FotoSketcher 4.0 Beta 1 is here (Windows & macOS)!

Hello everyone,

I have some very exciting news to share today! After months of hard work and development, I am thrilled to finally announce the release of the first Beta version of FotoSketcher 4.0.

This is a huge milestone because, for the first time, FotoSketcher is truly cross-platform. Whether you are running Windows or using a Mac with Apple Silicon (Intel Mac will be supported at a later date), you can now run the latest version of the program.

Since this is a Beta 1 release, there are bound to be a few rough edges. As usual, I am counting on you to give it a try and let me know if you encounter any bugs or issues. 
Your feedback is incredibly valuable to help me polish this version for the final release.

You can download the beta versions here:

• Windows: https://fotosketcher.com/beta/FotoSketcher_Windows.zip

• macOS (Apple Silicon): https://fotosketcher.com/beta/FotoSketcher_MacOS.zip

Thank you all for your continued patience and support. I really hope you enjoy experimenting with this new version!

Best regards,

David

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P.S. Quick installation tip:

Since these are portable versions (no installer needed), here is how to get started:

• For Windows: Right-click the downloaded .zip file, select Extract All..., and save it to a folder of your choice. Then, simply open the folder and double-click FotoSketcher.exe to launch the program.

• For macOS: Double-click the .zip file to unzip it. You can then drag the FotoSketcher app to your Applications folder or run it directly.

  • Note: If you see a warning that the app "cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified," don't panic! Just Control-click (or Right-click) the app icon, select Open from the menu, and click Open again in the dialog box.

 

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FotoSketcher MacOS and Windows: Progress Report & Beta News

Here is a quick progress report as I move closer to the next major milestone: the Beta release!

I am happy to report that Painting 8 has been successfully improved and ported to the new platform. To date, the development version of FotoSketcher includes:

• 11 Artistic Effects: 3 Pencil Sketch, 3 Pen & Ink, and 5 Painting effects.
• 2 Photo Filters: Orton and Vibrance/Sharpen.

 

New Features Finalized

I have also wrapped up work on several essential tools:

• Full menu system & clipboard support.
• Drag-and-drop functionality for source images.
• Text and Frame tools (including custom frame loading).
• Texture loading and application.
• Printing support.
• Split view mode (Source on the left, Result on the right).
• Crop, rotate, and "Use result as source" (F12).

Technical Updates

• Transparency: Alpha channel support is now active for most effects.
• Custom Brushes: Brushstroke-based effects now support loading custom brushes (transparent PNG images, usually converted from Photoshop .abr files).

Next Steps Before Beta Launch

Before releasing the public beta for Windows and macOS, I am focusing on:

• Minor UI improvements.
• Better thread management (to prevent concurrent processing issues).
• General stability improvements.

The Roadmap Ahead

Looking further into the future, my roadmap includes layer management (merging effects), scripting support, new effects, and a new mobile UI for potential iOS and Android ports.

Stay tuned for exciting updates in the near future! :)