Registration went OK, but no email with codes arrived. Eventually I found that it actually did go to spam, like they always warn you, but a first for me. Most messages from Franzis do not go to spam. Got it installed and registered with 10 min to spare. No problem with 'no more serial numbers' for me.

Pleased to say I have an account with them for past GAOTD offerings & received my codes promptly & installed

Have received the registration information, and successfully installed the software.

I get this message and no serial, please fix it:

"Bitte antworten Sie nicht auf diese automatisch-generierte E-Mail. Bei Fragen wenden Sie sich bitte an den Support: fragen@franzis.de

Sehr geehrter Herr Miklós,
für das Produkt BLACK & WHITE projects 3 Windows - giveawayoftheday
stehen derzeit leider keine Seriennummern mehr zur Verfügung.

Der Systemadministrator wurde bereits informiert.

Sobald der Softwarehersteller uns zusätzliche Seriennummern geliefert hat, werden diese in das System eingespielt und
Sie erhalten dann umgehend, vollautomatisch Ihre persönliche Seriennummer per E-Mail zu geschickt. Sie müssen sich also nicht nochmals registrieren.
Bitte geben Sie uns ca. 2-4 Arbeitstage Zeit um die Seriennummern vom Hersteller anzufordern und in das System einzuspielen.

Besten Dank für Ihr Verständnis.

Ihr Franzis Registrierungsteam

Bitte antworten Sie nicht auf diese automatisch-generierte E-Mail. Bei Fragen wenden Sie sich bitte an den Support: fragen@franzis.de"

Despite clicking on "internet" and providing my email address on 3 separate occasions have not received registration details. It's not as if they don't know I exist - I sometimes get 3 promo emails a day from them!

Have given up in disgust

Went through the process to get a registration code and received the following email:

Please do not reply to this automatically-generated email. If you have questions, please contact support: fragen@franzis.de

Dear Mr ***,
for the product of BLACK & WHITE projects, 3 Windows - giveawayoftheday
are currently no serial numbers more available.

The system administrator has been informed already.

As soon as the software vendor has provided us additional serial numbers, these are imported into the system and
You will get to your personal serial number by E-Mail immediately, fully automatically. So not once again need to register.
Please give us working days to request time to the serial number of the manufacturer and to play in the system about 2-4.

Thank you for your understanding.

Your Franzis registration team

Please do not reply to this automatically-generated email. If you have questions, please contact support: fragen@franzis.de

Jumped through all the hoops, then received an email saying:
#Dear ****, for the product*BLACK & WHITE projects 3 windows - giveawayoftheday are currently unfortunately no longer available serial numbers. The system administrator has already been informed."
Then why is it still up and why did I have to give them all my info?

I get this message..... Dear Mr Hobbs,
for product BLACK & WHITE projects 3 Windows - giveawayoftheday
there are currently none available serial numbers available.

I'm getting a message (translated by Google) that:

"there are currently none available serial numbers available.

The system administrator has been informed.

Once the software vendor has provided us with additional serial numbers, they are loaded to the system and
You will receive, automatically your personal serial number by e-mail to be sent....2-4 working days to the serial numbers from the manufacturer"

Does this mean that it will arrive AFTER the Giveaway and will no longer be able to be activated???

Subsequently I went to their website and found that there was an account created but since I had no clue what the password was I managed to get into the account maintenance and reset my password to something I would know. It looked like it already had the B&W package ready for me (or maybe just my request for it). I logged out and logged back in to my account, then went back to the GOTD process and re-ran setup.exe. The results were the same ... an e-mail that said: THERE ARE NO SERIAL NUMBERS AVAILABLE AT THE MOMENT BUT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET SOME IN THE NEXT 2-4 DAYS AND WE'LL SEND YOU ONE THEN,. WATCH FOR IT IN YOUR E-MAIL. Well, I'll watch for it but GOTD installation target time will have long since elapsed.

1) I unziped the package and ran the setup.exe program.
2) I clicked on the INTERNET button.
3) I was forwarded to the registration page.
4) I am using Franzis software for the first time but SAW NO FORM TO FILL IN except to provide my e-mail address which I provided.
5) I checked my e-mail and clicked on the verification link.
6) I received a second e-mail which said (Google-translated from the German):
Please do not reply to this automatically-generated email. For questions, please contact the Support: fragen@franzis.de

Dear Mr ,
for product BLACK & WHITE projects 3 Windows - giveawayoftheday
there are currently none available serial numbers available.

The system administrator has been informed.

Once the software vendor has provided us with additional serial numbers, they are loaded to the system and
You will receive, automatically your personal serial number by e-mail to be sent. You do not need to register again to.
Tell us to ask about 2-4 working days to the serial numbers from the manufacturer and einzuspielen in the system.
7) It looks like I'm out of luck ... but gee, I did get to subscribe to their nice (German) newsletter :-(

no serial numbers left. Waiting. The email that they sent after translating was will send sn in 3 or 4 days?

Unfortunately I got an email in german saying that they didn´t have any more serial numbers to give away. The email also said they will provide me with a serial number in a couple of days.

I have used their Silver Projects and Analog Projects products in the past and they never disappoint.

I´m not a pro photographer by any means so many times I shoot a picture expecting it to be great, but I fall short. Franzis software will usually turn one of those amateur shots into something I can personally go WOW!

I read Silver projects has been discontinued and now Black and White Projects is their newest offer. Can´t wait to try it out.

Update to my previous post: Registration info e-mail finally arrived! After installing from another computer and repeating the process, installation went fine. This is very useful and a finely crafted software in terms of the professional camera/film negative presets its offers and the fine tuning you can do yourself both in B&W and with tints like duotones. The "combine presets" function is a fine addition as it expands what you can do and allows you blend, save and reuse any combination. Took a while to get used to "no undo" and how it lets you save your final image, apply, delete or change presets. I did not see a preferences item to change how you prefer the software to save etc. Once you get a hold of these minor odd behaviors, you'll be crafting your photos as you want them. Of course, it works tops with well taken photos in hi-res, but you can do a lot with your best amateur pictures too. Must explore all hidden posibilities. Even though I have Photoshop and Elements installed it did not detect them... offering to install plugins later, wonder if that will work. Would have been much better if the app let you navigate to where they are when this happens. Perhaps it is just a matter of copying the plugins (if they are the .8bf type) into a presets folder into any photo manip app folder such as Corel's PhotoPaint. I hope this input helps.Thank you GAOTD and Franzis for this free and great offer!

Cumbersome registration.. Auto email says no registration numbers available!!!

I've been waiting the email with the Personal User ID and the Registration Code for four hours and nothing in any place. Maybe, the server is celebrating Octoberfest a little early. Hope it arrives during my sleep but then will be too late to activate.

Help, please?

I unable to install and am running out of time. I have successfully installed many GOTD programs (including other Franzis software) without a problem but have been getting the following error msg when I click on the "Internet" button per the Readme.txt.

chrome.exe - Application Error

The application was unable to start correctly (0xc0000142). Click OK to close the application.

Yes, I have disabled my security software. I have re-booted. I have re-downloaded three times. Can anyone help here? I have no idea what is wrong.

i have only a 30 day trial. I'm followed all the instructions. So disappointing, because even if the registration is easy to follow, it's take time. I don't want to waste more time to search for a way to put the registration key again somewhere or to re-install the whole thing again. Just one thing. Bye bye.

Does anyone know how to install the BlackWhite plug-ins for Photoshop Elements 14? I see them in the zip archive. I've tried everything I could think of, but nothing seems to work. When I installed this, a message came up about running the setup again to install plug-ins, but still nothing works.

Thanks in advance.

I'm very upset. My time has been wasted waiting for this registration email. I need to get to work now, so I'm going to have pass up this offer.

Oh, I forgot to say something in my long post on using the tool (see well down the comments). I suspect they haven't updated the installer and so only have an old version of the Raw file reader (for Raw files saved by digital cameras). To add raw support for more recent cameras download this (if you're running 64-bit Windows):
http://transfer.franzis.de/projects/RawImageDllprojects_Win64.zip
and replace C:\Program Files\Franzis\HDR projects 3\FreeImage.dll with the dll file it contains.
If you're not running the 64-bit version of Windows, i.e. your computer doesn't have a directory "C:\Program Files (x86)" then the file you want for upgraded raw support in 32-bit Windows is: http://transfer.franzis.de/projects/RawImageDll_projects_Win32.zip
If you're on a Mac you'll need to sort your self out I'm afraid, I'm sure their support can point you at the file.
If the version of FreeImage.dll that comes with the program is May 2016 you don't need to do this.

what are the plugins for ?
to use presets on other programs ?

I sent for my registration at 10:00AM, it is now 6:00 PM and I have received no license. I just sent for a license again. Will I ever get a code?

OOPS

Spoke too soon

The plugins are in File -> EXPORT
rather than in the usual convenient filter location

I have win 10 x64 computer
during the installation it saw PS6 but not PSCC
selected to install plugin
Stand-alone works
Plugins don't work
Tried manually copying files to plugin folder - NG

Does not have a plugin for Photoshop CC 2015

Downloaded, followed the instructions. There was some delay receiving the first email and it also ended up in my spam folder, which I keep empty for just this reason. Second email was quick and I cut and pasted all info., registration worked fine. Picked out a detailed landscape photo and played around for a while. I like the quick selections and the depth of detail for film styles and temperature .
I grew up with black and white and enjoy the moods and I guess the reminder of my youth. Plus I think it can make for a richer experience sometimes. thank you franzis

I feel for those that cannot see the beauty in DIFFERENCE, nomadss1 your view and attitude could not be more black and white....

Does not have a plugin for Photoshop CC 2015

Unnecessarily complicated (and forced conditions) registration process in this day and age! Been waiting 30 min now to receive my confirmation e-mail. Nothing yet, and no, no, no, it's NOT in the junk folder (we all know about that) either. E-mail's correct as usual, received everything else except theirs. Used the "optional" way offered to sign-up also, but still no confirmation....have to abort installation and continue waiting? Using Win 7-64. Any pointers Franzis, of what to do now? Seems no one else had this problem, I'd appreciate some feedback. -Thanks.

Yes, reg can be a pain but I bought their " CutOut 5 " program 6 months ago for $19 on sale and It's one of the best programs that I have ever used on a photograph...just-sayin'

Downloaded the Mac version, got the email verifications very quickly, no problem. Then when I put the Registration code in Setup restarted and immediately crashed.

Twice in a row.

Would've loved to evaluation version 3 in order to determine whether 4 was worth the purchase price, but this experience does not make one want to chance the paid for version.

Just completed the setup, which was very easy, and converted my first image, without any other adjustments, and it looked great! Very nice package, it makes me fell like an Ansel Adams. Really nice conversion for those that appreciate the B&W images. Thank you for this great app.

Too bad, there's no photoshop plugin for CS 5... :-(

Whenever I've Googled the different Franzis apps, I've found them close to the top rank, but not best in class, FWIW. So if it's something you'll use, IMHO they're generally worth having if the price is right, e.g. as a giveaway, or if the sale price is good enough.

Black & White Projects is designed to turn full color images into black & white. Why? Technically speaking, you'll have all of the data from the full color image, which is more than you'd have if you shot or scanned in B&W or grayscale. And all of that data can be used to get you a fuller range of B&W tones than you'd easily get otherwise. Aesthetically speaking, there's really very little that I can say... you either like what can be done with B&W prints [or images], or you don't.

Black & White Projects 3 will open RAW images, & the software itself is pretty light weight in terms of its impact on Windows. That said, Franzis uses a DRM packager for their setup file, & that setup file includes an older version of the C/C++ runtime files from Microsoft. Besides those runtime files, both 32 & 64 bit versions of the software are included, along with several copies of their P/Shop plugins, many of them appearing to be identical. Those plugins are also available in the "Photoshop Plug-ins" folder when you unzip the GOTD download, I'd guess to let you add them yourself to your other image editing apps.

[For P/Shop CC 2015 I put Franzis plugins in the Franzis program's folder, then put a shortcut to that folder in P/Shop's Plug-ins folder.]

Back to the Black & White Projects 3 installer... I tried to monitor the installation in a win7 32 bit VM, but recorded 60 some thousand new registry entries. It happens... most all of those new entries will not be there after restarting Windows, but it does make it [nearly] impossible to tell what installing B&W Projects does to the registry.

I already had B&W Projects 3 "Elements", which judging by the price on the Franzis web site, is a somewhat cut down version of today's GOTD. The key I already had worked to install the software, but I still needed to sign in & request a new key to actually activate this version [some Franzis apps don't require activation once they're installed, but this one does].

Personally I've played with the different Franzis apps occasionally, but never found anything that's a must have -- that doesn't mean no must have features exist, but only that I've never come across them. I haven't gone out of my way though trying them out. Admittedly my attitude may seem a bit chauvinistic, but I fail to see why if Franzis hopes to sell to native English speakers, they can't invest the time & effort to make their giveaway registrations easy for those people that natively speak English. *To me* the extra DRM says we don't trust you, & the registration process being only in German, says you cheap English & Americans that grab our free stuff will never buy anything anyway, so why should we bother? I also interpret it as a lack of commitment, figuring that if penetrating the English speaking market is a whim, support for the English language could disappear with the next version update. And that in a nutshell is why I didn't buy their denoising app when it was last on sale.

Took a little longer to activate but this is a high quality software.

Excellent product from an equally excellent company. I've been using a previous version for a while now. Since I have an account with this company, setup was quite easy and quick.

The only glitch in setup was it claimed it couldn't find Photoshop CC. I have the latest update to this program installed and it's there all right. No biggie, really.

I use Lightroom extensively for my photo editing. Dowloaded this program and followed the directions, no problems, installed fine. Only one issue; I had to use Google Translate top make sure their message (in German) wasn't telling me I messed something up - which I hadn't. I quickly ran an old circa 1930-1940 B%W photo - and it did a wonderful, rich job ! Then I ran a Nikon RAW image. It did a wonderful job on that image to - with one major problem. It put a bright white spot (where there was a shadow) under the subjects chine, rendering the edit useless. So, I se I need to 'work' with this program a little more. There must be a way to remove that 'flash' under the chin! Otherwise, this seems to be an excellent program.

Click Internet button but nothing happens

How is this different from their Silver Projects? They seem mighty similar to me. Installation was quick and easy on my WIndows 7 PC.

Setup is easy but I had to pay close attention to the installation process. On the very first window where you fill in the information there is a link that you have to click and then wait for an email to continue. Tried it on a picture of my grandson and was highly impressed!

I have another of their products.... Focus Projects Pro......and it is REALLY REALLY good! So yes, I will definitely jump thru hoops for their stuff! One thing to note however...when u get on their mailing list, the emails come in German! I eventually unsub'd from their mail list because it was of no use to me! LOL!

Is this better than Silver Projects Pro? I have that as a plugin in Zoner Photo Studio Pro which is an excellent program. I used to use a filter on my SLR to emulate b&w to get the tones correct. Color can be a distraction from good tone and composition.

The distortion, the spots, the shadows, the background, the angle and many more "imperfections" makes the picture unique and reflection of the environment and reality at the moment of the shot.
Now, if you believe and like a look a like image of the original, go ahead and install it. I value a picture in its original state and not a display of some sort of art that lost the dynamic of the expression of the subject.

It loads as a 30 day trial and ask for a serial number to keep it. No serial number seems to be provided.
What do I use as a serial number?

mac registration is a pain, plus been waiting for a confirmation email and it seems its never coming over, after it did and finally managed to enter the registration details the install died instead of installing the soft. waste of time

I jumped through the silly hoops given me, only to get a prompt window telling, my registration code is wrong. To enter my correct personal registration code. I did that about ten times.
This is what I got in my mail, not showing the real text. User Personal ID: 1***4***3, then my Registration Code: A****-$$$$$-xxxxx-6....-#####- 12345-^^^^^-%%%%R-+++++.
Now, I'm back here trying to figure out, what's up and how to fix it. Anyone know how??? Anyone?

Installed easily. you use the long # twice... before installing and also it is the S#. Tried it and am pleased with the results.

While I have Topaz B&W2, the Franzis is somewhat different. I quickly used it by loading a photo and scanning down the "all" options and one grabbed me. I did twiddle a bit with the sliders.. that is why they are there.

I have other Franzis programs and highly recommend this one even if you already have other B&W programs. Do pity the foolish people who struggle endlessly with the PS or LR desaturation "sophistication" and do not get results as good as this Giveawayoftheday... thank you Franzis.

I click the "internet" button, but it goes to Franzis home page, no registration page.
Maybe it is because I already have an account with them? how do I proceed?

thanks.

I am not a photographer so this is a uneducated opinion but it is still a legitimate personal opinion. Black and White pictures in this day and age is "WHY"? If I was totally colorblind I could understand but other than that it always seems to me as the fastest way to ruin a picture. In the days before Digital photography It seems the only time people used black and white was they couldn't afford color film. Or trying to look through camouflage netting in the Vietnam war before Infra red became common. I've heard the expression that it was ARTSY, but in my opinion it is never and has never been artsy. It is a cheap way for professional photographers to hide flaws before the advent of Photoshop. When out on the social networks everytime I saw a B&W photo I've never upvoted or liked those nude B&W photos it seemed I was voting on women who were in their 90's now. I have never enjoyed a black and white photo sitting beside a color photo of the same picture nor will I like your Black and white photos. If you turn it black and white I don't even want to see it even if it was of some very likable celebrity or Politician or any other person of interest. I just don't care for B&W photos. Besides every photo program can turn color photos to B&W Raw or not. This is a niche program that I find tasteless and a good way to ruin your best photos. If they would have used black and white on that National Geographic magazine photo of that girl in a burqa It would have never show how beautiful her eyes are, nor would it have won Photo of the year. It would have been a meh moment and flip the page to something more interesting. So no no no to this and when I see your B&W you will get a downvote from me for being to cheap to buy color film...Thanks anyway GAOTD but this one is an anathema to me.

Disappointed with all the hoops I have to jump through to get this software registered. Short of a blood sample they want to know everything about you before they supply with the following two things.
1. A User ID
2. A Registration Code
After entering the above info I was then asked for a 'Serial number' to avoid the software from expiring in 30 days - so it is clear that there are a few more hoops to jump trough. How to overcome this obstacle I have no idea...?