Anyone used Blow Up by Alein Skin Software?

[Duckys54]

What are your experiences with it?

http://www.alienskin.com/blowup/index.html

[Art Scott]

I have not tried it...I absolutely depend on GENUINE FRACTALS PRINT PRO (http://www.ononesoftware.com/detail.php?prodLine_id=7)
it has worked wonders for me. Been using it since it was at v3...now it is 1000's better as now you can save as a jpg not their proprietary .stn and now you can uprez in 1 step using either %'s or actual size in inches.

Other people I know swear by pixel smrtscale and others swear by their labs RIP software, so it is quite a matter of personal choice....I would say to use the trial versions and compare...GFPrint Pro gives you a 30 day trial and you can save 20 prints.....I have had it installed for almost a year now and I still have 14 prints to save...it is still active :D

[photobug]

What are your experiences with [Alien Skin "BlowUp"]?

http://www.alienskin.com/blowup/index.htmlI have exactly the same question ... and the need is pressing to make a decision, since if I opt to get Genuine Fractals, it's on sale for 50% off ($79) until 12/31/2006... I hope someone can provide the benefit of their experience.

[drdane]

I have no experience with upsizing beyond PSCS Bicubic, but I've boon looking around for something better. Sounds like these programs all have their problems - like magnifying noise or creating some in the process.

Here is a review of one called SizeFixer, which costs $185 (as of that date).
http://www.outbackphoto.com/workflow/wf_92/essay.html
Seems like a good review, as it covers the cons, too.

I would appreciate input from anyone who's worked with this, especially in comparison to Genuine Fractals.

Thanks!

[drdane]

Here's an update - I just explored http://www.fixerlabs.com/New_Website/pages/index.htm

They have free downloads for 30 day trial.
The current price for SizeFixer is $135 (dwnld version).
If bundled with their 4-Plugin bundle (includes one to correct OOF) (bundle goes for $70 - which I think I'm going to get), the SizeFixer price drops to $87.75

Have any of you used any of their programs?

Muchas Gracias!

[photobug]

I have no experience with upsizing beyond PSCS Bicubic ... Here is a review of one called SizeFixer, which costs $185 (as of that date).
http://www.outbackphoto.com/workflow/wf_92/essay.html
Seems like a good review, as it covers the cons, too. drdane, your reference to SizeFixer just led me to another product from FixerLabs.com, "FocusFixer (http://www.fixerlabs.com/New_Website/pages/focusfixer.htm)". I am in your debt!

I just bought FocusFixer (actually the whole FixerBundle for just a few $ more) because FocusFixer helped me salvage some good but slightly out-of-focus shots into quite usable ones (especially important to me because they were part of one of my first paying gigs). FocusFixer gave nearly jaw-dropping results! "Sharpening" tools don't address focus problems, but FocusFixer does You move a slider to tell it how large the radius of confusion is (the amount of defocus) and it recovers a reasonably-focused image from a defocused one. It's always better to get focus dead-on to start with, but if you're off, at least with FocusFixer you have a chance for a decent recovery. I've never heard of any Photoshop intrinsic function or other plug-in that does this.

It's sure great to be part of this DGrin community!!

[I've re-posted this as a separate DGrin thread (http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?p=450024#post450024)]

[drdane]

drdane, your reference to SizeFixer just led me to another product from FixerLabs.com, "FocusFixer (http://www.fixerlabs.com/New_Website/pages/focusfixer.htm)". I am in your debt!

I just bought FocusFixer (actually the whole FixerBundle for just a few $ more) because FocusFixer helped me salvage some good but slightly out-of-focus shots into quite usable ones (especially important to me because they were part of one of my first paying gigs). FocusFixer gave nearly jaw-dropping results! "Sharpening" tools don't address focus problems, but FocusFixer does You move a slider to tell it how large the radius of confusion is (the amount of defocus) and it recovers a reasonably-focused image from a defocused one. It's always better to get focus dead-on to start with, but if you're off, at least with FocusFixer you have a chance for a decent recovery. I've never heard of any Photoshop intrinsic function or other plug-in that does this.

It's sure great to be part of this DGrin community!!

Well, Yee-Haw PhotoBug!:barb

And thanks for the feedback on their focus fixer - I'm planning on getting that bundle as well (just trying to wait till Jan 1 for tax reasons):cry

[photobug]

Here's an update - I just explored http://www.fixerlabs.com/New_Website/pages/index.htm

They have free downloads for 30 day trial. That's what I did -- took the demo version, used it for about 5 minutes on one photo, and based on the FocusFixer results bought the bundle immediately.

I do have to say that the demo version works but is kinda lame. I couldn't find a way to actually save the image that FocusFixer had "fixed". I could only scroll around in the tiny Preview window to verify that it would do what it claimed to do. Maybe I missed something, and maybe you can save with other tools but not FocusFixer.

[bham]

Hey photobug can you show us some examples of the focusfixer, this sounds interesting.

I have an older version of Genuine Fractuals and use it regularly.

[photobug]

Hey photobug can you show us some examples of the focusfixer, this sounds interesting. I started a new thread (http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?p=450024) for it -- I should have included the link to it in this thread right away. That thread, which includes quick example "before" and "after" images, is http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?p=450024 .

FocusFixer helps a lot with focus problems, but does not change the image size, so does not compete with BlowUp, Genuine Fractals, etc.

[benson]

Just downloaded the trial version for SizeFixer. Has anybody got any feedback yet?