Experimenting with mosaics

 

Having fun with scripts

Hi all,

I am currently experimenting with different scripts. I will share them here on my blog and will also write a tutorial to help you create your own.

Stay tuned!

FotoSketcher Studio 4.20: corrected version now available 🪲

Hello everyone,

A corrected version of FotoSketcher Studio 4.20 is now available from the same download link at https://fotosketcher.com/download-fotosketcher/
If you downloaded version 4.20 yesterday, please re-download and re-install - the installer will cleanly update your existing installation.

What was the bug?

Some users experienced a crash (the famous"Access Violation" error message) when changing the application language, or sometimes when closing the program after a language change. The error did not happen for everyone, which made it trickier to track down.

What caused it?

FotoSketcher uses a scrolling text animation for labels that are too long to fit in their space. When switching languages, the program updated the label texts while some of them were still inside the containers used for this animation. On certain system configurations, these containers were not yet fully initialized at that point, causing the crash. The fix was to properly clean up the animations before updating any text.

Why didn't I catch this during testing?

On my development machine, the timing was always just right and everything was initialized by the time I switched languages. On other machines - different graphics drivers, screen scaling, or just different timing - it was not. A good reminder that "works on my PC" is never quite good enough!

Thank you

A huge thank you to David Garcia, who not only reported the bug within minutes of the release but also went above and beyond by exchanging emails with me late into the night, testing multiple debug builds, and helping me pinpoint the exact conditions that triggered the crash. His fast and thorough feedback was absolutely essential in getting this resolved so quickly.

Thank you also to Jack and everyone else who took the time to test the beta versions and the release. Thank you also to Roberto who corrected some mistakes I had made in the Italian translation. Your feedback and kind words mean a lot, and they really help make FotoSketcher better with each update.

Now, time to get some well deserved rest before the next round of improvements.

Happy sketching!

FotoSketcher Studio 4.20: A major release is officially here!

Hello everyone,

I am very happy to announce that FotoSketcher version 4.20 is now available for download. A big thank you to everyone who tested the beta version and provided such helpful feedback. Let's be blunt, I am quite proud of the new tools and improvements in this update. Hopefully I did not introduce too many new bugs...🤞

Here is a breakdown of what is new in this release:

- Three new effects As some of you requested, I have ported two classic effects from the old Windows-only 3.98 version: Watercolor 2 and Brushstrokes 2. I have also added a completely new Comic print effect, which is great for giving your photos a classic graphic novel look.

- Advanced Scripting and Batch Mode The new Script Editor is fully up and running. It allows you to write custom scripts to apply a specific sequence of effects. To help you get started, a reference sheet is included, along with a ready-to-use default script straight out of the box that combines three different watercolor renderings. Best of all, the script engine is fully compatible with batch mode, meaning you can apply your custom sequences to an entire folder of images automatically.

- History Gallery Upgrades I have added a new circular magnifying glass preview for the history gallery. This makes it much easier to inspect the fine details of your different image versions before saving. You can also now set any image directly from a thumbnail in the history gallery as your new source or result image, giving you a lot more versatility in your workflow.

- Menu and Workflow Additions The main menu is now more complete. I have added a "Combine source/result" option (F11) to easily merge or blend your images, and a convenient "Check for update" function directly in the menu so you can easily stay on the latest version.

Other improvements

• The Watercolor 1 effect now works much better when the "Erase background" option is deselected.

• After weeding out the last few bugs, this version also includes various UI tweaks and stability improvements under the hood.

You can download FotoSketcher Studio 4.20 for free here (Windows and MacOS): https://fotosketcher.com/download-fotosketcher/ 

I want to sincerely thank everyone who continues to support the project. Whether you test early versions, share your artwork, or support the software with a donation, it is always greatly appreciated and helps keep FotoSketcher completely free.

Have fun with the new version! 

FotoSketcher 4.20 beta 2 now available

Hi all,

A new beta is available for testing. You can download it here: https://fotosketcher.com/beta/FotoSketcher_4.20_beta2.zip

I've corrected some UI issues when the height of the main form was too small to accomodate all components and have added a comprehensive reference sheet for the new script engine.

Have fun!

FotoSketcher 4.20 Beta 1 now available for testing

Hello everyone,

I am happy to announce that a beta version of the upcoming FotoSketcher 4.20 is now ready for testing. I've been working on porting some missing features from the older versions and adding a few new tools, and I would love to get your feedback before the official release.

Here is a summary of what is new in version 4.20:

• Three new effects: As mentioned in my previous post, I have ported two classic effects from the old Windows-only 3.98 version: Watercolor 2 and Brushstrokes 2. I have also added a brand new Comic print effect.

• Magnifying glass preview: I've added a completely new, circular magnifying glass preview for the history gallery (you can see it in the screenshot below on the bottom left). This should make it much easier to inspect the fine details of your different image versions.

• Expanded menu: The main menu is now more complete. I have added "Combine source/result" (F11) and a "Check for update" option directly in the menu.

• Script engine & Batch mode: The new advanced Script Editor is up and running. To help you get started, it includes a default script straight out of the box that you can try right away, which combines three different watercolor renderings. The script engine is also fully compatible with batch mode, meaning you can write your own custom scripts and apply a specific sequence of effects to an entire folder of images automatically.

• UI improvements and bug fixes: As always, this version includes various UI tweaks and fixes under the hood.

Since this is a beta version, there may still be a few bugs hiding! If you would like to help test it, you can download the beta release here:

https://fotosketcher.com/beta/FotoSketcher_4.20_beta1.zip

Please let me know if you encounter any issues by leaving a comment below or sending me an email (contact@fotosketcher.com), so I can fix them before the final release.

I want to sincerely thank everyone who takes the time to test these early versions and provide feedback. I also want to thank those of you who support the project with a donation via PayPal or on Patreon - it is greatly appreciated and helps me keep FotoSketcher completely free for everyone.

Happy testing!

A Quick Look at the Upcoming FotoSketcher 4.20

Hi everyone,

I'm currently working on the next update, FotoSketcher 4.20, and I wanted to share a brief preview of what's coming. This version brings back a few familiar features and introduces some workflow improvements.

Bringing Back Classic Effects I am currently porting some of the last missing painting effects that were previously only available in FotoSketcher 3.98 (Windows-only) . While bringing them over, I've also made a few under-the-hood improvements to refine the results.

New Comicbook Print Effect Version 4.20 introduces a new comicbook print effect, which gives your photos a classic, halftone graphic novel look.

Advanced Script Mode For users who want more control over their processing, I am adding a new Advanced Script Mode. This will allow you to chain effects, combine images, add textures and frames, and more...

Batch Mode Integration To make the new script mode as useful as possible, I've made it fully compatible with Batch Mode. You will be able to build a custom script and run it automatically across an entire folder of images.

I'm currently putting the finishing touches on the code and fixing a few remaining bugs, but version 4.20 should be ready to download soon ;)

Thank you as always for your continued support and feedback.

Stay tuned!

All the best,

David

FotoSketcher Studio 4.10 is now available!

Hi everyone,

I'm happy to announce the official release of FotoSketcher Studio version 4.10 for Windows and macOS!

First of all, a huge thank you to everyone who tested Beta 1 and Beta 2 and took the time to report bugs and share feedback. Your help was invaluable in shaping this release.

Version 4.10 is focused on bringing back a much-requested feature, adding some creative tools, and improving the overall stability of the application - especially on macOS, where some of you experienced freezes after the 4.0 launch.

Made with FotoSketcher 4.10 — original photo credit: Craig Adderley on pexels.com

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What's new in version 4.10

• Batch Processing is Back: By popular demand, you can once again apply your favorite artistic effects to multiple images simultaneously. Access the batch mode window simply by pressing CTRL+B, select your images, choose your effect and parameters, and let FotoSketcher do the rest.
• Two New Photo Effects: Vintage Sepia and Retro Film effects - perfect for giving your photos that classic, timeless look or a nostalgic old-school film vibe.
• Expanded Language Support: The interface now includes 14 different languages and features automatic system language detection at startup - FotoSketcher will automatically match your operating system's language. To change languages press CTRL+L.
• Manual Brush Panning: Navigating your canvas while using the manual brush is now possible. Just hold CTRL + Left Mouse Button to click and drag to pan around your image.
• UI & Performance Enhancements: The user interface has been refined for a cleaner look and smoother experience. Updates include larger buttons, a bigger preview window, a new photo frame, and overall improved stability.
• Bug Fixes: I've resolved a number of underlying issues, including the frustrating app freeze that some of you experienced after the splashscreen in version 4.0. The entire launch sequence has been reworked to eliminate this problem. I also fixed specific issues with the preview window and the text tool. The macOS version in particular has received a lot of attention, with fixes for focus and window activation.

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Download (100% free)

Windows and macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel): https://fotosketcher.com/download-fotosketcher/

Both versions are digitally signed.

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A note of thanks

FotoSketcher Studio is and will remain free. If you enjoy using it and would like to support its development, you can always buy me a coffee ☕ - it is appreciated but never expected.

As always, please feel free to let me know what you think, and don't hesitate to report any bugs you might find.

Happy painting!

David 

FotoSketcher 4.10 Beta 2 is now available

Hi everyone,

I am pleased to announce that FotoSketcher version 4.10 Beta 2 is ready for download.

Thank you all for your continued support and for testing the previous beta. I've been listening to your feedback and working on bringing back some familiar features, as well as adding a few new things to improve your workflow.

Here is what is new in version 4.10 Beta 2:

• Batch processing is back: By popular demand, the batch processing feature has returned. You can now easily apply your favorite artistic effects to multiple images at once. Simply press CTRL+B to bring up the batch mode window.
• Improved photo effects: I have added two new and improved photo effects for you to try: Vintage Sepia and Retro Film.
• 14 languages included: Thanks to recent localization updates, the FotoSketcher interface is now available in 14 different languages.
• Panning in manual brush mode: For those of you who use the manual brush, you can now pan around your image more easily. Just hold down CTRL + left mouse button to click and drag your canvas.
• UI improvements: I’ve also included several user interface tweaks and under-the-hood adjustments to make the software look a bit cleaner and run smoothly (larger buttons, bigger preview window, a new frame, etc.).

As always, since this is a beta release, your feedback is very welcome. Please let me know how these updates are working for you, and feel free to report any bugs you might come across.

You can download the new beta (for Windows) here: https://fotosketcher.com/beta/FotoSketcher_4.10_beta2.zip

Happy FotoSketching!

David

A Quick Update: FotoSketcher 4.10 Beta is in the works

Hi everyone,

I’m currently working on the next update for FotoSketcher, and I wanted to give you a quick sneak peek at what’s coming in version 4.10 (currently in beta).

First and foremost, thank you for your feedback following the launch of version 4.0. Some of you reported a frustrating issue where the app would occasionally freeze right after the splashscreen. To tackle this, I’ve completely reworked the launch sequence. Hopefully, this new startup process will eliminate the freezing and get you into the app smoothly🤞

Alongside the under-the-hood fixes, I’m also adding a few additions and improvements:

• Two New Photo Lab Effects: I’m introducing a Vintage Sepia effect for that classic, timeless look, as well as a Retro Film effect to give your photos that nostalgic, old-school color film vibe.

• UI Improvements: I’ve made some interface tweaks to make the app more user-friendly, specifically improving the Manual Brush tool and updating the Resize Dialog for a smoother workflow.

I'm still working on this beta and running tests, but if you've been hit by the app freeze bug in version 4.0, here is a download link to FotoSketcher 4.10 beta 1 for Windows (just unzip and run): https://fotosketcher.com/beta/FotoSketcher_4.10_beta1.zip  

Thank you as always for your bug reports, your feedback, and your support!

Best regards,

David