Every day we offer FREE licensed software you’d have to buy otherwise.

Black&White projects 4 elements Giveaway
$49.00
EXPIRED

Giveaway of the day — Black&White projects 4 elements

Give your photos a 100% analogue finish with high-res film emulations!
$49.00 EXPIRED
User rating: 92 66 comments

Black&White projects 4 elements was available as a giveaway on March 6, 2017!

Today Giveaway of the Day
$36.00
free today
Download music from 1000+ sites anytime and anywhere!

BLACK&WHITE projects 4 is the perfect tool to enable all photographers with a special affinity for black and white photos to make their creative mark. The new spectral sensitivity engine allows you to grasp the grey value for every converted colour and customise it to any tone value. The 80 handcrafted presets offer you a plethora of options from your images’ hidden information. Give your picture a 100% analogue finish with high-res film emulations adapted from classics like Ilford, Kodak, Rollei and Fuji.

  • New algorithms for perfect monochrome filter emulations;
  • Brighten and enhance details;
  • Strong expressions, even with difficult lighting situations.

System Requirements:

Minimum: Windows 10/8/7 (32 Bit); Prozessor Core Duo; 2 GB HDD; 1.280 x 1024 Pixels Screen Resolution; Graphic: DirectX-8-compatible, 128 MB, 32 bit colour depth

Publisher:

FRANZIS Verlag GmbH

Homepage:

https://www.projects-software.com/black-white/blackwhite-projects-4

File Size:

117 MB

Price:

$49.00

Comments on Black&White projects 4 elements

Thank you for voting!
Please add a comment explaining the reason behind your vote.
#23

Thanks GOTD and Franzis, great product as usual with the two of you.

No idea why there is so much fuss, and such a problem with some on getting the codes. This is the third product I have downloaded in the past few months and the process has always been seamless.

As I am already set up (registered) with Franzis, I just log in with my e-mail and the original password (they sent me the first time to register their products), and always click on to receive their newsletter (even if I had done that with the first product I downloaded) as that is part of the deal to get their free products.

Unzip, start setup, click on internet link (top of first box in setup), go to Franzis free GOTD code page, enter my information (oh darn, forgot the password, click on forgot password, enter my email, confirm), (receive password and go back to the registration page left open), enter my information, click receive news letter (do this every time), confirm. Wait, receive confirmation email and codes, enter in program, finish setup.

The whole process took under 10 minutes, and it would of been faster had I not forgotten my password for Francis's site. So, the last minute in the setup was to save the password for future use so I don't have to click on forgot my password.

Thanks again GOTD and Franzis, as I will look forward to using this product.

Cheers

Reply   |   Comment by MonekySnark  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+3)
#22

Thumbs up,thanks!

Reply   |   Comment by Si Nguyen  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (0)
#21

All I get is this when trying to register..

Dear Mrs ,
Thanks for registering your product:
Photo BuZZer Windows - giveawayoftheday

2 code and the registration totally fails. Hardly convinces me to purchase full products from their site.

Reply   |   Comment by BigAl  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-1)
#20

Downloaded fine, get to Set Up and clicked internet and then I get a pop up that says Access with App or Default Browser and then it freezes, stays on top of every screen, cannot get rid of it unless I restart. The OK button is greyed out, so I cannot click to go to the website. I could enter data into the User ID and Reg forms if I had the info, but I cannot get the registration without going to the page.

How can I get to the page without the Internet button? What is the URL for the registration page?

Thanks!

Reply   |   Comment by Greg  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+4)
#19

Just a thank you. Downloaded and installed without issue. Played around with it a bit, seems pretty straightforward, also appreciate the inclusion of the user's manual.

Reply   |   Comment by scotty  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (0)
#18

Still waiting for my e-mail. I already had an account, and logged in successfully. I've been waiting for several hours.

Reply   |   Comment by Trevor  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (0)

Trevor, found mine in the Spam/Junk folder of my email account, but was easily able to retrieve it. Best of luck!

Reply   |   Comment by 'wjsc  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (0)
#17

No, a Dell xpx laptop

Reply   |   Comment by Dig  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-4)
#16

One Hour Later.........Downloaded 3 times, tried to install, comes up with a Splash Screen wanting personal ID and Reg Code - FINE BUT when I do click the Internet button, it of course goes to the Page, try to sign in - 4 times, error again "Invalid", then the "forgot password" bit, same thing, no email, etc etc etc.......I do a lot of B&W ancient Negatives, STILL won't get past Splash Screen, and if ya click "later to continue, the install CLOSES..........several tries since.......NOTHING....just the same "STUFF"
YES I DID read all the instructions text.........did as said......
Would have been nice to give it a try.........oh well

Reply   |   Comment by iwontell  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+9)

iwontell, Mails from Franzis comes never quickly. Today I have waiting more than thirty minutes. You can also create a new account with an other email.

Reply   |   Comment by nibo1978  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+2)

iwontell,

This publisher always has an overly complicate registration process. Can someone explain to them that there is a readme file? All that is needed is for them to include any registration requirements into this readme file. That would reduce the frustrations for us users.

Reply   |   Comment by gpc111  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+8)

gpc111, I agree! The registration process felt very much like a late-night scavenger hunt!
Guess it will be worth it if the software is useful.

Reply   |   Comment by 'wjsc  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-1)
#15

I have used several Franzis products for a few years, and have been very happy with them. I did have a problem with the registration email that I received, however. The Serial Number/Registration key had a "?" at the end of it, which had to be removed, before the program accepted the key. Also, the misspellings of Black as Balck doesn't look good.

Reply   |   Comment by Rick _S  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+2)
#14

Doesn't seem to scale well on my screen (3200x1800) Win 10. Anyone have the same problem/ solution?

Reply   |   Comment by Dig  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-1)

Dig, is that a multi-monitor setup?

Reply   |   Comment by M. H.  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (0)

Dig, I know the latest version (5) has been optimised for high-res screens (specifically 4k), so it's quite possible that is a limitation of the older versions as otherwise they probably wouldn't have said that.

Reply   |   Comment by JohnL  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+3)

JohnL, ok thanks for that. It's a no-no for me then.

Reply   |   Comment by Dig  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-1)

M. H., no it's a laptop.

Reply   |   Comment by Dig  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (0)

Dig,

I, too, have had the same issue with this and previous Franzis offers from GOTD. I have a 3840x2160 laptop panel, default scaled by 250% so that most other legacy software, text and icons display OK; however, their titles seem to always show up with incredibly tiny menus, text, etc. I have to use a magnifier (assistive software utility) to read them!

Thanks for the software to try out!

Reply   |   Comment by HMarx  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (0)

Dig, Sorry for the really late reply, but I thought you might be interested that the upcoming Creators Update for Windows 10 adds options to scale programs better for high-res displays, so the next similar thing that comes along might be worth getting for when that appears. Note the following will only work after the Update rolls out (in "Spring", presumably the Northern Hemisphere one):

"Right-click on the app and choose Properties. Click on the Compatibility tab and check the box for Override high DPI scaling behaviour and then choose System (Enhanced) from the pull-down menu."

Reply   |   Comment by JohnL  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (0)
#13

I passed on the free version and went for the good deal on the full one. I've used there products for a while now and they work very well and $25 is an excellent deal. Thanks Franzis for a great deal!

Reply   |   Comment by pkyancey  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-1)
#12

I downloaded the software from GOTD and followed all of the instructions, I registered at the Franzis website and entered the User ID and Registration Code I received in the email, and then when I launched the software I was asked for a Serial Number in order to activate the program? A note at the top states that there are 30 days remaining?

Nowhere does it state that this is a trial software for 30 days only. The fact that this is a 30 day trial should be stated in the description, otherwise please provide the Serial Number.

Reply   |   Comment by CFT  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-4)

Hello,
please read the readme doc to the end as it describes the whole registration procedure!

GOTD project team

Reply   |   Comment by Helen  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+3)

Helen,

I followed the registration procedure exactly, I have used and use Franzis software, and I had an account already set up. Nowhere in the readme doc does it state anything about this being a 30 day trial, or that a Serial Number is needed, so I am not sure why you suggested that I read it all assuming that I had not?

Reply   |   Comment by CFT  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (0)

Hello,
because readme has the last line which says

6. After the installation is over, please run the program and enter the Registration code from the letter you have received earlier to activate the program.

Reply   |   Comment by Helen  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+13)

Helen,

You just don't seem to understand me, I did enter the User ID and Registration code I was sent on installing, however, each time I try to open the software it is still asking for a serial number? Where do I get this serial number from?

Reply   |   Comment by CFT  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+3)

CFT, You must read the Mail from Franzis, too!

You found this information: (This code is also necessary to activate BALCK & WHITE projects 4 elements)

Reply   |   Comment by nibo1978  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+1)

CFT, just use the exact same serial number. It worked for me -- no prob.

Reply   |   Comment by 'wjsc  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (0)
#11

What is the difference from “Dramatic Black and White”?

Reply   |   Comment by Dimma  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+2)

Dimma, good Q
I see that Dramatic Black and White is much smaller in size ~8Mb vs ~180Mb. it has less options and no batch.

Reply   |   Comment by adif  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+1)
#10

I did something with normal pre-sets.
The originals and results I uploaded to Stack with a password: gotd and this yearnumber:
https://ootjegotd.stackstorage.com/s/SPd8zImyOn33Y4o

Reply   |   Comment by Ootje  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+1)
#9

I just found that in our old Silver ver. setting folder there are 73 ini files named as silverpp_v3_XXX ,
but our new 4 ver has 80 silverpp_v2_XXX files
I guess one can mode and tweak few for extra look

Reply   |   Comment by adif  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+4)
#8

I love the FX tattered edges (in the FX options), but can they be set? random?
If they are fixed, the fun is gone.

Reply   |   Comment by adif  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (0)

adif, I was able to export the different silver tattered edges FX to BWP4 but it didn't keep it's silver look. it look the same as the BWP4 one.

Reply   |   Comment by adif  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+1)

adif, I'm using a different version, but assuming you have an expert tab on the right go into that, look at the filters that are being used (the left panel items are just presets that drag in a bunch of filters and set their parameters). Select the filter that looks most likely and look at the bottom of the right tab to tweak it.
hope that made sense.

Reply   |   Comment by JohnL  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+2)
#7

Hi anyone,
I have Fransis SILVER projects professional (64-Bit) installed, is there any point upgrading with this GOTD?

Reply   |   Comment by watson street  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+1)

watson street, I can only tell you that Franzis "BLACK & WHITE projects" is the successor to their Silver series. Here's a comparison table
between what you already own vs today's GOTD offer. Mind you, the web page is in German - use Google Translate to make it understandable in your preferred language:
h**p://www.projects-software.de/hdr-vergleich/3/24,21/silver-projects-professional-vs-black--white-projects-4-elements

Note that in the so-called "elements" version does *not* include the Adobe Photoshop plug-in.

Small (?) consolation, though, is that you may have both software installed. Or, so I believe.

Reply   |   Comment by Ioannis  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+3)

Ioannis,

"Small (?) consolation, though, is that you may have both software installed. Or, so I believe."

Yes, Franzis has a number of products that they give away from time to time, sometimes based on the same app with a slightly different name & features. I regularly install one version next to another without problems.

Reply   |   Comment by mike  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+4)
#6

Lovely Jubbly, thanks Franzis!
JohnL has outlined everything you all need to know but I'll just add that it's a solid bit of kit, great interface and easy to navigate with surprising results... pro pics with ease!

Reply   |   Comment by Reminis  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+4)
#5

I would appreciate knowing the difference between:-

Black and White Projects 3 / Black and White Projects 4 "Elements".
Does adding "Elements make this a sub - standard version?
I have found the difference between Black & White Projects 4 and the lesser "Elements version"
I think maybe today's offering is a lesser version and not worth deleting version 3 for. As always, the publisher doesn't make it easy.

Reply   |   Comment by Nigel  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+13)

Nigel, Interesting question. I suspect I'd personally install both and play, however if you'd like the long version:
https://www.projects-software.com/compare/3/23,22/black--white-projects-3-vs-black--white-projects-4-elements

Reply   |   Comment by JohnL  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+7)

JohnL,

Thanks for that as I didn't have time to play around with them today. I will keep both.

Reply   |   Comment by Nigel  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+2)

Nigel, Version 5 has also been launced.

Reply   |   Comment by Adrian  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-4)
#4

i would like to see comparision with the las giveaway

Reply   |   Comment by dima  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (0)

dima, See my comment above, short version:
https://www.projects-software.com/compare/3/23,22/black--white-projects-3-vs-black--white-projects-4-elements
It's my Birthday today so I really have to go do stuff... hence short version... :-)

Reply   |   Comment by JohnL  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+3)
#3

It's my Birthday, so I'm only posting this quickly, apologies for typos:

Okay, they are only giving away the Elements version, and it's the previous version, but it's free and I'd highly recommend it, hey I paid for it, well the Pro version. (Plus apologies in advance for what a pain it is to register if you haven't done one of Franzis' projects before, but it is worth it.)

Note they will send you their newsletter, and they still forget from time-to-time and send English speakers e-mail in German. Don't stress about it.

Here's my canned instructions on starting using it:

Load a picture, play with the canned effects on the left side, play with the Film Type on the right side panel (which should start on the “Finalise” tab). At the top of that panel you can choose a colour filter to apply to the original (assuming it's a colour image, the same as putting a filter on the lens and using B+W film), either as a preset or use the sliders (the presets just move the sliders, e.g. Yellow -> 60/120). At the bottom of the panel you can select toning options, which is the same theory of having a collection of presets to set sliders. Changing to "Expert" in the right panel you can add filters from the list at the top, select them in the middle of the panel and tweak their effects at the bottom (may need scrolling down). (I'd ignore that until you are comfortable using it.) The boxes at the top of the left panel filter the effects that are listed in the panel, so ignore them initially. On a faster computer you can use the Eye icon on the toolbar to disable the preview mode and show the final image in the main window, which IMHO is worth doing.

When saving the final image note that the first dialog, where it asks for the title, is going to write that over the image, it isn't the file name.

The main disadvantage is the lack of Undo operations.

Note that although they do add a Photoshop plugin it's under File->Export, not Filters, which IMHO doesn’t really count.

The thing to get your brain around is it a huge pile of image processing tools, which are gathered together into presets in the left pane. All those options do is select a bunch of processing tools and choose options for them, so they are infinitely tweakable in the right pane.

I bought a copy of BWP retail some time ago, after getting a previous version free here, but when they had a discount price - which they do quite often, so never pay the full price for Franzis' stuff, like DXO, Silkypix, others. Basically all the B+W images I do come out of B+W Projects.

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 have a Mac you'll need to get the OSX version of FreeImage from SourceForge and replace the existing one, wherever it might be.

Reply   |   Comment by JohnL  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+26)

JohnL, oops, sorry, used the path for HDR projects in teh Raw file update bit, apologies.

Reply   |   Comment by JohnL  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+2)

JohnL, Happy birthday for today. Hope you get lots of pressies!!

Reply   |   Comment by Hughjocapivvy  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+7)

Hughjocapivvy, Thanks, although pressies are looking thin on the ground right now... maybe later :-)

Oh and should have said: the instructions are based on what I wrote for Black and White Projects 3 when that was given away, with some tweaks, the Elements version of 4 may have some bits missing so E&OE. (I'm on v5 now.)

Reply   |   Comment by JohnL  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+4)

JohnL,

" The main disadvantage is the lack of Undo operations. "

From the User Manual:

Work with a timeline and restore point
--------------------------------------

This option can be found in the symbol bar at the top edge of the screen under the Information:

“Create Restore Point” (undo point) saves an in-between point of the current settings.

You can now always return to this stage of your editing.
You can save as many editing restore points as you like.


"Timeline" (list of undo points) displays the restore points and makes it possible to call up any phase with just a single click.

This function is especially useful when, for example, you are satisfied with an image, yet want to continue trying out different settings and effects.
Simply set a restore point and carry on editing your picture.

If you want to go back, simply click on your restore point in the time-line.

Reply   |   Comment by Thomas  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+6)

Thomas, This is true, but you have to explicitly create restore points, it doesn't help if you suddenly realise the last few changes have made it worse, but you're not sure what the exact settings were before you made those changes (I do it all the time with the filter and toning settings), which is what I'd usually want. Thanks for adding the clarification though and it is indeed a good point.

Reply   |   Comment by JohnL  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+3)
#2

Two years ago we tested SILVER projects BW , is this GOTD is new name? should we uninstall the silver first?

Reply   |   Comment by adif  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+1)

adif, yes silver is older version

Reply   |   Comment by dima  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (0)

adif, they just renamed it to Black and White Projects. I downloaded Silver projects here, then bought Black and White Projects Pro 3, which was the next version, and am currently on version 5. (It leaped to 3 as they lined it up with the other Projects software.)

Reply   |   Comment by JohnL  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+2)

adif, P.S.
https://www.projects-software.com/compare/3/26,23/silver-projects-premium-vs-black--white-projects-3
Oh and you can have both installed. The main advantage of Silver Projects is you can mouse-hover over the film type and use a scroll wheel to change types, BWP3 is more advanced in every other way.

Reply   |   Comment by JohnL  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+3)
#1

Software to change your nice full-color photos into black and white pictures.
I was not aware there were so much different styles in B&W
Software works as advertised giving good results (and yes I tried, it doesn't take hours to test this one)

Reply   |   Comment by Mavadelo  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+17)

Mavadelo,

"I was not aware there were so much different styles in B&W"

Strictly speaking, there aren't really. The reason for B&W photos is artistic -- looking at a B&W image you're forced to pay attention to some aspects of the picture because there isn't all that color to process & potentially confuse. There are also people who still do B&W film or prints, viewing the characteristics of the media they use [or emulate digitally] as part of the art itself.

Shooting in color however gives you more data, and you can assign some of that extra data to enhance parts of the B&W image -- IOW you get a B&W image containing more data than you could hope to get just taking a B&W photo to begin with. Different styles or presets are more-or--less different ways of assigning that extra color data to the B&W version of the photo.

Some of the folks who specialize in these B&W image conversions save several different versions, each using different settings or software, then stack them as layers in an image editing app, applying masks, so that each layer is used for only part of the final image.

Reply   |   Comment by mike  –  7 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+4)
Add a comment
Facebook comments

iPhone app giveaways »

Tilterpillar Giveaway
Play this classic game of "snake" by tilting your device as a controller.
$1.99 ➞ free today
C.H.A.D. Giveaway
A collection of animated stickers about the pool season.
$0.99 ➞ free today
App Secret Giveaway
App Secret offers you a new way to protect your data and keep all the important information untouched.
$1.99 ➞ free today
Modern Ludo Giveaway
Use your bullet to destroy all enemies!
$4.99 ➞ free today
Calendar Widget - Date Widgets Giveaway
Calendar Widget is the app you need for customising your home screen with beautiful calendar.
$0.99 ➞ free today

Android app giveaways »

Demon Hunter: Premium Giveaway
The must try game for any real hack and slash fan who already got bored with just mindlessly smashing buttons.
$0.99 ➞ free today
Audio Player Giveaway
Probably the most lightweight audio player for Android.
$1.99 ➞ free today
BodyQuest: Anatomy for kids Giveaway
Learn the basics of human anatomy.
$3.99 ➞ free today
Slime Legends - Survivor Giveaway
You are a slime survivor preparing to step on the path to becoming a monster slayer.
$0.19 ➞ free today
Heat Pump Calculator Giveaway
Installing heat pumps to meet your heating and cooling needs is becoming increasingly popular.
$1.49 ➞ free today