FotoSketcher 2.99 is officially released :-)

Hi all!

FotoSketcher 2.99 is now officially available for download. As always, FotoSketcher is 100% free for personal or commercial use.

Head to http://www.fotosketcher.com/download-fotosketcher/ to get either the full version (with setup and uninstall) or the portable version.

Here are the main changes in this release:
- addition of a new zoom function for the preview window, which allows you to test an effect on a larger portion of your source image
- correction of a few bugs, most importantly the impossibility in the text tool to add the letters "r" or "l"
- some user interface improvements
 

 

original photo credits: viljack yan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/112329597@N06/14501936936)

Enjoy!

All the best,

David

P.S. If you like FotoSketcher and feel generous, don't hesitate to fuel my cafeine addiction by buying me a nice cup of coffee (I drink tea too!).

New preview zoom feature - sneak peek ***updated***

Hi all,

Just a quick word to let you know that I'm currently working on a new feature, which many of you have asked for: a zooming function for the preview window.

Here is an early screenshot:

This will allow you to get a preview of the current effect over a larger portion of the source image.

5th october 2014 update: 
The new zooming function is now finished and works. It allows you to zoom from 10% to 100% in the preview window. However, I still need to make a few modifications to some of the effects, as previewing at 10% zoom means processing a 2000x2000 pixel area (the preview window is 200x200 pixels) which can be slow for some effects. Sometimes FotoSketcher will be unresponsive during previewing, so I need to address this issue.
BTW, I have also corrected a small bug which prevents users from typing the letters 'r' or 'l' in the text tool.

Best regards,

David

FotoSketcher 2.96 is officially released.

Hi all!

FotoSketcher 2.96 is now officially available for download. As usual, FotoSketcher is 100% free for personal or commercial use.

Head to http://www.fotosketcher.com/download-fotosketcher/ to get either the full version (with setup and uninstall) or the portable version.

This release corrects a few visual glitches (mainly on menus) and improves the user interface.
A new feature has also been introduced; the ability to double the maximum size of brushstrokes in Painting 7 (thanks to FS user Marco for his suggestion) as shown below:

Here is an example made in FotoSketcher 2.96 (Painting 7 with larger brushstrokes + Painting 9):

Enjoy ;)

Best regards,

David

FotoSketcher 2.96 beta available - bug fix and more *** updated ***

Hi all,

Some users have reported a visual bug in version 2.95 (the skinned menus would flicker a lot).
I have completely rewritten all menus and the problem is now hopefully gone.
If you were experiencing the visual glitch in 2.95, here is a beta version for you to try: http://www.fotosketcher.com/FotoSketcher_2.96_beta2.exe

Can you let me know if it works OK for you?

*** 8th september update *** beta2 is available (link above is updated) which solves a few cosmetic problems, and also adds a new "X 2" button for Painting 7 (brushstrokes), which doubles the maximum brush size. This is useful for large images to retain a painterly look. Beware, this can be computer-intensive!

 

Best regards,

David

FotoSketcher 2.95 is officially released. 100% free as always.

Hi all!

FotoSketcher 2.95 is now officially available for download. As usual, FotoSketcher is 100% free for personal or commercial use.

Head to http://www.fotosketcher.com/download-fotosketcher/ to get either the full version (with setup and uninstall) or the portable version.

Here are the new features and changes in this release:

• skinned menus for all three themes (tip: press the INS key to cycle through the interface themes)
• added a new check box to double the size of the manual brush (useful for high resolution images, when the max size was too small)

screenshot: 

• a couple of bug fixes : 
• the most important bug fix concerns Windows Vista users who were sometimes getting a cryptic error message in French "Index de liste hors limite (-1)". Hopefully this is now solved.
• the popup menu was showing incorrectly in the scripts window

• some corrections to the Korean language files (thanks JaeHyung)

Regarding scripts (tip: press F5 to bring up the scripts window), here is a watercolor script which uses the Painting 9 and Painting 1 effects: http://www.fotosketcher.com/watercolor_script.fss (right-click this link and choose "save the target as...").

Here is an example produced with FotoSketcher 2.95 (Painting 9, then Painting 1 on the sky area, using the manual brush):

 

Welsh countryside - summer 2013

Have fun!

David
 

FotoSketcher 2.95 early beta available for testing ***updated beta #2 available***

Hi,

I've just uploaded an early preview of FotoSketcher 2.95.

There are a few cosmetic adjustments, some tweaks (e.g. to the Painting 9 effect), a new check box to double the size of the manual brush (useful on large pictures) and a couple of bug fixes.

The most important bug fix concerns Windows Vista users who were sometimes getting a cryptic error message in French "Index de liste hors limite (-1)".

Here is the download link if you are brave enough to test this early beta version: http://www.fotosketcher.com/FotoSketcher_2.95_beta2.exe

Here is a painting made from a photo of my hometown, Lyon (or Lyons in English):

Best regards,

David 

FotoSketcher 2.90 is officially released. 100% free as always.

Hi!

FotoSketcher 2.90 is now officially available for download. As usual, FotoSketcher is 100% free for personal or commercial use.

Head to http://www.fotosketcher.com/download-fotosketcher/ to get either the full version (with setup and uninstall) or the portable version.

Here are the new features and changes in this release:

• New Painting 9 (watercolor) effect
• Automatic check for update can be disabled manually (replace True by False in the last line of the FotoSketcher.ini file)
• Added stronger error checking to prevent FotoSketcher from becoming unresponsive when trying to reach a non existent directory (for instance on a removed flash drive)
• Updated some code for scripts and batch mode
• A few small bug fixes (new bugs always crop up...)
• Corrected the Korean language file

A special thank you to users Matthew and Ruth for their help in finding a nasty bug in the early beta version ;-)

Here is an example of the new Painting 9 effect (click on image for full view):

 Original image credits: Nicolas Raymond http://www.stockvault.net/photo/138295/mont-saint-michel

And these were the parameters used:

Enjoy :)

Best regards,

David

P.S. If you like FotoSketcher and feel generous, don't hesitate to fuel my cafeine addiction by buying me a nice cup of coffee (I drink tea too!).

Beta version of FotoSketcher 2.90 available for testing (updated)

Hi all,

FotoSketcher 2.90 is almost ready for release and if you wish to test the new painting effect (Painting 9), you can download a fully functional beta version here: http://www.fotosketcher.com/FotoSketcher_2.90_beta3.exe

Here is an example of the new effect (click on image for full view):

 Original photo credit: Alexander Steinhof (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bagger2009/3928050781)

Have fun ;)

All the best,

David
 

Working on a new painting effect (FotoSketcher 2.90)

Hi all,

Just a quick update to let you know that I'm currently working on a brand new painting effect. It's early days yet, but I'll keep you posted when a beta version is available.
This effect is based on a new segmentation algorithm. I've tried to create a loose style (with transparency) in order to emulate a watercolour.

Here is an example (click for larger view):

I hope you like it :)

All the best,

David

FotoSketcher 2.85 is released

Hi all!

I've just released a new version of FotoSketcher. This is mainly a maintenance release, but I suggest you upgrade to make sure you don't encounter any problems. As usual, go to the official download page here: http://www.fotosketcher.com/download-fotosketcher/


These are the new features in version 2.85:
- Fixed a nasty (and stupid) bug in Batch processing mode (CTRL+B) which could cause a complete program freeze when used with some effects (thanks Dmitry!)
- Added a new language: Korean (or Hangul). Thank you to user JaeHyung for his translation :)
- Added an automatic check for update

Original photo credit: Nicolas Raymond - http://www.stockvault.net/photo/138295/mont-saint-michel

Enjoy!

David