Bracketeer

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.

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.

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 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!

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. =)