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ImageForge PRO version 3.60
What's New in the Series 3 Releases, and the New Master Edition
ImageForge version 3.60 is here. Already a powerful image editing suite, the latest versions add a host of new features, including support for pressure-sensitive drawing tablets, Photoshop®-type plugin filters, new tools, and more. Users of earlier 2.x and 3.x versions may update to the current version at no cost (see below). For more about ImageForge PRO, visit the program's home page. For webmasters and others who routinely need to manipulate groups of images, there is also now the ImageForge Master Edition, which allows you to resize, apply effects, rename and other operations on batches of images. The Master Edition also includes our IconForge editor, options to place bookmarks on visitor desktops, button and banner generators, and more. Now on to the overview of what has changed in the main ImageForge PRO program:
There is also now a German language version for ImageForge PRO.
New options in ImageForge PRO version 3 series include:
Version 3.45 and 3.60 additions...
- New option to force files to be saved using upper or lower case capitalization (right-click on the file list in the Enhanced mode's Save As... dialog);
- Support for more TWAIN devices;
- Added Shift key option to antialias circles drawn with the Ellipse tool;
- Improved saving for transparent, paletted PNG format image files;
- plus other minor feature enhancements.
Other recent additions...
- Improved the Photo Enhancement Effects filters;
- Enhanced the Polygon Text tool functions;
- Enhanced the Pixelize Effects filters (you can overlay your images with a variety of shapes, including custom clipart);
- Added Red-Eye removal Channel option for the Channel Eraser tool (click twice on the Eraser tool to select). This gives you an easier way for removing the eerie "red eye" effect from flash photos;
- New Magnify Canvas menu option (under the Picture menu) allows you to increase the size of the canvas with optional grid lines delineating the enlarged pixels. This can be useful for gridding pictures for embroidery, etc. (see also gridding functions in the Print options and Mosaic filters in the Effects menu);
- New options when importing or using the Paragraph Text input dialog. Additions include text smoothing, simple text extrusions, and a convenient pop-up for typing in special characters;
- New Open Image as Animation function for splitting an image across animation frames (may also be used to split previously combined images);
- New brush Fade option, to allow strokes to fade out over their length;
- Internet layer enhancements;
- New custom brush border options for Rectangle and Polygon tools allow you to create instant frames;
- and many other improvements.
Overall version 3 series enhancements include:
- Completely rewritten engine;
- Interface: Enhancements include
- Ruler (inches or centimeters, right-click upper/left to set DPI and increments);
- Preview window options now include actual size and magnify mouse location views;
- Stopwatch Timer for timing your session (use for tracking projects);
- Update Image button controls whether or not tool continues to act on the original image. E.g., if you wish to use the Putty tool to continue to stretch an area, you would enable the Update Image button.
- Tools: New alpha transparency options for nearly everything;
- Tools: New Brush options drop-down
- enhanced standard brush shapes;
- new Intensity and tool Edge options to control transparency and anti-aliasing;
- create, add and delete Custom Brush shapes;
- add random Rotation to brushes;
- more pen sizes.
- Tools: New color palette bar with frequently used colors and quick palette;
- Tools: Enhanced Style options
- Drag Gradient fill off center, rotate angle, and restore to centered;
- select, add, edit, delete or create a library of textured Patterns;
- Gradients may now be applied to brush strokes.
- Tools: Other tool changes include
- Crayon brush (new);
- Pencil brush (new);
- Chalk brush (improved);
- Pen brush (removed);
- Syringe now displays RGB values for colors on Status Bar;
- 3D Rectangle now can use values from Styles;
- Fuzzy Rectangle and Ellipse now can use values from Styles;
- Drop Shadow option for most shapes and clipped regions;
- Arrow has new options;
- Fill tools have new options;
- Clone tool can now also be used to clone between 2 images;
- Paragraph Text tool is integrated into normal text tool (click button next to Font option);
- Polygon Text may now be contoured;
- Color Channel Eraser has been improved;
- Mosaic brush has been removed from the Effects Brush menu;
- New Putty brush for deforming areas;
- New 3D Scene tool for creating groups of 3D objects;
- Clipart brushes now support more options, such as adding shadows and transparency.
- Tools: Color Palette dialog now contains more options
- choose from RGB or HSV controls;
- choose from rainbow, default 256-color, or image's actual palettes;
- use rainbow palette to mix colors;
- new button for loading/saving palette when editing a 4-bit or 8-bit images;
- displays both RGB and Hex values for colors;
- color count for selected color.
- File Menu: Option to specify DPI for new images;
- File Menu: New options when using Save As;
- File Menu: New options under Convert a Group of Images;
- Options Menu: Enhanced Set Preferences options;
- Picture Menu: New Dither Method options allow you to change the method used to convert an image to a lower resolution;
- Effects Menu: Includes many new standard filters and new filter options:
- Acid Wash (new)
- Brightness (improved)
- Contour (improved)
- Curl Edges (improved)
- Detect Edges (improved)
- Equalize (new)
- Fuzzy Edge (improved)
- Gamma Correction (improved)
- Lens (new)
- Line Engrave (improved)
- Melt (new)
- Mirror (improved)
- Mosaic (improved)
- Oil Paint (improved)
- Pinch (improved)
- Reduce Colors (improved)
- Solarize (new)
- Spotlight (improved)
- Texture (new)
- Tile Maker (improved)
- User-Defined (improved, plus more preset examples)
- Effects Menu: Some now redundant filters have been merged or removed: Gamma Brightness (use Gamma Correction), Detail (apply Sharpen filter twice, or use one of the User-Defined sharpens), Checkerboard, Peep Hole (use Lens), Sine Wave (use Wave), Wrap to Circle;
- Effects Menu: Handles many Photoshop-type plug-in filters;
- Tools Menu: Create Image Library has new option execute once and then exit for slide show executables;
- Tools Menu: Create Image Library has new option to export your slide show as a Screen Saver;
- Objects Layer: Merge selected objects without going to the Composite layer;
- Objects Layer: New Nudge tool for precise placement;
- Mask Layer: You can now use both color and grayscale when creating masks (for combining 2 images with smooth transitions);
- Animation Options: Many new enhancements and auto-generated effects;
- Printing: Print a grid over the picture, print multiple images per sheet, positionable header and footer text, print separations, preview, export as file, and other enhancements;
- and more...
All of this is built upon ImageForge PRO's already impressive set of image editing features. We hope that we have succeeded in substantially increasing the program's power, without increasing its complexity. And with the price remaining at only $28.95 (+ shipping, full packaged product), ImageForge PRO remains a bargain.
Those of you who have already purchased the fully licensed ImageForge PRO or ImageForge Master Edition 1.x, 2.x or 3.x version may download a free update to the current version (available now from our Updates page).
If you would like to test drive a trial copy of ImageForge PRO or read about its features:
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