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Chris
Established Forum Member
Posts: 490
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by Chris on Oct 17, 2020 20:20:26 GMT
Clive, I realised I had made the same mistake. I used the HRD 4 plugins instead of the HRD 4 PRO plugin. The 64 bit plug in for PSE 14 works for PSE 2020. Now, when I am in PSE I can use File/Export to HDR projects and the programe will launch. Then, after working on the file, there is the option File/Open final Image in External programe and choose the location for PSE.exe. Then it will open as a psd file. Its convoluted but at least I can start with a psd and save as a psd. Is that the method you are using?
Kind regards
Chris
PS. Frantzis "Sharpen projects" has the Filter menu option which works seamlessly with PSE as a plug in should. But HDR projects doesn't have the Filter menu option.
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Post by BuckSkin on Oct 18, 2020 1:47:12 GMT
When I go from HDR4 back to Elements, across the top, where it says "File , Edit , View , Extras , Etc., just below "Extras" is an icon that, when I mouse over it, says "Open final image in external program"; I have just been clicking that icon and it will give me a Yes/No question to answer, I click Yes and the new image opens as a separate jpeg image in Elements, which I then drag onto my layer stack where it becomes a PSD.
I have not yet discovered where it is storing all of those jpegs that it is creating.
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Chris
Established Forum Member
Posts: 490
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by Chris on Oct 18, 2020 11:48:14 GMT
Thanks. I found it. It also works the same way from File/Open Image in external programme. After selecting the path to the PSE.exe file the very first time, now I can see PS Elements as a permanent option. For me it opens in PSE as a 16 bit Tiff file, not a jpg file. To do any further editing I need to convert to 8 bit within PSE.
I just discovered...
Under Extras/settings/Export you can change from jpg to 8 bit tiff or 16 bit tiff. Under Extras/settings/Save formats you can change the compression.
Under Extras/settings/Programe/Program Location you can change the save folder location by clicking the 3 dots "..." under each category.
My hunch is that Frantzis does not automatically save the files; I believe its up to the user to choose to save.
I recently got an e mail offer from Ashampoo software (Germany) to buy Frantzis 7 standard (Not pro) version for €20 ($24). I am tempted to check out the trial then decide.
Kind regards
Chris
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