Friday, March 3, 2017

FotoSketcher for Mac available (experimental, but usable)

Hi all,

As you may know, FotoSketcher is a Windows only program and I am currently working on a truly multiplatform version (testing on Android at first).
But since it is a complete rewrite of most of my code (which can be a good thing to iron out some bugs), it is also a rather large undertaking for a single hobbyist programmer like myself.

Having been asked many times for a MacOS version, I looked into various solutions: emulation software (either free like WineHQ or not, like Parallels Desktop), or recompilation with a cutting edge framework (crossVCL, which looks very promising).

In the meantime, I have packaged the latest FotoSketcher version (3.30 at this time) into a Mac compatible program using WineBottler.
Here the .zip file (warning 75 MB, thank you www.fosshub.com for hosting): https://www.fosshub.com/FotoSketcher.html/FotoSketcher_MacOS.zip

https://www.fosshub.com/FotoSketcher.html/FotoSketcher_MacOS.zip

Just open it and run FotoSketcher on your Mac! 

CAVEAT : I have only tested on OS X El Capitan. Apart from a few quirks - mainly visual - I have found FotoSketcher to work fine. But, as usual, use at your own risk and I shall not be held responsible should anything bad happen.

How to install:

Once you've downloaded FotoSketcher_MacOS.zip, move it to the location of your choice (I have simply chosen the desktop).


Then open the .zip file as shown below:


This will extract FotoSketcher and create the program icon.


Double-click to run, and voila!


One of the problems you may encounter is that the trackbars will not update correctly (as shown in the screenshot above). However, you can still move the cursor to the value you want and the parameters will be changed accordingly.

Have fun :)

Best regards,

David


à l'adresse

48 comments:

  1. AnonymousMarch 5, 2017 at 11:06 AM

    Bonjour David, first of all, thnaks for your job.
    Is this fotosketcher available for Ipad too?, can we download and use it on our Ipads?

    Thanks again.

    ReplyDelete
  2. DavidMarch 5, 2017 at 12:20 PM

    Bonjour and thank you for your comment :)
    At this time, FotoSketcher only runs in Windows and MacOS (thanks to WineBottler). A mobile version, which will run on Android and iOS (both iphones and ipads) is in the works, but will not be ready until a few months.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousMarch 5, 2017 at 2:16 PM

    Ok, David, thanks for the information and for replying too fast.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousMarch 22, 2017 at 11:55 AM

    Hello!
    Thanks for this. Will there soon be a version that works on Mac Sierra? currently this version won't install.
    Many thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gordon PritchardApril 24, 2018 at 2:49 AM

      I'm on High Sierra. Hold down the "control" key and you'll be able to open it.

      Delete
    2. DavidApril 24, 2018 at 11:15 AM

      Thank you for the great tip!

      Delete
  5. DavidMarch 22, 2017 at 12:17 PM

    Hi,

    I have not yet been able to test on Sierra, so thank you for this valuable feedback.
    I cannot promise a quick solution, but I do intend to make FotoSketcher run on the most current OS for Mac.

    I'll post on this blog if I make progress.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gordon PritchardApril 24, 2018 at 2:50 AM

      Works on the latest OS. A bit slow and menus are Windows so it's confusing to navigate. But it does work.

      Delete
    2. DavidApril 24, 2018 at 11:15 AM

      Thanks for the feedback :)

      Delete
  6. AnonymousMarch 24, 2017 at 7:44 PM

    Nice to see this great program made accessible to more people.

    A small thing. The Windows (x64) version of 3.30 asks to go to the website to download version 3.30 when clicking 'Check for update'. It is the latest version already.

    The 32 bit version of v3.30 says FotoSketcher is up to date.

    ReplyDelete
  7. DavidMarch 24, 2017 at 9:32 PM

    Thanks for the heads-up. It's a stupid bug really (mind you I have never heard of an intelligent bug...) and I'll correct it in the next release.

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousMarch 25, 2017 at 1:39 AM

    Okay, cheers. I have never heard of an intelligent bug either. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  9. shutterbugzzApril 9, 2017 at 1:06 AM

    Would love to see a Mac version... I am sure it is not your priority:-( but if you ever do, I am following you! You are a very generous person! I have seen this work on a Windows machine and it is fantastic!

    ReplyDelete
  10. DavidApril 9, 2017 at 6:12 PM

    Thank you, shutterbuggzz :)
    BTW, you should still be able to use FotoSketcher on your Mac, even if you have the latest Sierra. It is a little bit more convoluted than on El Capitan, due to security measures, but apparently it works. Follow the instructions here: http://www.imore.com/how-open-apps-unidentified-developers-mac

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousApril 18, 2017 at 6:50 PM

    Bonjour David, je possède un Mac et j'ai essayé de télécharger votre logiciel mais ça ne marche pas, je ne sais pas pourquoi.
    Avez-vous une explication ? Merci d'avance.
    Bruno

    ReplyDelete
  12. AnonymousApril 18, 2017 at 6:51 PM

    Bonjour David, je possède un Mac et j'ai essayé de télécharger votre logiciel mais ça ne marche pas, je ne sais pas pourquoi.
    Avez-vous une explication ? Merci d'avance.
    Bruno

    ReplyDelete
  13. DavidApril 18, 2017 at 6:56 PM

    Bonjour Bruno,
    Je n'ai pu tester que sur MacOS El Capitan, mais j'ai eu des retours d'utilisateurs qui comme vous n'ont pas pu faire fonctionner FotoSketcher. Si vous êtes sous MacOS Sierra, l'installation est un peu plus compliquée (voir http://www.imore.com/how-open-apps-unidentified-developers-mac).
    Je vais prochainement upgrader mon Mac virtuel en MacOS Sierra pour tester et je ferai un post détaillé.
    Cordialement,
    David

    ReplyDelete
  14. AnonymousApril 18, 2017 at 7:08 PM

    Merci David pour cette rapide réponse.
    C'est exactement mon cas donc j'attends votre prochain Poste.
    Bien à vous.
    Bruno

    ReplyDelete
  15. UnknownApril 26, 2017 at 12:52 AM

    David,

    Just to let you know that I tried to open the Foto Sketcher app in Sierra 10.12.4 Mac OS using the direction you provided link to in comments above.

    Unfortunately, it didn't work. Sigh!

    Any other help or comments would be appreciated. Thanks,
    Donna

    ReplyDelete
  16. DavidApril 26, 2017 at 4:53 PM

    Hi Donna,

    That's a shame :( On Sierra I was hoping that it would work fine.
    In order to investigate further, can you send me an e-mail at contact@fotosketcher.com with more details (error message if you get one, description of what happens, etc.)?

    Regards,

    David

    ReplyDelete
  17. UnknownMay 8, 2017 at 5:08 AM

    Hi David,
    really thanks to you for the FotoSketch's version for MAC, it's really useful.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Peter (BC)May 9, 2017 at 7:30 PM

    Salut David,

    Comment, plus de mises à jour et de nouveautés ?
    As-tu laissé tomber les adeptes du PC ?

    C'est une blague, car je sais que tu dois avoir les mains pleines avec le MAC :)

    Peter

    ReplyDelete
  19. DavidMay 10, 2017 at 12:06 PM

    Bonjour Peter,

    Promis, je ne laisse pas tomber la version PC :) Je suis d'ailleurs en train d'expérimenter avec un nouvel algorithme de simulation de coup de pinceau. Mais c'est vrai que la version Mac me prend du temps et aussi la version Android !

    Bien cordialement,

    David

    ReplyDelete
  20. SaharaMay 16, 2017 at 12:03 AM

    Great tool on the MAC; thank you!

    It is working perfectly on my MAC, and the renderings are awesome...

    You really ought to make this a commercial product; it does a far better job than any other software I have tried (many). The renderings are beautiful and look hand painted.

    ReplyDelete
  21. DavidMay 18, 2017 at 9:10 PM

    Thank you for your feedback and kind comment! I'm really glad that you could run FotoSketcher on your Mac and that you liked the results :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Ernst CatsJuly 29, 2017 at 10:20 PM

    Difficulty to use my creation: After saving the picture I cannot find the picture in Finder or another place.

    ReplyDelete
  23. DavidJuly 30, 2017 at 2:38 PM

    Hi,
    When saving your work (keyboard shortcut CTRL+S), FotoSketcher should ask you where you want to save your file. I just tested and saved to the desktop. It worked fine. If you still encounter problems (a bug is always possible!), you can try to copy (CTRL+C) your work and paste it in another program.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Alain POUGEOISESeptember 29, 2017 at 1:00 PM

    Does not work on MacOS X Sierra, even with Ctrl clic to open....

    ReplyDelete
  25. AnonymousNovember 29, 2017 at 1:23 PM

    The mac download works on Sierra. Used Davids advice from April 9th. If I find it useful I will donate. Thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. DavidNovember 29, 2017 at 3:14 PM

      That's great news, thank you for your feedback!

      Delete
  26. UnknownJanuary 4, 2018 at 6:03 PM

    Hi David. I have been using 1.4.1 on my Mac running OSX El Cap. It seems to work fine. Do I uninstall it before downloading this newest version?

    ReplyDelete
  27. DavidJanuary 5, 2018 at 3:51 PM

    Hi Jeri,
    There is no need to uninstall anything, you can just run the latest version.
    Regards,
    David

    ReplyDelete
  28. John MSMarch 13, 2018 at 1:03 AM

    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  29. Jim DemersApril 8, 2018 at 2:16 AM

    There's a real market for software that converts greyscale to line drawings: patent professionals get a lot of CAD drawings from inventors, and need to comply with patent office regulations calling for b&w line drawings.
    To the extent you can get "pencil sketch" to deliver clean lines and turn grey preferentially to white, you've got something you can easily sell. (Maybe add a 'technical drawing' mode?) Law firms and lawyers will pay pretty much whatever you decide to charge.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. DavidApril 8, 2018 at 6:40 PM

      Hi Jim, Thanks for your comment. I like the "technical drawing" idea, might even try a blueprint effect... Concerning the financial side of things, I want to keep FotoSketcher free. The monetization is just ads and donations, which helps pay for my hobby :)

      Delete
  30. Lori GeigerMay 8, 2018 at 7:17 PM

    Hi David,
    Thank you for this fun app! I am using it on a Mac using Sierra 10.12.6. It is so slow and clunky :0(
    Please, please, please make an updated version for Mac OS.
    Many thanks,
    Lori

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. DavidMay 8, 2018 at 7:27 PM

      Hi Lori,
      I am indeed currently working on a brand new multi-platform version of FotoSketcher. MacOS will be supported. In the meantime, you can try using smaller images (you can resize them in FotoSketcher) to reduce processing time.
      Regards,
      David

      Delete
    2. Lori GeigerMay 10, 2018 at 9:04 PM

      Thank you for all of your hard work and the suggestion! Will definitely have to buy you a coffee! ;0)

      Delete
    3. DavidMay 11, 2018 at 3:25 PM

      Thank you :)

      Delete
  31. UnknownMay 10, 2018 at 7:56 AM

    Hi David,
    Thank you for this app. I tried to use it, but the open a picture window can't show my folder, it looked like others computer. How can I import my picture to this?
    Regards,
    Sakina

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. DavidMay 10, 2018 at 1:27 PM

      Hi Sakina,
      There are two things you could try:
      - copy the image from another program to the clipboard and then paste in FotoSketcher.
      - if that fails you could also move the image you are trying to open to your desktop and open it from there.
      This version of FotoSketcher is very much experimental, and I will iron out these kind of bugs in the real MacOS version.
      Regards,
      David

      Delete
  32. SandeepwebNovember 1, 2019 at 10:52 AM

    Hello,


    This sounds like a great app. I downloaded it for my latest Mac Version, Catalina but the app simply won't open. Also, I would like to suggest that if you gave an option to make the photo conversions to sketches online, i.e. on your website, it'll be even better.

    All the best.

    ReplyDelete
  33. stevewongMay 24, 2020 at 3:42 PM

    Thanks for creating the software! However, I can confirm that it won't work in Catalina, even after sorting out the permissions thing.

    ReplyDelete
  34. DavidMay 24, 2020 at 5:18 PM

    Hi Steve,
    yes, I've looked into it and that is because MacOS Catalina no longer supports 32bit applications. Even though FotoSketcher does exist in 64bit for Windows, the Wine encapsulation is currently 32bit only.
    So FotoSketcher for Mac is usable only up to MacOS Mojave (tested and works OK).
    BTW, I've also recently purchased and installed Parallels Desktop on my Mac and FotoSketcher works like a charm with it.
    Cheers,
    David

    ReplyDelete
  35. Darcy GealeSeptember 20, 2020 at 12:05 PM

    Many years ago I used a similar product on Windows, today I use a Mac. Should I but Paralells or wait for the Mac version of your software?

    ReplyDelete
  36. DavidSeptember 20, 2020 at 2:35 PM

    Hi Darcy, if you are still on MacOS 10.14 Mojave, I will release very soon a compatible version. However, if you are already on 10.15 Catalina, you will need to use BootCamp, Parallels Desktop or CodeWeavers CrossOver. The latter is the cheapest option as it does not require to purchase a copy of MS Windows.

    ReplyDelete
  37. AnonymousDecember 6, 2021 at 5:41 PM

    Hi, is Fotosketcher available for current OS for Mac, I can't seem to make hot open or download?

    ReplyDelete