Bracketeer for Mac4.4.1

You can't say that you're not creating an HDR image with this app (developer summary). Merging bracketed exposures to create a picture with enhanced shadowed areas and lighter areas that aren't washed out is by definition creating an HDR (high dynamic range image). Would be nice if you knew what the term you're throwing around meant since you're marketing to photo hobbyists and professionals who do. That said, you're probably thinking about tone mapping, which exaggerates colors and contrast in images. I haven't downloaded your software, but the screenshot you used looks very tone mapped to me. Before anyone corrects me, it's just my opinion, which you can take or leave. I'm not talking about the fake cloud/smoke over the image, I'm talking about the underlying image.

It interface looks good. However, the program frequently dies. Quickest way: 1. Drag the 3 sample images into the program 2. turn off then on then off the checkbox for the 2nd image (probably doesn't matter which one). This is just one way of getting this error. It seems to happen on changing nearly any control. My guess is that it is calling Enfuse multiple times and it can't handle it. I'm using Snow Leopard on a 4 month old iMac, not sure if the new OS has something to do with it. ImageFuser seems to be rock-stable by comparison, but the GUI doesn't have some of the nice touches of Bracketeer (like click on a thumb to see full image, hover to see name), and is a little more complex. Then again, it does give you more setting to tweak your final image.

Great straightforward software. The HDR that Bracketeer produces is what you want to see (if you are aiming for gorgeous but realistic HDR). If you want plasticy, fake hideous HDR you'll need Photomatix or Hydra. The interface is really well sorted and minimalist - as a good Apple application should be. Works great in Aperture. In short, together with PTTools for lens correction, Bracketeer is my best photo processing purchase.

To get Bracketeer to work, it must be specifically installed or copied into an applications folder, not just any folder. If you put it in another folder, it lets you import one graphic, then it freezes and returns an effuse error upon trying to add the 2nd grahic. Recommendation: Add this, as a warning, in instruction manual, or, fix the software so it can be installed into any folder. Get a new beta tester, any good beta tester would have caught that on the first day.

@ 4TFRED: sounds for me as if you should do either or both of the following - delete the app's prefs file - rebuild the desktop with Disk Warrior and then try again

I purchased Bracketeer, ran it a couple times on the trial which seemed to work OK, then installed the key to unlock. It has never worked properly since. Hangs up. I have tried to email the author...got no reply!!! Downloaded the new, latest update, still opens but hangs up, not loading the images with either "import... or in batch" Not with tif, raw or other file types!!

I've been reading about noise reduction software and given the random nature of noise I tried enfusing 6 different shots - but identical compositions - taken with a tripod. Sure enough noise- partcularly chroma - was greatly reduced and detail was retained. yet another use from what seems to be a very nice program.

I have to say, I found this app to be amazing. With default options, you can drop in 3-5 bracketed shots and it looks great! Mess with the settings (especially sigma and hard mask) and you can get some really dramatic and creative effects. Well worth the $30, this blows away some of the competitors. Hydra is $60, and given the same photos I fed into Bracketeer, it did a pretty bad job on cranking out a good looking result. Good stuff!

I just began using this, but it couldn't have been easier. I dropped my pics and clicked Enfuse and less than a minute I have finished copy. And it looked GREAT! I used all the default values, but I expect I'll be playing and tweaking with those shortly. The price was great and getting a free program, panopreviewer, is classy touch. Thanks Pangea!

It seems like its really nice but when i go to enfuse it just hangs. I've tried with 2 different sets of 3 tifs. It loads up... i see the preview.... then hit enfuse but it takes about over 5 minutes to generate the enfused composition in demo mode. That doesn't really make me wanna buy it. Thats way to long to wait! I'm using a brand new iMac with 4gb of ram... shouldn't be having this kind of lag.

So, I went out and took some bracketed shots, most of them quite boring in their nature. Tried out both Photomatix and Bracketeer. I was amazed. Mostly so by Bracketeer. It has less controls than Photomatix, but yields much better results right out of the box at default settings, and at 1/3'rd of the price of Photomatix. Just bought it, and look forward to feeding it some worthy material;-) Thumbs up to the developer for building on good open source and providing a fair deal. Thumbs up! I do wish the window could be maximized though, which I was told by the developer, will be incorporated in the next major update. I hope sooner than later, even though it isn't a dealbreaker.

Installed this to have a look at HDR, and was amazed by the interface. Looks like a million bucks;-) Now, I can't wait to get out and shoot some bracketed image files on my lovely Sigma cameras. Will be back with a review once the results have been created, and the app tested. PS: I'm very delighted to see a developer doing such a fine job, at a decent price. I hope he will sell lots of licenses for this software. It sure is affordable, which makes the barrier of purchase minimal. =)