This German developer has been repeatedly criticized in its past giveaways for the wholly unnecessary pre-use rigmarole it expects a new user to undergo. Nothing has changed: it continues to give the unfortunate appearance of being as much interested in personal data harvesting as in software publishing.

Today's promotion of a $69 stripped-out version of an out-dated $99 full version that has now been replaced by a new $69 full version:

https://www.projects-software.com/color/color-projects-4

https://www.projects-software.com/color

is no different. A succession of time-wasting install requirements -- none of which are required by 99% of other developers partnering with GOTD -- eventually leads to an account registration screen reflective of the developer's hope of acquiring the user's name, address, zip code, phone number and date of birth. T

These, of course, are not mandatory, so should be ignored, though in my case the temptation of the birthday data field was too great to resist, as a result of which I am very possibly Franzis's first 105-year-old customer.

Having lost track of the flurry of emails involved in this massively elongated install process, I finally (!) managed to acquire the user ID and registration code, complete the installation, activate the darn thing by inputting the license code yet again (why?) and at last, at long last, get to grips with Color Projects 4 Elements.

First point to make is that, as the first link (above) demonstrates, this version won't suit photographers who shoot RAW. That particular facility is one of the 10 removed from the 14 available in the full version. Next point to make is that the full version of projects 4 is available for $99 whereas its replacement full version, projects 5, is $30 cheaper. Go figure. What that means is that re-install of today's software is of academic interest: no-one is going to pay $69 for 'Elements' when the full Projects 5 is the same price.

The re-sizable Elements GUI is pretty much standard-dark but easy to use nevertheless. Context sensitive controls are of help, though the labeling is downright odd: I've never seen any image management software from any other developer that buries a control as essential as 'Settings' in a menu identified as 'Extras'.

On the upside, however, the settings are useful (default is TIFF, but jpeg output can be adjusted to 100%) and -- kudos to Franzis here -- the download includes a 32-page User Manual pdf that's nicely put together and is well worth reading.

Also worthy of mention is that the "News" icon flags up a giveaway of the developer's 'PhotoBuzzer', product details of which are to be found on the Franzis website. It may be of interest.

Drag 'n drop makes image importing easy, whilst the GUI's configuration makes for easy processing: a variety of pre-sets are arranged in vertical order to the left, with optional user controls to the right -- 'optional', but in fact necessary, because simply choosing a pre-set and letting it go at that is not to be recommended, the pre-sets by their nature tending either to be too harsh, too bright, too simple, or too silly.

Whereas, for example, other software of this type features control sliders within each pre-set to adjust the effect's intensity -- Luminar is a good example of this -- Franzis instead provides a righthand 'optimization' panel with sliders for Tonal Value, Clarity, and 'Dynamic'. The software also allows a combination of the lefthand pre-sets to be used; again, this is useful, providing that the righthand sliders are deployed.

I chucked a number of 'dull' images at it where contrast was muted and colors subdued because of a featureless gray sky but by playing around with the pre-sets and sliders was able to achieve significant visual improvements. As ever and always with this type of software though, a light touch is recommended: err always on the conservative, not the extreme (unless deliberately seeking an output image of perceptible distortion.)

It's also important to save the processed image to a location other than the original folder to preclude the risk of permanent over-write: I simply saved to desktop, choosing the 8-bit standard jpeg format from an options list that also includes 8-bit TIFF and 16-bit TIFF, PNG and jpeg.

Verdict: Franzis does itself no good at all with the silly hoopla of its installation and registration process. Even though this Elements version is pretty basic compared to the full version, it works well and is easy to use. At least half of the pre-sets are superfluous, but that's always the way with this kind of product.

It won't suit advanced photographers looking for more sophisticated processing software, nor those looking for a fuss-free correction of image blemishes as the controls for this are noticeably cumbersome. But for quick 'n easy processing, it's to be recommended -- even though the anything but quick 'n easy registration process cannot be.

MikeR  –  5 years ago  –  A fost util acest comentariu? da | nu (+90)

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MikeR,
thanks for a clear, factual review. All in wonderfully clear English......so rare these days.
Reminded me of GOTD website of a few years ago.

MikeR, thanks for a clear, factual review. All in wonderfully clear English......so rare these days. Reminded me of GOTD website of a few years ago.
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ceegee  –  5 years ago  –  A fost util acest comentariu? da | nu (+20)

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MikeR,

Purely FWIW, I think Franzis is a somewhat large company, judging by their German-only site, that's been really, Really slow developing their English Projects site, & for whatever reason has never bothered to improve their excruciating process for giveaways. Guess they figure it's free, so let them suffer. Whatever...

In contrast if you do buy their apps, that process works as expected, & *in my experience* anyway, they're lenient when it comes to the reduced upgrade pricing, not verifying that you do have an older or lesser version already. And they occasionally do have very good pricing in their e-mail promos -- not always, but every once in a while. You *might* also find that a sale price is low enough to tip the scale in their favor, despite a competing app's better performance &/or features. While some Franzis apps are Very good, I've never seen any of their software receiving Best ranking in reviews.

Franzis giveaways come in their own wrapper [in addition to any GOTD wrapper if/when present], so I usually save the actual installation or setup file from the User Temp folder. The apps that Franzis develops -- they sell some that are developed by others -- are light weight as far as installation goes... I've found I can just copy the installed program's folder from one Windows install to the next, registering it when I 1st run the program, & it adds the required files & folders to the User folders as needed. I've also found that it often works best to copy the plug-ins to the program's folder, then place a shortcut to those plug-ins in an image editor's plug-in folder.

I've never used any Franzis app except as a plug-in -- it's not that the software doesn't work, but rather the parts that don't have to do with whatever FX the app provides just aren't up to snuff IMHO. For me that includes using Any of their apps with RAW images -- again IMHO, if you shoot RAW images for the advantages they provide, not just because you can, you're crippling yourself if you don't use a good RAW image processing app like Lightroom or DxO, where you're actually controlling how the raw sensor data is turned into an image... otherwise you're just placing a bet that the software will do a better job automatically producing an image than your camera, which after all is tuned to the camera's physical & electronic characteristics, vs. software's [by necessity] generic approach.

MikeR, Purely FWIW, I think Franzis is a somewhat large company, judging by their German-only site, that's been really, Really slow developing their English Projects site, & for whatever reason has never bothered to improve their excruciating process for giveaways. Guess they figure it's free, so let them suffer. Whatever... In contrast if you do buy their apps, that process works as expected, & *in my experience* anyway, they're lenient when it comes to the reduced upgrade pricing, not verifying that you do have an older or lesser version already. And they occasionally do have very good pricing in their e-mail promos -- not always, but every once in a while. You *might* also find that a sale price is low enough to tip the scale in their favor, despite a competing app's better performance &/or features. While some Franzis apps are Very good, I've never seen any of their software receiving Best ranking in reviews. Franzis giveaways come in their own wrapper [in addition to any GOTD wrapper if/when present], so I usually save the actual installation or setup file from the User Temp folder. The apps that Franzis develops -- they sell some that are developed by others -- are light weight as far as installation goes... I've found I can just copy the installed program's folder from one Windows install to the next, registering it when I 1st run the program, & it adds the required files & folders to the User folders as needed. I've also found that it often works best to copy the plug-ins to the program's folder, then place a shortcut to those plug-ins in an image editor's plug-in folder. I've never used any Franzis app except as a plug-in -- it's not that the software doesn't work, but rather the parts that don't have to do with whatever FX the app provides just aren't up to snuff IMHO. For me that includes using Any of their apps with RAW images -- again IMHO, if you shoot RAW images for the advantages they provide, not just because you can, you're crippling yourself if you don't use a good RAW image processing app like Lightroom or DxO, where you're actually controlling how the raw sensor data is turned into an image... otherwise you're just placing a bet that the software will do a better job automatically producing an image than your camera, which after all is tuned to the camera's physical & electronic characteristics, vs. software's [by necessity] generic approach.
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mike  –  5 years ago  –  A fost util acest comentariu? da | nu (+13)

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PHOTO WORKS Projects version 3 was offered here in November 2016
https://www.giveawayoftheday.com/photo-works-projects-3/

Why am I saying that? Because PHOTO WORKS Projects and COLOR Projects are one single program.

I had once the opportunity to directly ask a Franzis guy some clarification about their incomprehensible naming policy, which he explained to me as an "experiment".

If I understood him correctly, versions 1.xxx (2.xxx ?) are called COLOR Projects, versions 3.xxx are called PHOTO WORKS Projects or just PHOTO Projects, versions 4.xxx onwards are called COLOR Projects again. Voilà, you know as much as I do. Incidentally, Franzis B&W Projects/Silver Projects: same thing! But he promised me: no more "experiments" of the sort.

This "experiment" was only in the name, the numbering went on seamlessly, but you might want to keep both versions, as last time, the full version 3 was offered, and this time it is only "Elements". Nothing easier, as COLOR Projects naturally installs beside PHOTO WORKS Projects. I could subsequently do a thorough uninstall (with Soft Organizer) of PHOTO WORKS Projects without damaging COLOR Projects but, just in case, I would recommend that if you uninstall PHOTO WORKS Projects with COLOR Projects already installed, you do it during this giveaway, so that you can reinstall a damaged COLOR Projects if necessary.

This will help you make up your mind:

https://www.projects-software.com/color/comparison

ATTENTION: if we are to believe this comparison chart, there is no selective editing tool in the version offered today (COLOR Projects Elements) contrary to what is advertised above. (I can't say, as I have the full version).

Admittedly, Franzis doesn't offer us the most straightforward installation/registration process, but if you are already registered on their site, you will be spared a few steps. If it can help:

1/ On the registration page, if you can't find a button to click, scroll down;

2/ If you don't read carefully their last email (yes, there might be several), you are likely to come and complain here that, to activate the program, you are asked a serial number which you never received. Hint: just re-enter the registration code you needed to start the installation. Same code under two different names - another "experiment".

This is my favourite Franzis program offered on GOTD, the most polyvalent. ANALOG Projects is for ageing your photos, B&W Projects is...yes... to convert them into B&W, HDR Projects requires that you shoot them in bracketing series, so it is not for everybody, but COLOR Projects will enhance and embellish all photos.

To keep this post to a decent length, rather than copy and paste, I will refer you to my comment about Franzis ANALOG Projects if you want some clues about the interface, as most Franzis programs share the same one.

https://www.giveawayoftheday.com/analog-projects-3/ (post #4)

ouialaraison  –  5 years ago  –  A fost util acest comentariu? da | nu (+37)

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AR, as version 1 is very old, Franzis doesn't include it anymore in its comparison chart. I once had it too, but I uninstalled it when Photo Works 3 was offered here. If I remember well, the "pro" was meaningless, and version 3 was better. Check the number of presets it has, if it is more than 90 (as today's "Element" version), it might be worth having them both, or at least comparing them on your PC.

AR, as version 1 is very old, Franzis doesn't include it anymore in its comparison chart. I once had it too, but I uninstalled it when Photo Works 3 was offered here. If I remember well, the "pro" was meaningless, and version 3 was better. Check the number of presets it has, if it is more than 90 (as today's "Element" version), it might be worth having them both, or at least comparing them on your PC.
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ouialaraison  –  5 years ago  –  A fost util acest comentariu? da | nu (+9)

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